Active Users:430 Time:01/11/2024 01:46:24 AM
I am unsurprised at your disagreement. The Shrike Send a noteboard - 25/08/2017 06:42:32 PM

Especially since because your FB posts are public, whenever one of my FB friends comments on it, I see it in my feed. I think you're far enough on the left that you're not able to see the merits of things on the right.This is why moderates are needed - they can see both sides.

The value in centrism (and if you want to know what it is you need to look at foreign politics or historical politics in the US) is that it offers a viable alternative to the winner take all politics of the extremes (which I do consider you to be a part of within the context of US politics). I think the US needs more than two parties. Or at least parties that offer something for the Social Liberals/Economic Conservatives - the former Northeast Republicans. Maybe once the social issues are settled a viable third party and return to moderation will occur. But until such time as there is a FDP party (Germany) or Liberal Democrat party (UK) or En Marche! (France) in the US, then centrist views will remain unrepresented at the national level. The Greens and Libertarians here don't count.


Lastly, I find the claim that the truth varies according to our values to be absurd, although I recognize that it is a view espoused by many intelligent and educated people, you and Brooks included. Our perception varies according to our values. That which we perceive is immutable.

You need more Existential philosophy in your life. Sartre would be a good start.

There are many truths. That which is true now - Slavery is an evil - was not always the truth. I wonder in the future, when meat can be grown in vats, if we will be judged harshly for the way we treat animals now.

This message last edited by The Shrike on 25/08/2017 at 06:56:30 PM
Reply to message
What Moderates Believe - 23/08/2017 01:14:34 PM 1128 Views
You can see Brooks' conservative roots in his analysis of governments - 23/08/2017 02:58:58 PM 499 Views
I call myself a radical moderate - 23/08/2017 03:53:18 PM 548 Views
Brooks is the person I usually agree with the most at the NYT. - 23/08/2017 04:33:11 PM 428 Views
It isn't a universal truth, though - it may be valid in liberal democracies, but not everywhere. - 23/08/2017 06:56:29 PM 481 Views
I view governments like referees in sports - 23/08/2017 07:06:47 PM 519 Views
Yeah. That's a better way of putting it. *NM* - 23/08/2017 08:09:11 PM 266 Views
Truth may be objective but reality isn't - 23/08/2017 03:59:18 PM 432 Views
Polarization of both the Left and the Right - 23/08/2017 04:35:24 PM 471 Views
If only we had a centrist media source - 23/08/2017 05:15:13 PM 406 Views
No incentive in that - 23/08/2017 05:22:49 PM 683 Views
Great column, despite my quibble above. - 23/08/2017 07:03:31 PM 437 Views
I'm still hopeful about Macron. - 25/08/2017 06:25:31 PM 555 Views
The problem with getting a new party to break the two party lock - 23/08/2017 09:18:37 PM 632 Views
And Cash Money - 24/08/2017 06:23:34 PM 461 Views
Both parties are more fractured than they have been in a very long time - 24/08/2017 07:37:14 PM 483 Views
I was of the opinion that after Rand Paul was out of the primaries, - 24/08/2017 11:17:49 PM 467 Views
Sorry but no one one who wants to end social security has a chance too win - 25/08/2017 02:19:12 AM 451 Views
Universal Basic Income may be the issue. - 25/08/2017 06:26:08 PM 429 Views
This is an excellent point. - 25/08/2017 08:12:36 PM 505 Views
I think perhaps - 25/08/2017 10:22:14 PM 482 Views
Moderates need a better narrative - 24/08/2017 05:19:14 AM 397 Views
Rejecting the extremes - 24/08/2017 02:48:12 PM 443 Views
Does it matter why they're lukewarm? They're still going to get spewed out. - 24/08/2017 01:08:30 PM 677 Views
Moderates are from Laodicea? - 24/08/2017 01:37:44 PM 445 Views
Moderates are the Cheese Pizza of politics... - 24/08/2017 05:17:55 PM 455 Views
That is a cure analogy but not really accurate - 24/08/2017 05:38:54 PM 484 Views
You know what though? - 24/08/2017 06:18:48 PM 487 Views
*laughs* - 24/08/2017 07:03:58 PM 376 Views
- 24/08/2017 07:13:53 PM 434 Views
That's one heck of an oven.... - 24/08/2017 08:54:43 PM 422 Views
lets here it for libertarian pizza *NM* - 24/08/2017 07:25:18 PM 296 Views
I won't eat cheese pizza. *NM* - 24/08/2017 07:43:03 PM 275 Views
Cheese (Actually extra cheese pizza is my favorite) - 25/08/2017 06:29:41 PM 586 Views
I enjoyed this - 24/08/2017 08:19:50 PM 545 Views
Kind of a "here is why we are screwed" *NM* - 24/08/2017 08:51:00 PM 373 Views
Because from what you've written and said - 25/08/2017 06:28:46 PM 525 Views
I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. - 24/08/2017 10:53:44 PM 402 Views
Yes. You would. - 25/08/2017 01:06:47 AM 557 Views
We'll make a conservative of you yet. - 25/08/2017 02:36:01 PM 460 Views
I am unsurprised at your disagreement. - 25/08/2017 06:42:32 PM 507 Views
Re: I am unsurprised at your disagreement. - 25/08/2017 11:01:56 PM 530 Views
Well now, this will get into the meaning of truth. - 26/08/2017 01:04:14 AM 361 Views
Re: Well now, this will get into the meaning of truth. - 26/08/2017 01:16:56 AM 571 Views
I hope you don't mind me butting in on your conversation - 26/08/2017 01:46:45 AM 442 Views
Guilty as charged. - 26/08/2017 08:27:45 PM 469 Views
I'm a moderate/centrist insofar as the fact that I'm neither an overall leftist or rightist. - 25/08/2017 03:24:12 PM 390 Views
You know that communists are technically anti-statists, right? - 25/08/2017 03:57:37 PM 510 Views
Communism is an economic system. - 25/08/2017 06:55:26 PM 471 Views
It's more than that if you adopt an orthodox Marxist view. - 25/08/2017 11:07:03 PM 400 Views
Your argument sounded like this: - 27/08/2017 03:20:43 PM 688 Views
You believe in personal rights/freedoms. - 25/08/2017 06:49:30 PM 458 Views

Reply to Message