Active Users:667 Time:28/08/2026 06:00:52 PM
I am unsurprised at your disagreement. The Shrike Send a noteboard - 25/08/2017 06:42:32 PM

Especially since because your FB posts are public, whenever one of my FB friends comments on it, I see it in my feed. I think you're far enough on the left that you're not able to see the merits of things on the right.This is why moderates are needed - they can see both sides.

The value in centrism (and if you want to know what it is you need to look at foreign politics or historical politics in the US) is that it offers a viable alternative to the winner take all politics of the extremes (which I do consider you to be a part of within the context of US politics). I think the US needs more than two parties. Or at least parties that offer something for the Social Liberals/Economic Conservatives - the former Northeast Republicans. Maybe once the social issues are settled a viable third party and return to moderation will occur. But until such time as there is a FDP party (Germany) or Liberal Democrat party (UK) or En Marche! (France) in the US, then centrist views will remain unrepresented at the national level. The Greens and Libertarians here don't count.


Lastly, I find the claim that the truth varies according to our values to be absurd, although I recognize that it is a view espoused by many intelligent and educated people, you and Brooks included. Our perception varies according to our values. That which we perceive is immutable.

You need more Existential philosophy in your life. Sartre would be a good start.

There are many truths. That which is true now - Slavery is an evil - was not always the truth. I wonder in the future, when meat can be grown in vats, if we will be judged harshly for the way we treat animals now.

This message last edited by The Shrike on 25/08/2017 at 06:56:30 PM
Reply to message
What Moderates Believe - 23/08/2017 01:14:34 PM 1374 Views
You can see Brooks' conservative roots in his analysis of governments - 23/08/2017 02:58:58 PM 772 Views
I call myself a radical moderate - 23/08/2017 03:53:18 PM 786 Views
Brooks is the person I usually agree with the most at the NYT. - 23/08/2017 04:33:11 PM 684 Views
It isn't a universal truth, though - it may be valid in liberal democracies, but not everywhere. - 23/08/2017 06:56:29 PM 715 Views
I view governments like referees in sports - 23/08/2017 07:06:47 PM 739 Views
Yeah. That's a better way of putting it. *NM* - 23/08/2017 08:09:11 PM 378 Views
Truth may be objective but reality isn't - 23/08/2017 03:59:18 PM 657 Views
Polarization of both the Left and the Right - 23/08/2017 04:35:24 PM 731 Views
If only we had a centrist media source - 23/08/2017 05:15:13 PM 634 Views
No incentive in that - 23/08/2017 05:22:49 PM 979 Views
Great column, despite my quibble above. - 23/08/2017 07:03:31 PM 691 Views
I'm still hopeful about Macron. - 25/08/2017 06:25:31 PM 865 Views
The problem with getting a new party to break the two party lock - 23/08/2017 09:18:37 PM 877 Views
And Cash Money - 24/08/2017 06:23:34 PM 709 Views
Both parties are more fractured than they have been in a very long time - 24/08/2017 07:37:14 PM 693 Views
I was of the opinion that after Rand Paul was out of the primaries, - 24/08/2017 11:17:49 PM 716 Views
Sorry but no one one who wants to end social security has a chance too win - 25/08/2017 02:19:12 AM 674 Views
Universal Basic Income may be the issue. - 25/08/2017 06:26:08 PM 658 Views
This is an excellent point. - 25/08/2017 08:12:36 PM 764 Views
I think perhaps - 25/08/2017 10:22:14 PM 755 Views
Moderates need a better narrative - 24/08/2017 05:19:14 AM 636 Views
Rejecting the extremes - 24/08/2017 02:48:12 PM 702 Views
Does it matter why they're lukewarm? They're still going to get spewed out. - 24/08/2017 01:08:30 PM 917 Views
Moderates are from Laodicea? - 24/08/2017 01:37:44 PM 651 Views
Moderates are the Cheese Pizza of politics... - 24/08/2017 05:17:55 PM 705 Views
That is a cure analogy but not really accurate - 24/08/2017 05:38:54 PM 761 Views
You know what though? - 24/08/2017 06:18:48 PM 726 Views
*laughs* - 24/08/2017 07:03:58 PM 654 Views
- 24/08/2017 07:13:53 PM 645 Views
That's one heck of an oven.... - 24/08/2017 08:54:43 PM 678 Views
lets here it for libertarian pizza *NM* - 24/08/2017 07:25:18 PM 422 Views
I won't eat cheese pizza. *NM* - 24/08/2017 07:43:03 PM 391 Views
Cheese (Actually extra cheese pizza is my favorite) - 25/08/2017 06:29:41 PM 801 Views
I enjoyed this - 24/08/2017 08:19:50 PM 795 Views
Kind of a "here is why we are screwed" *NM* - 24/08/2017 08:51:00 PM 492 Views
Because from what you've written and said - 25/08/2017 06:28:46 PM 780 Views
I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. - 24/08/2017 10:53:44 PM 653 Views
Yes. You would. - 25/08/2017 01:06:47 AM 792 Views
We'll make a conservative of you yet. - 25/08/2017 02:36:01 PM 689 Views
I am unsurprised at your disagreement. - 25/08/2017 06:42:32 PM 742 Views
Re: I am unsurprised at your disagreement. - 25/08/2017 11:01:56 PM 752 Views
Well now, this will get into the meaning of truth. - 26/08/2017 01:04:14 AM 579 Views
Re: Well now, this will get into the meaning of truth. - 26/08/2017 01:16:56 AM 858 Views
I hope you don't mind me butting in on your conversation - 26/08/2017 01:46:45 AM 667 Views
Guilty as charged. - 26/08/2017 08:27:45 PM 727 Views
I'm a moderate/centrist insofar as the fact that I'm neither an overall leftist or rightist. - 25/08/2017 03:24:12 PM 630 Views
You know that communists are technically anti-statists, right? - 25/08/2017 03:57:37 PM 749 Views
Communism is an economic system. - 25/08/2017 06:55:26 PM 713 Views
It's more than that if you adopt an orthodox Marxist view. - 25/08/2017 11:07:03 PM 657 Views
Your argument sounded like this: - 27/08/2017 03:20:43 PM 931 Views
You believe in personal rights/freedoms. - 25/08/2017 06:49:30 PM 693 Views

Reply to Message