A Cult of Centrism, Poisoning the American Political System -- Krugman

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.truth-out.org/cult-centrism-poisoning-american-political-system/1312295346

Watching our system deal with the debt ceiling crisis in the United States — a wholly self-inflicted crisis, which may nonetheless have disastrous consequences — it’s increasingly obvious that what we’re looking at is the destructive influence of a cult that has really poisoned our political system.

And no, I don’t mean the fanaticism of the right. Well, O.K., that too. But my feeling about those people is that they are what they are; you might as well denounce wolves for being carnivores. Crazy is what they do and what they are.

No, the cult that I see as reflecting a true moral failure is the cult of balance, of centrism.

Think about what’s happening right now. We have a crisis in which the right is making insane demands, while the president and Democrats in Congress are bending over backward to be accommodating — offering plans that are all spending cuts and no taxes, plans that are far to the right of public opinion.

More at the link --

[kenny blankenship]

1. Centrism is corporatist orthodoxy - Republicans in donkey suits. It has no other meaning.

Except this - a centrist is a born liar, a snitch, and backstabber.

[treestar]

Cults are usually not centrist

Christianity was a cult when it was fringe. By now, not so much.

One can't call the average a cult. The accepted norms of a society are not cultish by definition.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Centrism does not mean 'average' or 'the norm' at all. Not at all.

And just for shits and giggles, let me point out that Christianity itself is about as far from centrist as it gets. In that religion, there is right and wrong. One can not take half evil and half good, declare it to be the best of all possible worlds and claim that is in accordance with any of the major world religions.
Centrism is by definition a relative state of things. So in the context of 'communism or laize faire' fascism is 'centrist' or third way. This is why it becomes so strained to try to be a 'centrist' when the right side of center is the Tea Party Nuts. The fact is, a centrist is intentionally close to those nuts than a liberal is. The 'marriage is a Sacrament only for straights' trip is Obama's and also the right's. Both Obama and Bachmann have ties to the vile 'ex gay industry' of which they are proud. They are both to my right, far to my right, on that issue. Obama perhaps just to seem 'centrist' when the right is extremely hate filled, a centrist needs to be 'a bit hate filled' to maintain that 50/50 stance, part DNC, part Tea Party Republican. A centrist is proud to say they are as close to Cantor as to Kucinich. Many of them speak against elected liberal Democrats here constantly. Anyone can see that. Tis what it tis.

[treestar]

11. A cult is something on a fringe of a society

A religion very few people adhere to. Whatever you think of Christianity, it is not now a cult. And neither is Islam, Judaism, or any religion generally accepted in its own society.

[treestar]

2. Cults are usually not centrist

Christianity was a cult when it was fringe. By now, not so much.

One can't call the average a cult. The accepted norms of a society are not cultish by definition.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. As was proved in the recent collaboration with republicans and the vote in the house.

[villager]

4. "Centrists" also dutifully unrec any "disturbing" items that rock the boat

...or call out the hollowness of that false position...

[fascisthunter]

5. they pretend to be average and talk a good game, but in the end, they...

are corrupt, dishonest and unworthy of anyone's vote. They are a cult of extremists disguised as moderates.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Centrism is an abdication of moral duty in favor of short term

personal gains. Some confuse it with words like 'moderate' or even 'in the middle' but centrism is not a point on any political line, it is the philosophy that seeks to be half way between reason and insanity, to be half way to whatever extremes are offered. If the radicals say 'kill them all' the centrists say 'we should just put them in prison'. And they say that even if they see no offense, they say it just to be 'centrist'. They'd see victory in capitulation to any extreme, no matter how vile. It is always the 'centrists' who shepherd the radical right wing to power by lending them legitimacy and translating their words into more palatable forms for the larger audience. Centrists are devoid of all ethics, for all of their ethical affectations are borrowed for the moment and rejected just as easily.

[alsame]

7. Great post. nt

[fascisthunter]

9. well stated

[readmoreoften]

10. Centrism, in this political climate, is a euphemism for corruption and right-wing sympathy.

Centrists are prevaricating about the very nature of the system, about the very nature of the agreements they so readily accept.