What Would Centrism Do To Politics

[BadBoy@TheWheel]

Call it what you will, Libertarianism, Centrism, Moderate Political thought. How do you think the system could be improved with no partisanship by virtue of political philosophy?

 

[Peter Parka]

Not sure if I get quite what you're getting at but I think any country would benefit by having more Independents, it would sure save a lot of time and effort on pointless mudslinging and give the voters a better choice.

 

[Lord Stanley]

i always like the idea of elected officials listening to the electorate rather than to the party line, thing is i dont think that would work - i.e in my area the electorate is split, right/left, whomever gets elected could never please everyone

 

[BadBoy@TheWheel]

Not sure if I get quite what you're getting at but I think any country would benefit by having more Independents, it would sure save a lot of time and effort on pointless mudslinging and give the voters a better choice.

I would say you got what I was saying lock stock and two smoking barrels. Well put Parka

 

[Tim]

I'm not sure people would accept it... the majority of people need something to fight against or fear, even if they have to manufacture it. Just look at our history, there has always been something to fight against whether it be the sinners/satan, those in power. And when it comes to fear, it's something we are good at manufacturing. Whether it be Jesus returning in the rapture, comets coming down and destroying the planet, nuclear holocaust, the Y2K bug, 2012, etc. We are not happy unless our impending doom is just around the corner.

And as far as the partisan bullshit we deal with in this country, I think the vast majority of it is manufactured anyway. It's used as a distraction to keep us from coming together and actually doing what's right for the country. We are much more likely to vote against our best interests if we are kept fighting amongst ourselves. And that goes for both sides.

 

[Dana]

I agree on having more independents

 

[Minor Axis]

I would say you got what I was saying lock stock and two smoking barrels. Well put Parka

How would you achieve that? There are plenty of political parties in the U.S. (as an example), but only 2 maybe 3 of them are viable on the state level, and only 2 on the national level. People have choices and make them. The people are the partisans.

 

[Tim]

And to your original question...

I would love to have more centrists in the government. I would love to actually get work done without the fighting factions.

 

[BadBoy@TheWheel]

To Tim and Axis
One thing to remember is that LBJ made the comment that the Democrats would never again get a vote from the South after Civil Rights passed
Look to our last major election and you will see that's not true, people are forgetful, we thrive on the right now, with little retrospect, nor forward look as to what we actually want long term
We are constantly thriving for what we can get right now
I think it's possible to groom independents, just like we have groomed Democrats and Conservatives
But it takes a nation, I still feel that it can happen because the benefits are HUGE, which in the end, is all we care about...What's in it for me

 

[Minor Axis]

To Tim and Axis
One thing to remember is that LBJ made the comment that the Democrats would never again get a vote from the South after Civil Rights passed
Look to our last major election and you will see that's not true, people are forgetful, we thrive on the right now, with little retrospect, nor forward look as to what we actually want long term
We are constantly thriving for what we can get right now
I think it's possible to groom independents, just like we have groomed Democrats and Conservatives
But it takes a nation, I still feel that it can happen because the benefits are HUGE, which in the end, is all we care about...What's in it for me

Absolutely and yes the Democrats lost the South with civil rights, and maybe there is a swing back now, but it's what the people "feel" that is motivating them. We are a country with free will and freedom to vote as we may. People are motivated by XXX (job, family pressures, philosophical clashes, prejudicial views, the Earth is burning, viewing government as the solution vs the problem, black helicopters, jack-booted thugs, etc., whatever).

The notion of having a government populated by centrists is great idea. It's orchestrating the outcome that is the tricky part.

 

[Peter Parka]

Even though it's still limited, I think it helps over here when you have three viable parties instead of two. This has caused a lot of tactical voting and something I have done myself. We have Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. Say you are at heart a Labour voter but the real battle in your area is between the Libs and the Conservatives. Instead of wasting your vote, voting Labour, you vote for the Libs to get the Conservatives out ect.

 

[nova]

If it was centrism focused of the ideals of individual liberty, limited gov't and rule of law ie classical liberalism/paleo-conservatism (not the diseases that are modern liberalism and neo-conservatism) it could do great things.

 

[catisland]

Moderate Libertarian. That's what most of us really are.

 

[Meirionnydd]

To Tim and Axis
One thing to remember is that LBJ made the comment that the Democrats would never again get a vote from the South after Civil Rights passed

The more correct quote would be, 'We have lost the South for a generation'. Something which I think, considering subsequent Presidential elections, is quite true.

 

[BadBoy@TheWheel]

The more correct quote would be, 'We have lost the South for a generation'. Something which I think, considering subsequent Presidential elections, is quite true.

I wasn't actually standing there when he said it, so I was more paraphrasing :24:

 

[Accountable]

Call it what you will, Libertarianism, Centrism, Moderate Political thought. How do you think the system could be improved with no partisanship by virtue of political philosophy?

Libertarian is hardly centrist. While it shares some values with each side of our current siamese twin party, it also stands for minimum government intervention, which is anathema to the Republicrats.

I'm not sure people would accept it... the majority of people need something to fight against or fear, even if they have to manufacture it. Just look at our history, there has always been something to fight against whether it be the sinners/satan, those in power. And when it comes to fear, it's something we are good at manufacturing. Whether it be Jesus returning in the rapture, comets coming down and destroying the planet, nuclear holocaust, the Y2K bug, 2012, etc. We are not happy unless our impending doom is just around the corner.

And as far as the partisan bullshit we deal with in this country, I think the vast majority of it is manufactured anyway. It's used as a distraction to keep us from coming together and actually doing what's right for the country. We are much more likely to vote against our best interests if we are kept fighting amongst ourselves. And that goes for both sides.

Couldn't agree more.

How would you achieve that? There are plenty of political parties in the U.S. (as an example), but only 2 maybe 3 of them are viable on the state level, and only 2 on the national level. People have choices and make them. The people are the partisans.

Opposition parties are unable to get a hold because of the prohibitive rules congress has put in place to keep the "two" parties (wink wink, nudge nudge) in power. It's a trust that needs to be busted.

 

[MoonOwl]

Couldn't agree more.


Opposition parties are unable to get a hold because of the prohibitive rules congress has put in place to keep the "two" parties (wink wink, nudge nudge) in power. It's a trust that needs to be busted.

Why we haven't banded together and changed it yet surprises me........ Perhaps all those rumors about drugs in our water supplies have not been exaggerated?

It amazes me the amount of crap we have allowed to happen while allowing ourselves to be completely distracted.

Those politicians who are trying to pass stuff to make people who disagree w/the sold-out status quo as terrorists should just give up. It's not like WeThePeople are coming together anytime soon for the sake of us all.....:24::24::24::24::24:

 

[Accountable]

Why we haven't banded together and changed it yet surprises me........ Perhaps all those rumors about drugs in our water supplies have not been exaggerated?

That's because no one wants to let go of the safety rail to skate across the rink. Nobody trusts anybody. They think if they don't vote for the leech A then they'll get bit by leech B, and wind up getting bled dry anyway. If everyone would simply vote for the candidate they truly think would do the best job, there wouldn't be more than 3 or 4 from the traditional party left standing.

 

[MoonOwl]

hehehehehehehehehe...... I was seriously surprised w/the GOP voters when they didn't embrace Ron Paul - gee have I said that before

I guess the message of a return of Freedom & Liberty is lost on a lot of people....

Our loss. Sold-out politicians gains.

 

[Meirionnydd]

I wasn't actually standing there when he said it, so I was more paraphrasing :24:

Neither was I. But there's a fundamental difference from 'Losing the South for a generation', and 'Never getting another [electoral] vote from the South', don't you think?