Reply #57: How we accomplish things in reaching the common goal [View All]

[kctim]

Take something as simple as smoking. The common goal is to make it so non-smokers are not forced to breath in smoke. Liberal way says to use govt to ban all smoking in public areas. Moderate way says to let the businesses and customers make that decision on their own. Both reach a common goal, but one intrudes on individual rights while the other leaves the rights intact.

Moderates don't always resist raising the min wage and when they do, it is usually because they are being asked for it to be raised too much and too fast.

They don't always resist regulations on corps. Not sure if you have noticed, but there are some things moderates believe should be left up to the corps and some that govt needs to require.

The US is not, or has ever been, like the "rest of the civilized world." Her people are not accustomed to her providing for them, they are accustomed to providing for themselves and for her. While very charitable, we are also very cautious and demanding, which is why very few of us ever object to helping those who need help, but are very reluctant and critical of helping those who can help themselves but choose not to. When you listen to moderates complain about something like welfare, it isn't about the single parent of 4 who is working and still struggling, it is about how others abuse the system.
Healthcare is like this in many ways. Most of the Democrats I know are happy with their current plans and want nothing to do with the ones being offered. But, as the polls show, most do not mind a govt plan to help those who are not insured.

You cannot say moderates resist equal rights to all persons and be fair. Moderate views vary dramatically on such things like gay marriage. I believe myself to be a moderate, but I am for absolute marriage rights for ALL. NO questions asked. My neighbor, an Obama supporting, pick-up driving, UAW member, whom I consider a moderate Dem, does not believe in it at all. My grandfather, a lifelong Democrat, doesn't care one way or another.
Heck, as a group, black Americans mainly support the Democratic Party, but yet, as a group, they overwhelmingly vote against gay marriage. Should they be asked to the Democratic Party? Hell no.

Some moderates are pro-life and that cannot be denied. But not all are and we vote for the Dem who best represents us. I personally hold an extreme view on abortion, in that I believe I have no say on anything once the doc closes the door. Again, I consider myself to be a moderate.

No, it was not a clever way to say you like to soak the rich. That is common knowledge and I would have said it straight out. As far as your examples, they too show how our beliefs differ.

Of course some Republican beliefs bleed into the moderate Dems way of thought, that is why we are moderates, or centrists. We know that no govt involvement from the far right is just as bad as too much govt involvement from the far left.
We are the middle and we keep you guys honest.