Why centrists should support progressive groups and causes

[Pushed To The Left]

Centrists have a desire to move the country "to the middle". My response to this is that America in 2005 is dominated by the hardcore right wing. They have control of all branches of government and will stop at nothing to to eliminate all checks and balances. In my opinion, the country is so far to the right that the best way to move things "to the middle" is to support progressive causes. Groups like the ACLU and PFAW are not going to turn America hardcore liberal anytime soon. The right wing has too much power and influence for that. What they can do is damage the right wing agenda enough to make America more balanced again.

The right wing wants to eliminate the judicial branch of government. They want to eliminate all checks and balances. They want to amend the Constitution to stifle free speech and to discriminate against a minority group. These things that the right wing wants have a very strong possibility of happening in our current political climate. The best way to "move things to the middle" is to support those that will hurt the movement of the extremists that dominate our country right now.

[wyldwolf]

1. They typically do

[LoZoccolo]

3. Usually I have no problem with their goals in the abstract.

Usually it's just a matter of getting it done right.

[htuttle]

2. The whole political spectrum in the US shifted to the right...

...over the last 30 years.

Hard to believe that Nixon started the EPA, for example. A strong EPA used to be a centrist position. Now they've framed any environmental protection position as 'leftist'.

Today's 'leftist' cause was yesterday's centrist one.

[ClassWarrior]

4. Lakoff says the only way for a party to claim the middle ground...

...is to stake out its position where its base is. So you are correct both ideologically AND strategically. (If you haven't, read Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant.")

NGU.