New Poll indicates 51% of Americans are Centralist

[JFK_USA]

I'm guilty.


it never ceases to amaze me why the majority of the voters elect a minority party to office ..

I think there are a couple of reasons.

1. They don't one party to have all the control. Noble and reasonable if our times were reasonable. Right now, the right is going further to the right while the left goes to the left. There is no Henry Clay anymore because the primaries are becoming tougher to win because political ideologues believe that their ideas will lead to a utopian world. No idea will ever lead to 100% positive results, it just has to benefit a super majority of people. So both sides become entrenched and hope to get majorities that will help get their ideas past with no compromise. And before USMB conservatives come in, yes republicans and democrats do it.

2. This is the biggest problem. A lot of people just don't care to figure out what they stand for. Now it's not to say they don't know what they believe in, they just don't defend their beliefs or prioritize them over others. For instance, one of my family members believe that workers should have established rights on the job. A very liberal position. But she votes republican and I ask why? She literally said this:

"Because Obama takes too many vacation."

It's stuff like that others distract us with that clouds our judgements and vote against our own interests. And both sides know it will work.

Another example: At McDonalds on Friday and Fox News was on. On the five, that mousy looking guy cite a poll that Liberals are unpatriotic. So does a person want to be considered unpatriotic? No. So they label things like workers rights or equal rights for everyone as liberal which implies that if you think that, you hate America. It reminded me of that Family Guy episode where they made fun of Hannity and Colmes where the Hannity caricature said "You just disagreed with me, you hate America." And the Colmes caricature played by Droopy said "Well I guess you win again Sean." Now most reasonable people should understand that trying to improve your country doesn't mean you hate your country. However, the keyword is reasonable.

Despite both sides dire rhetoric about the destruction of America, it's not that bad of a place. So there isn't the political will to radically change things from either side of the aisle. So to prevent things from getting too one sided in our politics, people will vote for the other side to keep things balanced.

So that is my thoughts

 

[NYcarbineer]

Self identified Moderates, aka centrists, in the last 4 presidential elections, according to exit polls, numbered 45% of the voters.

Gore and Kerry won that vote, as did Obama, twice. Obama by very large margins that were in fact mathematically responsible for him winning twice. Gore and Kerry won that vote by only single digits,

and thus lost.

 

[Derideo_Te]

Why is the center most representative of we the people?
Why dont you think corporate interests ae centrist?
The truth is it's the opposite. The more conservative wing is opposed to corporatism. We are opposed to crony capitalism. We are opposed to government picking winners and losers. The Left is all about socialism and the center is fine with subsidising companies like GM in the name of saving jobs.

Your allegations ring hollow since the extreme conservative right is a fully funded subsidiary of Koch Industries.

Exactly the kind of fact-free, hollow, knee jerk response I'd expect from a 4th rate poster like you.

You never could handle the truth!

Tea Party Funding Koch Brothers Emerge From Anonymity - US News

Tea Party Funding Koch Brothers Emerge From Anonymity
The Koch brothers have been pouring millions into conservative political causes for years.

Few in America had heard about the third-richest Americans, brothers David and Charles Koch, until just recently. Aside from David Koch’s gifts to the Lincoln Center in New York and the naming of a theater after him, few outside a small, elite circle would recognize the name or know how to pronounce it. (“Koch” as in “coke”)

For decades, they were under the radar. They and their father had amassed an incredible fortune, mainly in the oil business. Their privately held company revenues last year were estimated at $100 billion. Each brother is worth $21.5 billion. That is a very big “B” in both cases.

For many years, they have been involved in politics but not terribly open or transparent about it. It is true that David Koch ran as vice president on the 1980 Libertarian ticket, to the right of Ronald Reagan. According to New York Times columnist Frank Rich, “his campaign called for the abolition not just of Social Security, federal regulatory agencies and welfare but also of the FBI, the CIA, and public schools.” Since the Libertarian party’s 1 percent showing in 1980, David Koch has very much been behind the scenes, until now. [See who donates the most to your member of Congress.]

Jane Mayer, of The New Yorker, in her 10,000 word piece last August, peeled the cover off the onion of the Koch brothers' empire. And she focused not only on their personal wealth and family, but on their political empire building.

