Question: The Political Center

[CrowCityDem]

This argument is getting annoying, so I'll put it out as a question.

When we're talking about whether Hillary is left or right of 'center', is that center defined as a particular set of policies and philosophies, or is the center the midpoint of thought between the left and right?

There seems to be a divide here, where the Hillary supporters view the center as the middle of current American political thinking, while the Bernie supporters view the center as having been defined a century ago, and cannot change along with society.

What say you?

[Dem2]

1. The center is where I say it is

Does that answer your question?

[snooper2]

2. I am center left- Obama is center left-

We are the block that share the most common held viewpoints. We have the correct answers, ask me a question and I'll tell you what the policy should be!

[Armstead]

3. It's a meaningless term. The center is where the person who says it is.

It's a perceptual term.

I think Sanders is the center. Clinton supporters claim to be the center. Trump supporters think he is the center.


It has been misused by the media and politicians to pigeonhole and misrepresent the degree of actual consensus that exists on policies.

[Yurovsky]

5. Exactly- all a question of perspective...

and it would also vary based on the society/culture. Certainly the center in Brazil is further Left than the U.S., and the center in Russia is much further to the right, IMO. once again, perspective matters.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice. Thomas Paine

[firebrand80]

6. It's a moving target

based on the current political environment.

The "center" as definitely moved leftward in the last 8 years, after moving to the right under Reagan.

[ieoeja]

7. Conservative

Progressive Left
Conservative Center
Regressive Right

Generally speaking the rightwing of politics is Conservative and the leftwing Progressive. This makes for a good balance since Regressive is a pretty horrible position. "What Happened to Kansas" and what Islam became after the Mongols are examples of regression that should frighten any sane person.

And even then it works best with a Conservative minority party acting as an anchor on progress. Conservative, maintaining the status quo, by definition does not lead. It only stands still. Progressives should lead with Conservatives making Progressives slow down enough to think before we leap.

Is Hillary in the Conservative Center? Absolutely. She and hers fought against Gay Marriage, but had no problem accepting it once it became law. She wanted to conserve the old standard, but is making no effort to regress to that old standard.

Our politics are currently a Regressive Republican Party and Conservative Democratic Party with Progressive Activists fighting both to make progress.

[JSup]

8. The 'center' is too relative...

...like height. I am 6'2" (188cm); everyone shorter than me is short, everyone taller than me is tall.

There are a lot of short people in my world but I did bump into a guy in a store once where my head was level with his chest; that was weird.