NationStates Jolt Archive

Having just taken the political compass test, I find myself struggling beneath the "centrist" label. I've always known that's what I am, but now that it is confirmed, I have a problem: no party accurately represents me. In Canada, I'm probably a liberal, except that I hate the corruption. If I were an American, I don't know if I could vote for either party.
I like many Republicans (McCain, Powell, etc.) and also a few democrats (Gore, Clark), but I find either party is too right/left in their thinking. Why do you think a mainstream centrist party has not evolved in Canda or the US?

So do I. I thought I was right-ish. Guess not.

People don't like to think about the fact that most issues are not black and white - it makes them uncomfortable. Therefore, they have to polarize every single issue into "us" and "them". It really only leaves room for more extreme groups.

The Canadian Liberal Party is remarkably centrist. I don't know much of American politics, but from what I gather, the Democrats are not particularly liberal at all, certainly farther right than the Canadian Liberals

Having just taken the political compass test, I find myself struggling beneath the "centrist" label. I've always known that's what I am, but now that it is confirmed, I have a problem: no party accurately represents me. In Canada, I'm probably a liberal, except that I hate the corruption. If I were an American, I don't know if I could vote for either party.
I like many Republicans (McCain, Powell, etc.) and also a few democrats (Gore, Clark), but I find either party is too right/left in their thinking. Why do you think a mainstream centrist party has not evolved in Canda or the US?

Well, first of all, McCain actually is quite conservative. That being said, even liberals like him because a) he's a genuine patriot, and b) he's genuinely committed to ending political corruption. Gore and Clark are both pink to McCain's pretty solid red, and something Tom Delay's deep spike into the infrared spectrum. But this is trivial.

The real question, why there never developed a true moderate party, is probably partly because of political structure (the U.S.'s winner-take-all system and political organs seem to naturally engender a two-party system, one of which is naturally going to be more polar to whatever passes for "left" than the other in any given era), and partly because any time you do have a true "moderate" party, what you really have is a one-party system, and those tend to collapse fairly quickly in American politics. The only two times we've ever really had a one-party system was back when the Federalist party was in control, and they had a run of 4-6 years before the Democratic-Republicans came along and destroyed them. The D-R's had their own run of about 12 years, but they split as well into Democratic and Whig factions.

Whoo! within like, 3.6 points of dead center here...

Well, first of all, McCain actually is quite conservative. That being said, even liberals like him because a) he's a genuine patriot, and b) he's genuinely committed to ending political corruption. Gore and Clark are both pink to McCain's pretty solid red, and something Tom Delay's deep spike into the infrared spectrum. But this is trivial.

The real question, why there never developed a true moderate party, is probably partly because of political structure (the U.S.'s winner-take-all system and political organs seem to naturally engender a two-party system, one of which is naturally going to be more polar to whatever passes for "left" than the other in any given era), and partly because any time you do have a true "moderate" party, what you really have is a one-party system, and those tend to collapse fairly quickly in American politics. The only two times we've ever really had a one-party system was back when the Federalist party was in control, and they had a run of 4-6 years before the Democratic-Republicans came along and destroyed them. The D-R's had their own run of about 12 years, but they split as well into Democratic and Whig factions.

I just like McCain because every interview I've ever seen him in he's been reasonable, and really hasn't talked like a hard-line right winger. Hweell, he said he was sure Hillary Clinton would be a good president. Wasn't he even considered as a darkhorse VP candidate with Kerry?

"If I were an American, I don't know if I could vote for either party.
I like many Republicans (McCain, Powell, etc.) and also a few democrats (Gore, Clark), but I find either party is too right/left in their thinking."

how can you say the democrats are too left wing? they arent remotely left wing. they are more left than republicans, granted, but they are still right wing, capitalist swine. or in this case donkeys.

"If I were an American, I don't know if I could vote for either party.
I like many Republicans (McCain, Powell, etc.) and also a few democrats (Gore, Clark), but I find either party is too right/left in their thinking."

how can you say the democrats are too left wing? they arent remotely left wing. they are more left than republicans, granted, but they are still right wing, capitalist swine. or in this case donkeys.

This is the same party that Dean is the new head of? Howard Dean is a right-wing thinker, is he?

If you drive in the middle of the road, you'll get killed from both sides.

This is the same party that Dean is the new head of? Howard Dean is a right-wing thinker, is he?

yes. don't buy the spin, and take a look at his actual record.

-snip-You should come to the UK - you could vote for the Lib Dems :D

You should come to the UK - you could vote for the Lib Dems :D

Yeah! I don't know who they are, but I'll take your word for it.

yes. don't buy the spin, and take a look at his actual record.

Okay. All I know about Dean was what I heard him say during the elction campaign. I do understand he's actually got a very good economic record, though.

I'm Canadian and centrist but I support the Conservative party.

Centrists?
I'd better get out fast before the bouncers get here, as I'm a bit* far off-center...

*'a bit' meaning 'extremely'

Centerists?!

They have no place in NS.

Everyone has to eather be a Nazi right winger or a rabid communist leftie. :p

Haha, centrists. *points*

"Anywhere the wind blows..."

Well at least you're not authoritarian capitalists. ;)

Haha, centrists. *points*

"Anywhere the wind blows..."

Well at least you're not authoritarian capitalists. ;)

At least... But that isn't saying much!