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What you're describing is usually what happens when Democrats and Republicans compromise on things, but there's no reason that approach should define "centrism.

by knubie 4y ago

What you're describing is usually what happens when Democrats and Republicans compromise on things, but there's no reason that approach should define "centrism." For example the Libertarian party is often described as fiscally "conservative" and socially "liberal." This approach takes the "best" ideas from either party, as opposed to splitting the difference on every issue.

krapp 4y ago
But don't the 'best' ideas on the left tend to assume strong central government, whereas Libertarian prefer a more limited government?
- fallingfrog 4y ago
  Not really. Bear in mind the far left encompasses anarchists, for example. Leftists consider the state and the market economy to be two components of a larger capitalism system that work together, rather than the state being somehow separate from capitalism, as if capitalism could somehow operate without property law, courts, regulations, a monetary system and a police force. The ultimate goal of the left is to abolish the state altogether and replace it with something more local and participatory.
  - krapp 4y ago
    >The ultimate goal of the left is to abolish the state altogether and replace it with something more local and participatory. That's the ultimate goal of Marxism, not the left. The left is not synonymous with Marxism. In the context of this conversation, which is American party politics, leftism is considered to encompass, by default, every political and social movement not in the camp of laissez-faire capitalism or conservative Christian ideology, and what gets called the "far left" in the US would be considered at best center right anywhere else in the world. And that "leftism" would include things like UBI, socialized healthcare and education, established rights for gay marriage and abortion, free and open source software, CRT, wage equality, labor laws and unionization, and any number of other things which have no interest whatsoever in abolishing the state, but which rather depend upon the preexistence of a state with strong regulatory power.

by knubie 4y ago

krapp 4y ago

But don't the 'best' ideas on the left tend to assume strong central government, whereas Libertarian prefer a more limited government?

fallingfrog 4y ago
Not really. Bear in mind the far left encompasses anarchists, for example. Leftists consider the state and the market economy to be two components of a larger capitalism system that work together, rather than the state being somehow separate from capitalism, as if capitalism could somehow operate without property law, courts, regulations, a monetary system and a police force. The ultimate goal of the left is to abolish the state altogether and replace it with something more local and participatory.
- krapp 4y ago
  >The ultimate goal of the left is to abolish the state altogether and replace it with something more local and participatory. That's the ultimate goal of Marxism, not the left. The left is not synonymous with Marxism. In the context of this conversation, which is American party politics, leftism is considered to encompass, by default, every political and social movement not in the camp of laissez-faire capitalism or conservative Christian ideology, and what gets called the "far left" in the US would be considered at best center right anywhere else in the world. And that "leftism" would include things like UBI, socialized healthcare and education, established rights for gay marriage and abortion, free and open source software, CRT, wage equality, labor laws and unionization, and any number of other things which have no interest whatsoever in abolishing the state, but which rather depend upon the preexistence of a state with strong regulatory power.