Reply #9: and on the other side they take away from that with their corporate [View All]

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concerns, capital gains, voluntary regulations to protect business, militarization lite. Don't get me wrong. Many 'centrists' keep to a sincere defense of concerns that looks to compromise now to win the rest of the battle later. Incrementalism may work if it intends to come back and pick up the loose pieces and isn't just a pacifier, or a stopgap with no sustainability or commitment to the future. Too often centrism represents a retreat from a total solution.

Iraq is a prime example. Centrism wants a withdrawal, but it still wants to find some sort of victory in Iraq. That's a recipe for future muckraking. Half in, half out. Good politically, perhaps, but not good for the remaining troops left to continue the military meddling while everyone is satisfied that they've ended the occupation. A liberal stance says out now. Immediate withdrawal. It's hard for me to see how you get this regime to move anywhere toward an exit without a solid, unambiguous opposition to the occupation. One without qualifications or half-steps. The incrementalism and compromise of a moderate may not allow for enough of a distinction for voters looking for a solution which will bring the troops home as soon as possible.

The environment is another concern that won't bear the half steps and window dressing of the centrist's compromises that curry to industry. A liberal approach doesn't put business on the same level as our wildlife, our air, our water, and our land.

A centrist's approach to 'free trade' is no solution to the millions of unemployed. It never occurs to the left that giving our tax dollars to business in the form of tax breaks will ever trickle down far enough to make a difference in our constituent's lives. Billions for the already wealthy in capital gains in exchange for pennies an hour for the workers?

These basic concerns aren't addressed by standing in the compromised middle and bargaining down. That's what centrism represents to me.