General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I am a "CENTRIST" Democrat, have been for 46 years, and am proud to be so! [View all]Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)I get the logic of centrism. There is usually some merit on each side of divergent opinions. Centrists look for what is good and workable from all sides. Centrists keep lines of communication open with others with divergent views, helping us all to find a way to come together to proceed on a course of action when inaction is not an option. Centrists are not wed to rigid ideological beliefs that blind them to "inconvenient truths" etc.
But there are also times when you can't split the baby in half to be fair to both sides in a custody dispute. Climate Change is a good example of an issue where a centrist approach is a "fail". Slowing down the car racing toward the cliff is not a sensible compromise between those who argue for full speed ahead and those who urge slamming on the brakes before the brink is crossed.
Some of us on this board feel that the societal playing field was wildly tilted toward the right about 35 years ago so that, in too many cases, what now passes as a "centrist position" is merely a less extreme rightest position from what is called rightest today.