Why isn't Communitarianism more popular as an ideology?

[Kevinstat]

Maine's Mike Michaud (D-ME-02) may seem comunitarian/populist at first glance, although he doesn't make his pro-Life stance a big part of his profile these days and he is rather liberal on other social issues I think.  And he's had higher business group ratings that Tom Allen in the past, not that that takes much.  But he's probably the closest you will get to a communitarian in a top-ticket officholder from Maine, and a stronger argument could be made that he is a populist (I think he supports gun rights more than most Democrats, which is one area where Maine Democrats are often more moderate than the national party).

[AltWorlder]

Americans don't want European styled social democracy.  But they're quickly seeing that the traditional fetish for Jeffersonian/Jacksonian for small government isn't necessarily the best way to get things done.

[War on Want]

Examples?  I'm trying to assemble a list.

Sure, most politicians we label as populists, prime examples include:

Gov. Brad Henry
Sen. Ben Nelson
Sen. Mark Pryor
Sen. Bob Casey Jr.
Gov. Bill Ritter

Henry, and Nelson are not populists at all, but rather centrists or even conservatives.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Answer = It isn't an ideology or anything with any real intellectual or media substance and has no tradition whatsoever.

What it is (under the defintion used here), is a series of separate political positions which hardly connect to each other at all but may be popular when thought about in isolation.

[Bluegrass Cruiser 420]

Americans don't want European styled social democracy.  But they're quickly seeing that the traditional fetish for Jeffersonian/Jacksonian for small government isn't necessarily the best way to get things done.

Well I would agree that Americans are moving away from traditional ideals of limited government.  That is why politicians are always looking for the right issue to propose a new government programs for that they can cynically exploit it for votes without really solving the problem.

I whatever those politicians choose to call their beliefs it won't be social democracy but they call it progressive, populist or maybe even communitarian (if focus group data tells them that people like the sound of that term).

[Storebought]

Answer = It isn't an ideology or anything with any real intellectual or media substance and has no tradition whatsoever.

What it is (under the defintion used here), is a series of separate political positions which hardly connect to each other at all but may be popular when thought about in isolation.

You've just described the ideology of practically every US political party throughout its history save the Socialists (and the Harry Browne Libertarians)

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Answer = It isn't an ideology or anything with any real intellectual or media substance and has no tradition whatsoever.

What it is (under the defintion used here), is a series of separate political positions which hardly connect to each other at all but may be popular when thought about in isolation.

You've just described the ideology of practically every US political party throughout its history save the Socialists (and the Harry Browne Libertarians)

That's probably true actually.