Is a Centrist a "Republican lite," a "Democratic lite," or Both?

[onehandle]

[nomorenomore08]

1. Could be either, I guess, but it seems like "centrist" is a synonym for "swing voter."

Of course, in our post-Reagan political discourse, "centrist" tends to mean "right-leaning," but that's the way it goes.

[Warpy]

2. Few people know where the center is any more

and most of the people who puff their chests out and claim they're centrists are really quite conservative.

This poll is meaningless unless the center is defined.

Majority positions, the real center, include getting out of Iraq, raising taxes on the wealthy, ending lobbyist control of Congress, getting dirty money out of elections, repairing regulatory agencies so we have more confidence in food and drugs, fixing healthcare, and raising the minimum wage by a hefty and immediate amount. Oh, and a slim majority is still prochoice.

That's considered far left by most self described centrists.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Where does the majority stand on the death penalty?

:shrug:

[depakid]

10. Depends on how one defines it

The vast majority of people in western nations oppose the death penalty- but then again, their people also won't lose their homes, retirement accounts and go bankrupt over medical bills

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. How do the vast majority of AMERICANS stand on the the death penalty?

:shrug:

[Mike Daniels]

15. American's as a majority still support the death penalty for certain crimes

although I think most people would be in favor of doing away with the DP altogether if "life without parole" was to replace it across the board.

[depakid]

16. Again, it depends on how the issue is framed

It's generally framed in the corporate media via EMOTION and fear.

If its framed in terms of actual expense, due process, the FACT that it has no general deterrence value and life without parole is the option, opinions would swing substantially.

In addition, one might also look at the Bill of Rights and various provisions in the Constitution. How many of those do you think would stand up to a majority rule referendum?

My guess is maybe 1/2 of them would be voted down.

[Juche]

6. Thats what I was going to say

The center seems to be moderately left according to opinion polls.

You forgot strong environmental laws, fighting global warming, ending the use of fossil fuels, universal healthcare, stem cell research, fair trade (instead of free trade), fair treatment for gays, paths to citizenship for immigrants.

All these issues have 60%+ of the public behind them. Its almost like the corporate media is telling us what they think we should believe, not what we do believe.

[zonmoy]

13. real center is halfway between the greens and the democrats

corporate center is halfway between democrats and republicans.

[slackmaster]

3. Centrism is Chinese Restaurant Menu politics

One from Column A

Two from Column B

With five or more, you get eggrolls!

[JHB]

5. These days, "Centrism" means "anti-populism"

Thus it is both and neither.

[TheWraith]

7. A genuine centerist would be Democrat Lite. nt

[onehandle]

8. I agree. nt

[depakid]

9. No such thing as a "centrist"

One either supports rational policies that promote the greater public good (which almost always means progressive policies these days) -or one supports or enables irrational policies- that denigrate the public good (or loot the treasury, the public health, the environment or the state of literacy in the nation- usuallt for the benefit of a few large corporations or fundamentalist ideology.

As Jim Hightower has said: the only things in the middle of the road are dead armadillos.

[maui9002]

14. I think you overlook that many people

will disagree on what is for the public good and what is not. Immigration policy, for instance, is an issue that splits many Democrats. What about gun control? Are restrictions on firearms for the public good? What about the building of a dam for hydroelectric power and flood control but that has significant environmental impact? I respect your viewpoint, but in my view, one of the reasons we've been unable as a society to address many problems is that we've become too polarized into separate camps on every issue, and politics becomes a struggle between those two competing positions rather than an attempt to understand what each camp has in common and what can be worked out between the two.

[maui9002]

11. Impossible to say

but I know this; based on what I hear and see in my community, there are a lot more people out there today than there were in 2000 who all of the sudden seem center left than center right. Opinions about the war have changed dramatically; many who voted for Bush now admit he's terrible; many are starting to see the need for a significant shift in health care policy; and many are realizing how the Republican Party was hijacked by ideological wingnuts who fought for issues that weren't the top priorities of most citizens (gay marriage, pro life policies including the reversal of Roe v. Wade and the Terry Schiavo issue, God in the public square--these are emotional, controversial issues that normally stir up the Republican base, but many people who used to identify with these issues care more about the economy, what we're doing in Iraq, and the price of oil).

In one of the first messages I posted here at DU not so long ago, I asked whether I was a Democrat (in response to a number of posts I felt were a bit too restrictive on what positions a Democrat must hold).

I'll try to recap here: I was against the war in Iraq from the start and believe our foreign policy is completely misguided. I believe we can achieve more to reduce terrorism by understanding the Islamic culture and issues and adopting policies that are more likely to be regarded as fair by the "Arab street" than we can through military strength. I don't believe in the death penalty, no matter how heinous the crime (and I believe there are plenty of heinous crimes). I believe in a woman's right to choose, but I am not opposed to what I regard as reasonable restrictions on abortion--and I recognize that what is "reasonable" is a subjective issue. I believe in fiscal restraint, progressive taxation but don't want to adopt a rate that is designed to penalize high income earners (what we had under Clinton was fine), equal rates for earned and investment income (e.g., no lower rate for capital gains), and much fairer system of taxation of business (far too many tax deductions and credits that do not produce the benefits their proponents claim). I believe in gun control, but that it be reasonable for the area in question. I believe all citizens should have access to basic health care but I'm concerned about a national health care system that promises everything to everybody. I believe in regulated free trade--by that I mean no tariffs on products produced overseas and support for NAFTA and CAFTA, but trade still needs to be regulated and enforced appropriately. I support a comprehensive immigration policy along the lines of what was proposed by McCain, Kolbe and Flake a few years back.

My colleagues think I'm quite liberal; but on DU I think many would consider me Republican lite. All in the eyes and from the perspective of the beholder I suppose.