The problem is that the center is defined relative to whatever political strains happen to exist at the moment, which are always in motion. The periphery moves, so the center moves with it. Anyone calling themselves centrists for an extended period of time is just someone without convictions who follows the general vibe around them.
Progressives just follow the general vibes forward without thinking, they are mindless tools who want to go forward at any cost.
Do you realise how ridiculous your statement is once applied to another group? Change is constant. Adapting to it doesn’t mean people are without convictions. Furthermore, you are judging the destination (centric), regardless of the path taken to get there. You can end up a centrist by carefully weighing the teachings, convictions, and information multiple camps provide. Or you can end up a centrist by having no thought and refusing to take a side à la “the only way to win is not to play”.
You are also presenting a false dichotomy: either you have convictions and stick to them no matter what, or you have none and accept whatever argument happens to sway you to one extreme or the other. People are more complicated that “left right”, right-wrong, black-white,… The ability to weigh arguments, be open to comprimise, and thoughtfully consider new ideas isn’t a fault.
So what’s with the anti-centrist rhetoric?
Because i think centrists go whichever way the prevailing wind blows, and at the moment its blowing to the right.
That by definition is not a centrist.
The problem is that the center is defined relative to whatever political strains happen to exist at the moment, which are always in motion. The periphery moves, so the center moves with it. Anyone calling themselves centrists for an extended period of time is just someone without convictions who follows the general vibe around them.
Progressives just follow the general vibes forward without thinking, they are mindless tools who want to go forward at any cost.
Do you realise how ridiculous your statement is once applied to another group? Change is constant. Adapting to it doesn’t mean people are without convictions. Furthermore, you are judging the destination (centric), regardless of the path taken to get there. You can end up a centrist by carefully weighing the teachings, convictions, and information multiple camps provide. Or you can end up a centrist by having no thought and refusing to take a side à la “the only way to win is not to play”.
You are also presenting a false dichotomy: either you have convictions and stick to them no matter what, or you have none and accept whatever argument happens to sway you to one extreme or the other. People are more complicated that “left right”, right-wrong, black-white,… The ability to weigh arguments, be open to comprimise, and thoughtfully consider new ideas isn’t a fault.
Are you a centrist?
Do I have to belong to a group to defend them?
I dont think so. Im just wondering whats with the passionate defence.