quote:

ORIGINAL: slvemike4u

"Sanity in the center".....Tim are you trying to out whack-job RealOne....next you will be declaring we are all still subjects of the Queen....LOL

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

OK. So what, then, to illustrate, would be examples of, say, conservative views that moderates wouldn't be likely to hold?

[i.e., What distinguishes "center right" from "conservative"?]

quote:

Govt intrusion in to lifestyle choices.....gay rights , a females right to choice etc etc.So called "conservative" positions seem to declare that govt is an evil intrusion on personal freedoms

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

OK. So what, then, to illustrate, would be examples of, say, conservative views that moderates wouldn't be likely to hold?

[i.e., What distinguishes "center right" from "conservative"?]

quote:

So... who is to say what is conservative and what is liberal? Do we allow our opponents to define us?

quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

quote:

The majority of the posters on CM who identify themselves as "non-center" are pretty damn far left, in comparison to the beliefs of most Americans.

I suspect it's the fact that so many of the "left" here act as an echo chamber for each other, that they believe that they are somehow "in the majority".

Firm

Here's the thing, though, Firm.

Everything is presented as left vs. right, as if no other possibilities exist.

But the majority of people are moderate. The left/right paradigm is a distortion.

So what are these moderate views? Discount those you see as on the left, and set aside your views where you see them as conservative---what are the moderate positions?

There is a lot of material which agrees with you (as I do) that the left/right paradigm isn't very helpful.

Primarily, most Americans - and most moderate Americans - are generally "liberal" on social issues, and "conservative" on financial and governmental issues.

Firm

quote:

And as follows the Democratic party fiscally conservative?

quote:

ORIGINAL: TreasureKY

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

OK. So what, then, to illustrate, would be examples of, say, conservative views that moderates wouldn't be likely to hold?

[i.e., What distinguishes "center right" from "conservative"?]

You are once again confusing two separate issues.  "Center right" would refer not to an issue but to where a person might classify themselves.  If they hold both right and left viewpoints, but lean toward holding more right than left, then they would be "center right".

As for examples of issues, you ask a difficult question.  First, you'd have to establish just what a "conservative" view is.  There are those here who would automatically claim that "anti-gay" is a conservative position.  However, I would argue that more often than not, "anti-gay" is a personal belief held by more extreme persons.  Of the conservatives that I know, most, if not all, believe as I do that gays have a perfect right to exist and exercise their personal sexual preferences as they see fit... so long as the government does not take any stance that either encourages or discourages, supports or condemns that behavior.  It's not the governments business to know what people get up to in the privacy of their bedroom.

So... who is to say what is conservative and what is liberal?  Do we allow our opponents to define us?

quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub

quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

quote:

The majority of the posters on CM who identify themselves as "non-center" are pretty damn far left, in comparison to the beliefs of most Americans.

I suspect it's the fact that so many of the "left" here act as an echo chamber for each other, that they believe that they are somehow "in the majority".

Firm

Here's the thing, though, Firm.

Everything is presented as left vs. right, as if no other possibilities exist.

But the majority of people are moderate. The left/right paradigm is a distortion.

So what are these moderate views? Discount those you see as on the left, and set aside your views where you see them as conservative---what are the moderate positions?

There is a lot of material which agrees with you (as I do) that the left/right paradigm isn't very helpful.

Primarily, most Americans - and most moderate Americans - are generally "liberal" on social issues, and "conservative" on financial and governmental issues.

Firm

Now if only our representatives would follow your assessment.

Are you then saying that the two main parties ignore the wants of their voters? You certainly cannot say the Republican platform is liberal on social issues can you?
And as follows the Democratic party fiscally conservative?

Butch

quote:

This is what I call "moderate", willing to change one's mind to be open to solutions because it is what seems "logical" at the time and what is "best".... in other words, not basing positions based upon ideology...

I find moderation very tiresome to be honest... moderates base their opinions on the prevailing wisdom of the talking heads on TV, and they can be swayed, sometimes in a direction that doesn't actually favor them...

quote:

ORIGINAL: slvemike4u

For clarification purposes when you state "as long as the government does not take any stance that either encourages or discourages,supports or condemns that behavior."
Are you referring to the right of gay and lesbian members of our society to enjoy all the rights of that society.....particularly speaking of the right to have their union recognised in the same way hetero r/t's are recognised by the state?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

How about a moderate position on trade? Would that include taxes and tariffs? Would all forms of protectionism be gone or would some remain?