What makes someone a "Centrist"?

[Kyle Phoenix]

Given how polarised things are in American politics right now:

1. What do you believe it means to be politically "centrist" in America today and what policy positions would you associate with that?

2. Is being Centrist in America different from being Centrist in other countries like the UK or Canada?

3. Do you think the "centre" has shifted within the past few years as a result of the divisions in American society?

4. Or are there some principles that remain a constant for centrists, no matter the political climate?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[RabidAlpaca]

I would imagine part of the appeal to becoming a centrist is the realization that rarely in life is an extreme the best option, it's usually the balanced option that's best.

An unchecked far left government or an unchecked far right government would both be disasters. There does need to be a certain balance between philosophical ideals. The issue with centrism in America is that Republicans aren't playing their role right. The left would need the balance of a fiscally conservative party to keep them grounded, but the Republicans aren't fiscally conservative. They spend worse than even the Dems when in office and thus provide no balance.

 

[Craig234]

I think a centrist is largely a negative label, meaning they don't want to be right or left.

I think it's the home of the 'non-political', the uninformed, the uninterested in politics, the people who look at it and say 'both sides suck, they're all corrupt'.

In practice, in tends to people who support corporatism, however unwittingly. They're people more easily pandered to and fooled, suckers for 'retail politics', who often say they 'vote for the person'.

They'll tend to not appreciate government except where they benefit, and to like phrases about 'small government' and 'low taxes'.

They don't really stand for that much, more just opposing things. Don't like this, don't like that.

 

[Kyle Phoenix]

I would imagine part of the appeal to becoming a centrist is the realization that rarely in life is an extreme the best option, it's usually the balanced option that's best. An unchecked far left government or an unchecked far right government would both be disasters. There does need to be a certain balance between philosophical ideals.

I think this is true, although America is unusual (compared to European countries at least) in having to debate/assert whether the far right is Fascism or Liberatarianism because its equates Big Government with anything left of centre. As a Brit, I would struggle to position libertarianism as a movement on the political spectrum (based on it's relationship to classical liberalism, I might be inclined to call it centrist or centre-right maybe). There is certain extreme language issues in American politics which means that "Fascist" and "Socialist" become slurs applied indiscriminately to anyone, regardless of whether their political positions and history merit it.

I think Boris Johnson may have tried to play the "Red" card against Jeremy Corbyn, (and you had Ed Miliband being called "Red Ed" back in the 2015 elections because Union support was critical to him being elected leader in the Labour Party) but it is nowhere near as central in British politics as the aversion to anything resembling socialism is in America. The very nature of what is politically in the centre in America is dependent on propaganda battles in getting the public to respond to certain trigger words rather than looking at actual policy.

The issue with centrism in America is that Republicans aren't playing their role right. The left would need the balance of a fiscally conservative party to keep them grounded, but the Republicans aren't fiscally conservative. They spend worse than even the Dems when in office and thus provide no balance.

This isn't unique to America as there appears to be a global movement affecting all right-of-centre parties right now, but you guys certainly do things "bigger" than the rest of us. :mrgreen: I certainly would be very happy if Republicans behaved more like a European Conservative and Centre-Right Party as you would probably be more able to reach a compromise of a range of issues. It would just be better if Republicans actually respected intellect more, listened to the advice of experts and didn't politicise knowledge and education when it's so damaging to the United States.

 

[Kyle Phoenix]

I think a centrist is largely a negative label, meaning they don't want to be right or left.

I think it's the home of the 'non-political', the uninformed, the uninterested in politics, the people who look at it and say 'both sides suck, they're all corrupt'.

In practice, in tends to people who support corporatism, however unwittingly. They're people more easily pandered to and fooled, suckers for 'retail politics', who often say they 'vote for the person'.

They'll tend to not appreciate government except where they benefit, and to like phrases about 'small government' and 'low taxes'.

They don't really stand for that much, more just opposing things. Don't like this, don't like that.

Would you say someone who takes moderate or middle-of-the-road position is that way because of a lack of conviction then? Or it is possible to be a principled centrist driven by strong convictions?

 

[Craig234]

Would you say someone who takes moderate or middle-of-the-road position is that way because of a lack of conviction then? Or it is possible to be a principled centrist driven by strong convictions?

I think they'll often think they have strong convictions, but might not understand that much about issues. So for example, 'patriotism' might be something they feel strongly about, but defining that is something else. Their values tend to be less about political principles. So while one person might be a passionate civil rights activist, the centrist might just be passionately pro-America and say the civil rights activist is too 'radical' or 'extremist' for them.

 

[Sweden]

The inability to see a fence and to resist the urge to sit on it.

 

[Luther]

Given how polarised things are in American politics right now:

1. What do you believe it means to be politically "centrist" in America today and what policy positions would you associate with that?

2. Is being Centrist in America different from being Centrist in other countries like the UK or Canada?

3. Do you think the "centre" has shifted within the past few years as a result of the divisions in American society?

4. Or are there some principles that remain a constant for centrists, no matter the political climate?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Well, its because of Moderate centrist that have created the mess we're in

 

[RetiredUSN]

I think a centrist is largely a negative label, meaning they don't want to be right or left.

