NationStates Jolt Archive

As much as I try to avoid it and dismiss it, I see the left and the right filling out their stereotypes more and more. It is very easy to stereotype both the left and the right but I never thought these stereotypes would be so wide spread. I'm getting quite fustrated that so many people on the left or the right have to subscribe to a particular doctorine which is hardly flexible, in all circumstances and act so similar to each other in debate. It has almost turned into a religion or church where people are not able to express their own opinions but rather just jump on the bandwagon.

Anyway enough of my rant, I just want to know if this has happened to people around the center of the political scale. Do you often find moderates also fulfilling a particular stereotype?

I can think of a few:

Boring, cowardly, un progressive, without strong feeling etc...

So post your stereotypes about moderates/centrists/libertarians and tell me if you think that these stereotypes are wide spread.

The stereotype would be wishy-washy, unwilling to commit to anything, unwilling to confront anyone.

Somebody more interested in popularity than in changing the world for the better.

Fence-sitter. Hypocrite. Waffler.

Unless you're talking about libertarians, where the stereotypes are things like "hick", "gun nut", "conspiracy theorist", "lunatic".... stuff like that. :p

It's been my experience that those who go out of their way to claim they are 'moderate' are usually anything but.

pussy

It's been my experience that those who go out of their way to claim they are 'moderate' are usually anything but.I agree.

pussy

...Why would you call me that? :(

It's been my experience that those who go out of their way to claim they are 'moderate' are usually anything but.

I agree here. The use of the word 'moderate' has become something of a defence against people jumping on one's ass for saying something that's blatantly partisan.

A moderate, at least those among my peer group/age group is generally someone open-minded enough to at least acnowledge that there are flaws in most modes of government, but in lieu of anything insightful to say, simply declares himself "Not like those whack-job extremists"

Lardarse who doesn't have the intellectual rigour to form an honest opinion about anything. Useful idiot, in other words.

Agrees with social welfare, better education, better research funding, but doesn't really want to help pay for it. Believes in helping the enviornment but not sure if he's ready to do anything to help the enviornment.

Believes the children are our future, but won't vote for anyone who says they'll raise taxes to help children realize that future. Believes in women's right to an abortion, but would strongly discourage his wife/sister/daughter from getting one.

Believes in gay rights, but gets a little personally uncomfortable when he's with an out of the closet homosexual, secretly prays his children grow up "right". Believes in the rights of minorities and is opposed to discrimination, but locks his doors and drives a bit faster through neighborhoods that are well......you know. Is also in favor of gay rights but, you know, do they have to call it MARRIAGE?

Believes in the rights to worship as one chooses and government out of religion but doesn't see the problem with 10 commandments on courthouses or the words "under god" in the pledge, what's the big deal. Also somewhat buys into the argument that intelligent design should be taught in science class, not because it's RELIGION, oh no, but because it's a competing theory, and science is supposed to be open and why would it deny an opposing theory from being taught?

In short, a moderate is one who holds the social positions, often, of a liberal, but without being willing to make the sacrifices necessary to bring it about. Ultimitly the moderate position is one of "it's a great idea, and we should definitly do that, just as long as I don't have to help pay for it, or change my lifestyle and opinions in any way."

A moderate? Someone who is practical, who wants government to do its job properly and be professional instead of partisan, someone who wants government to not spend beyond its means, someone who thinks government should help people live their own lives instead of trying to tell people how to live, someone who believes that government should serve the people instead of trying to rule the people.

In short, to me, a political moderate is someone who keeps his/her head on straight while the left and right seek the power to implement outrageous ideas regardless of the financial/political/social cost.

A moderate? Someone who is practical, who wants government to do its job properly and be professional instead of partisan, someone who wants government to not spend beyond its means, someone who thinks government should help people live their own lives instead of trying to tell people how to live, someone who believes that government should serve the people instead of trying to rule the people.

In short, to me, a political moderate is someone who keeps his/her head on straight while the left and right seek the power to implement outrageous ideas regardless of the financial/political/social cost.

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Okay, now how about someone who isn't trying to make themselves look good. :p

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Okay, now how about someone who isn't trying to make themselves look good. :p

You don't think a liberal or conservative who posts on here is also trying to make him/herself look good by casting moderates as weeny fence-sitters? Give me a break.

Signed,
a liberal trying to make himself look good :p

The problem, so far as I can tell, isn't with being moderate in your politics as it is with the actual people who claim the mantle of moderation and are anything but. The other problem is that moderation is often used as a synonym for bi-partisanship in the US system, and the two don't always match up, especially when bi-partisanship is the cover a politician gives himself for throwing his party under the bus (like Joe Lieberman does all the time).

You don't think a liberal or conservative who posts on here is also trying to make him/herself look good by casting moderates as weeny fence-sitters? Give me a break.

Signed,
a liberal trying to make himself look good :p

Yeah, but the way we're doing it is far more amusing. *nods*

Fence-sitter. Hypocrite. Waffler.

Unless you're talking about libertarians, where the stereotypes are things like "hick", "gun nut", "conspiracy theorist", "lunatic".... stuff like that. :p

Some of which are those rare stereotypes that are accurate more often then inaccurate.

How about - thoughtful, rational, able to see both sides, both the flaws and the virtues, informed (with actual facts,not just some pseudo-authority figures rants). To be a moderate is't a position of fear, it's actually a position of intelligence, because moderates actually do think for themselves instead of letting the current favorite celeb, politician, religious idiot do their thinking for them.

I am aware that many object to the moderation of my language; but is there not cause for moderation? I will be as soft as truth, and as compromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or to speak, or write, with severity. No! no! Tell a man whose house is only sort of on fire to give a severe alarm; tell him to severely rescue his wife from the hands of the only part-ravisher; tell the mother to severely extricate her babe from the not too hot fire into which it has fallen; -- but urge me not to use severity in a cause like the present. I am unsure -- I will equivocate -- I will excuse -- I will retreat miles and miles -- AND I WILL NOT BE HEARD. The anger and partisanship of the people is enough to make every statue stay firmly on its pedestal, and to delay the resurrection of the dead.

:)