No, there is a center, populated by a large number of voters. We just have no representation, and are not willing to burn the country down in order to make our point.
Maybe I’m naive, but it seems to me this sort of tug of war is fairly recent. In the 1970s it was hard to tell candidates apart. I think rabble rousing by internet sites started the polarization process and it was picked up by what were news sources, instead of gossip sources. We humans are easily incited, as misleaders of millenia past have demonstrated.
actually, i believe that the center can move the country because they can move their vote to the most reasonable position. if only we had candidates who were more in the center and not the extreme
I consider myself a moderate, but then, don’t most of us think that our own opinions are moderate and reasonable?
It’s simply a fact that some of my opinions are not considered moderate by people who in turn seem like extremists to me. You don’t have to agree with how other people see you, but it helps to recognize it.
I voted liberal (Canada) last election, but I am generally moderate but lean conservative (even though I’m a gay guy, I’m just a stodgy one). I just wanted Harper out because he was too far right and didn’t, in my opinion, represent what Canada is. Too much negativity. From the time he took office (actually before that) until the time he left our media was polluted with his attack ads. He even attacked Trudeau’s hair. Thankfully those ads have ceased since he was turfed from the PMO.
Unfortunately Trudeau seems to be a bit too far left for my liking, but unlike the butthurt far right conservatives that attack him at every opportunity I am willing to bide my time and see how/what he does for the country.
Sorry, all you moderates, but that tells me you don’t understand the strength of principles and don’t have any you would fight for.
In a battle between freedom and tyranny, where would you all come down? Moderate freedom is just a step on the escalator to — what? Moderate tyranny? Lenin wiped out the moderate socialists first, then Stalin wiped out the moderate everyone-else. Consistent principles (good or bad) win in the long run, and moderates take pride in not being consistent on anything but moderation.
So let me repeat my proposal:.Every registered voter should be a potential YES vote whether they vote or not, silence taken as consent.
Let every voter actually vote FOR any candidate he/she/it considers preferable.
Best to just vote FOR one, but more would be allowed, the vote would not be thrown out for over-voting.
.
Let every voter vote AGAINST any candidate or candidates considered unacceptable.
Any candidate receiving a majority AGAINST would be considered rejected.
Of the remaining candidates, the ones receiving the most FOR votes would be elected.
.
In most elections the major candidates would still have enough YES votes to be elected if they just got the majority of FOR and YES votes.
In those extremely unlikely cases where major parties offered people so unacceptable to the American people that a majority of the electorate said AGAINST, they would be rejected and a third party candidate would be elected or a new election would be held with those rejected not considered for that election.
SeanT over 7 years ago
No, there is a center, populated by a large number of voters. We just have no representation, and are not willing to burn the country down in order to make our point.
DanFlak over 7 years ago
That is the problem – each “side” believes you’re either with them or against them all the way. I’m still looking for someone on “my” side.
sandpiper over 7 years ago
Went the way of the Great Auk.
flagmichael over 7 years ago
Maybe I’m naive, but it seems to me this sort of tug of war is fairly recent. In the 1970s it was hard to tell candidates apart. I think rabble rousing by internet sites started the polarization process and it was picked up by what were news sources, instead of gossip sources. We humans are easily incited, as misleaders of millenia past have demonstrated.
Bernie270 Premium Member over 7 years ago
Well, it is lonely here, especially in some parts of the country. but it is the place to be for the best government. I agree, not center, but moderate
Bernie270 Premium Member over 7 years ago
actually, i believe that the center can move the country because they can move their vote to the most reasonable position. if only we had candidates who were more in the center and not the extreme
Kaputnik over 7 years ago
I consider myself a moderate, but then, don’t most of us think that our own opinions are moderate and reasonable?
It’s simply a fact that some of my opinions are not considered moderate by people who in turn seem like extremists to me. You don’t have to agree with how other people see you, but it helps to recognize it.
Reaven over 7 years ago
The center is defined by the middle of each major US party, and they believe the other side is only extremists.
up2trixx over 7 years ago
I voted liberal (Canada) last election, but I am generally moderate but lean conservative (even though I’m a gay guy, I’m just a stodgy one). I just wanted Harper out because he was too far right and didn’t, in my opinion, represent what Canada is. Too much negativity. From the time he took office (actually before that) until the time he left our media was polluted with his attack ads. He even attacked Trudeau’s hair. Thankfully those ads have ceased since he was turfed from the PMO.
Unfortunately Trudeau seems to be a bit too far left for my liking, but unlike the butthurt far right conservatives that attack him at every opportunity I am willing to bide my time and see how/what he does for the country.
pschearer Premium Member over 7 years ago
Sorry, all you moderates, but that tells me you don’t understand the strength of principles and don’t have any you would fight for.
In a battle between freedom and tyranny, where would you all come down? Moderate freedom is just a step on the escalator to — what? Moderate tyranny? Lenin wiped out the moderate socialists first, then Stalin wiped out the moderate everyone-else. Consistent principles (good or bad) win in the long run, and moderates take pride in not being consistent on anything but moderation.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 7 years ago
If you are not dead center, you are not centrist.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 7 years ago
So let me repeat my proposal:.Every registered voter should be a potential YES vote whether they vote or not, silence taken as consent.
Let every voter actually vote FOR any candidate he/she/it considers preferable.
Best to just vote FOR one, but more would be allowed, the vote would not be thrown out for over-voting.
.
Let every voter vote AGAINST any candidate or candidates considered unacceptable.
Any candidate receiving a majority AGAINST would be considered rejected.
Of the remaining candidates, the ones receiving the most FOR votes would be elected.
.
In most elections the major candidates would still have enough YES votes to be elected if they just got the majority of FOR and YES votes.
In those extremely unlikely cases where major parties offered people so unacceptable to the American people that a majority of the electorate said AGAINST, they would be rejected and a third party candidate would be elected or a new election would be held with those rejected not considered for that election.
(They could try again next time.)