I think it's the home of the 'non-political', the uninformed, the uninterested in politics, the people who look at it and say 'both sides suck, they're all corrupt'.

In practice, in tends to people who support corporatism, however unwittingly. They're people more easily pandered to and fooled, suckers for 'retail politics', who often say they 'vote for the person'.

They'll tend to not appreciate government except where they benefit, and to like phrases about 'small government' and 'low taxes'.

They don't really stand for that much, more just opposing things. Don't like this, don't like that.

That's a whole lot of assumptions in one post. :roll:

To say that centrists are uninformed is about the dumbest thing you could say.

Hack liberals and hack conservatives are the ones most often in the categories of what you speak of.

 

[Luther]

That's a whole lot of assumptions in one post. :roll:

To say that centrists are uninformed is about the dumbest thing you could say.

Hack liberals and hack conservatives are the ones most often in the categories of what you speak of.

Yes, like this for example?(LOL)

I think a centrist is largely a negative label, meaning they don't want to be right or left.

 

[pinqy]

Given how polarised things are in American politics right now:

1. What do you believe it means to be politically "centrist" in America today and what policy positions would you associate with that?

2. Is being Centrist in America different from being Centrist in other countries like the UK or Canada?

3. Do you think the "centre" has shifted within the past few years as a result of the divisions in American society?

4. Or are there some principles that remain a constant for centrists, no matter the political climate?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Left and Right are package deals: sets of positions. Centrists hold some positions that would be in the Left set and some in the Right. There is no set of Centrist positions as the mix and degree will vary. And often individual positions on a topic will be a mix, not taking a hard line on an issue but agreeing in part and disagreeing in part with left and right.

The American Center does tend to be a bit more Conservative than the European Centre.

 

[Chomsky]

I would imagine part of the appeal to becoming a centrist is the realization that rarely in life is an extreme the best option, it's usually the balanced option that's best.

An unchecked far left government or an unchecked far right government would both be disasters. There does need to be a certain balance between philosophical ideals. The issue with centrism in America is that Republicans aren't playing their role right. The left would need the balance of a fiscally conservative party to keep them grounded, but the Republicans aren't fiscally conservative. They spend worse than even the Dems when in office and thus provide no balance.

Agreed.

Conservatives need the compassion, open-mindedness, and tolerance of Liberals to temper their fears. And Liberals need the pragmatic concerned reality of Conservatives, to ground their ideologies.

But I must say for myself, that as conservatively as I like to live my personal life, I generally prefer the social company of liberals. They have fewer hang-ups, in my opinion. And their often youthful enthusiasm is infectious. It doesn't matter if they can't turn the world into utopia, they want to try. I like that attitude. I much prefer enthusiasm, even if possibly misplaced, to fear & intrepidation.

 

[Chomsky]

Left and Right are package deals: sets of positions. Centrists hold some positions that would be in the Left set and some in the Right. There is no set of Centrist positions as the mix and degree will vary. And often individual positions on a topic will be a mix, not taking a hard line on an issue but agreeing in part and disagreeing in part with left and right.

The American Center does tend to be a bit more Conservative than the European Centre.

Without a doubt!

 

[TobyOne]

What a load. Liberals aren't tolerant, compassionate or open minded. This is a simplistic view based on false tropes and narratives.

Agreed.

Conservatives need the compassion, open-mindedness, and tolerance of Liberals to temper their fears. And Liberals need the pragmatic concerned reality of Conservatives, to ground their ideologies.

But I must say for myself, that as conservatively as I like to live my personal life, I generally prefer the social company of liberals. They have fewer hang-ups, in my opinion. And their often youthful enthusiasm is infectious. It doesn't matter if they can't turn the world into utopia, they want to try. I like that attitude. I much prefer enthusiasm, even if possibly misplaced, to fear & intrepidation.

 

[RabidAlpaca]

Agreed.

Conservatives need the compassion, open-mindedness, and tolerance of Liberals to temper their fears. And Liberals need the pragmatic concerned reality of Conservatives, to ground their ideologies.

But I must say for myself, that as conservatively as I like to live my personal life, I generally prefer the social company of liberals. They have fewer hang-ups, in my opinion. And their often youthful enthusiasm is infectious. It doesn't matter if they can't turn the world into utopia, they want to try. I like that attitude. I much prefer enthusiasm, even if possibly misplaced, to fear & intrepidation.

Totally agree. I'm an optimist by nature and I realize that things are never as simple as I want them to be, but for ****s sake let's at least TRY to make the world a less miserable place instead of just giving up on humanity altogether and saying "**** it, I've got mine".

 

[Chomsky]

What a load. Liberals aren't tolerant, compassionate or open minded. This is a simplistic view based on false tropes and narratives.

In comparison to Conservatives? They sure are! 'Liberal' derives from 'Liberty', you know?

 

[Chomsky]

Totally agree. I'm an optimist by nature and I realize that things are never as simple as I want them to be, but for ****s sake let's at least TRY to make the world a less miserable place instead of just giving up on humanity altogether and saying "**** it, I've got mine".

I didn't put it in my post, but you bring up a good point:

Compassion and empathy seem to flow more easily from Liberals. Conservatives tend to lean more to protecting themselves & what they have.

Those are important differences. Even if I'm using generalities, which are always problematic and obviously do not apply to all.