In democratic politics, it is a tough question how to utilize popular sentiment. Popular sentiment that tends to bully the weak and exclude the minority can be abused by a dictator who mobilizes people to create autocratic rule by the majority. On the other hand, popular criticism of the privileged elite may serve to fuel reforms to establish a fair and equal society. In this sense, populism is ambivalent.

In the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, popular sentiment was wisely incorporated into the political system as meaningful political energy under the leadership of politicians like Wisconsin Gov. Robert La Follette and President Theodore Roosevelt, contributing to the break from the rule by political party bosses and the establishment of anti-monopoly policies to oppose abuse by capitalist powers.

The primaries being held by the Republicans and Democrats to choose their nominees for the U.S. presidential election in November — and closely watched worldwide — date back to La Follette's years. The system was created to end the oligarchy by party leaders and enable rank-and-file party members to choose the candidates they want. This year, billionaire Donald Trump and "social democrat" Bernie Sanders are each fighting their campaigns by utilizing popular sentiment in their own ways.