Sometimes populist energy is directed at economic forces. At other times populists criticize cultural trends. Governmental power can also be the aim of populist reforms. Because populism manifests itself through different discourses, it it is awkward to categorize. Wherever people see illegitimate power unchallenged, the potential for populism is present.
Political rhetoric is the usual way populists voice their discontent.
Action is passionately demanded to stand up to elitist power. Because emotions drive both the leaders and followers, populism is difficult to systematically analyze. Consequently, reason and logic are not the most effective methods to understand populism's appeal. One's ideology tends to distort the study of populism from the very beginning. Thus, populism is used to describe both conservative and liberal political movements in the United States.