NationStates Jolt Archive

Centrist politics, for me, is politics without extremes; without the partisanism so common in politics (American in particular). I see it as a viable option and basis for a political party. Here is the perfect example to illustrate a centrist position; Illegal immigration in America. The Democrats (generally speaking) want to open the gates and let them in. The Republicans (again, generally speaking) want to just plain kick them out. Granted both of these are extreme. As a centrist, this is my take: We can't just let them in, they'll bring their problems with them. We can't just kick them out, that's just cruel consider how much they went through to get here. Here is my position: Provide economic aid to Mexico; make it easier for big buisiness and small buisiness, to provide jobs; then let those in America decide to stay in America or return home. What is your opinion of centrist beliefs; do you like them? Follow them? Or do see it as "indesiveness" or "too complex" or just flat outright hate it and all those who follow it? Submit your opinions.

The problem with centrists is that they don't want to do anything, because it's all too extreme...

Although I'm a near centrist (on pol-compass scale), because I'm more or less apathic towards what people do as long as they don't effect me or my family.

Being too centrist would be indecisive.

And in a simple way, you can't please everybody, eventually somebody or everybodies going to suffer. It's all down to economics, trying to fulfill the wants with limited resources.

I have no strong feelings in either way.

Heh, how bout some mild and less undecisive centrism?

Assuming that the mid position between two extremes is the correct position to take politically is a logical fallacy in and of itself.

Moreover, it's lazy thinking. From a moral point of view, a political position should be adopted by you if you think it's the best position to take regardless of it's location in an arbitrary spectrum of choices. Additionally, it leaves you open for manipulation. For example, A is somewhat left of B and wants to convince C to join him. A, pretends to adopt a position much further left of his actual convictions and then, after much debate says to C, "Well you might want to go slightly left of B since it's the central position"

But what's wrong with staying away from extremes? It's good to stay away from extremes in life by not being too poor or too rich, because both have their own problems and disadvantages. So why is it not good to stay away from the extremes of the Democratic and Republican parties if you don't really agree with what either one is saying, and when you know that they won't change?

Assuming that the mid position between two extremes is the correct position to take politically is a logical fallacy in and of itself.

Moreover, it's lazy thinking. From a moral point of view, a political position should be adopted by you if you think it's the best position to take regardless of it's location in an arbitrary spectrum of choices. Additionally, it leaves you open for manipulation. For example, A is somewhat left of B and wants to convince C to join him. A, pretends to adopt a position much further left of his actual convictions and then, after much debate says to C, "Well you might want to go slightly left of B since it's the central position"

This is exactly the trick that the political right is using these days (although I'm not entirely convinced that they don't actually assume the political position of pure evil rather than just pretending too). They continually assume an extremist pro-corporate pro-ceaseropapist anti-environmentalist agenda and then point at farily moderate politicians who favor equal rights, multiculturalism and environmental protection and call them "radicals." And always you hear "will the Democrats assume a more mainstream position?" As it is the main stream is a sewer.

The centrist revolution is coming people!!! We shall take to the streets and topple the icons of extremist politics. The streets will ring with our moderate slogans:
"maybe not so much with the deregulation?"
"so what if gays get married?"
"people should be allowed to own guns, but I don't know about military artilery."
"I don't think socialized medicine works, but something should be done about the price of health insurance."
Mark my words, the streets will run a little grey because we will not do much to encourage mass transit, nor will we dedicate much funding to improving road maintanance. Join the centrist revolution!

I don't mind a centrist, I would trust them over a left or right canidate any day. I think the big problem is that, as was stated, quite a few are tattooed for one side or the other. This is dangerous as these folks may vote for or against it based on thier party, not based on what it would do.