It was not, and is not, easy to get the details on the extent of their tentacles. They funnel money through 501c3 tax-exempt foundations, and they give money to other foundations, lobbying organizations, and right wing think tanks. They have PACs; they support candidates. Only a small portion of what they control do they divulge.

But it has now come out how involved they have been in funding Tea Party groups, Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, and Citizens for a Sound Economy ($12 million). [Check out a roundup of political cartoons on the Tea Party.]

We do know, from Mayer’s reporting, that the Koch brothers have personally given over $2 million to candidates over the last 12 years, their PAC has contributed $8 million to candidates, and they have spent $50 million on lobbying. The Charles Koch Foundation has given $48 million, and another foundation they control gave $28 million. David Koch’s foundation gave more than $120 million. According to Mayer, $196 million dollars in total was distributed in the last 10 years to conservative causes and institutions.

 

[The Rabbi]

Your allegations ring hollow since the extreme conservative right is a fully funded subsidiary of Koch Industries.

Exactly the kind of fact-free, hollow, knee jerk response I'd expect from a 4th rate poster like you.

You never could handle the truth!

Tea Party Funding Koch Brothers Emerge From Anonymity - US News

Tea Party Funding Koch Brothers Emerge From Anonymity
The Koch brothers have been pouring millions into conservative political causes for years.

Few in America had heard about the third-richest Americans, brothers David and Charles Koch, until just recently. Aside from David Koch’s gifts to the Lincoln Center in New York and the naming of a theater after him, few outside a small, elite circle would recognize the name or know how to pronounce it. (“Koch” as in “coke”)

For decades, they were under the radar. They and their father had amassed an incredible fortune, mainly in the oil business. Their privately held company revenues last year were estimated at $100 billion. Each brother is worth $21.5 billion. That is a very big “B” in both cases.

For many years, they have been involved in politics but not terribly open or transparent about it. It is true that David Koch ran as vice president on the 1980 Libertarian ticket, to the right of Ronald Reagan. According to New York Times columnist Frank Rich, “his campaign called for the abolition not just of Social Security, federal regulatory agencies and welfare but also of the FBI, the CIA, and public schools.” Since the Libertarian party’s 1 percent showing in 1980, David Koch has very much been behind the scenes, until now. [See who donates the most to your member of Congress.]

Jane Mayer, of The New Yorker, in her 10,000 word piece last August, peeled the cover off the onion of the Koch brothers' empire. And she focused not only on their personal wealth and family, but on their political empire building.

It was not, and is not, easy to get the details on the extent of their tentacles. They funnel money through 501c3 tax-exempt foundations, and they give money to other foundations, lobbying organizations, and right wing think tanks. They have PACs; they support candidates. Only a small portion of what they control do they divulge.

But it has now come out how involved they have been in funding Tea Party groups, Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, and Citizens for a Sound Economy ($12 million). [Check out a roundup of political cartoons on the Tea Party.]

We do know, from Mayer’s reporting, that the Koch brothers have personally given over $2 million to candidates over the last 12 years, their PAC has contributed $8 million to candidates, and they have spent $50 million on lobbying. The Charles Koch Foundation has given $48 million, and another foundation they control gave $28 million. David Koch’s foundation gave more than $120 million. According to Mayer, $196 million dollars in total was distributed in the last 10 years to conservative causes and institutions.

Totally irrelevant and unresponsive to my post. How typical. How pathetic.

 

[The Rabbi]

Your allegations ring hollow since the extreme conservative right is a fully funded subsidiary of Koch Industries.

Exactly the kind of fact-free, hollow, knee jerk response I'd expect from a 4th rate poster like you.

Hey Rabbit. Still living the "fantasy life" I see. You ever find out if consumer spending drives 70% of the economy?

I thought that the above was one of the more stupid things (saying the economy IS NOT consumer driven) I have seen you write. Then you come along with the far right being opposed to crony capitalism. LMAO

You silly ******* rabbit, what bullshit will you write next.

Sent to you by the stump broke blah blah blah Zeke from a computer.

Well at least you admit to being stumpbroke. That's progress of sorts.
No, Zeke, consumer spending does not drive the economy. Business investment does. And what do you think happened business investment last quarter? Yeah, down the toilet.
But please explain how corporations are not centrist. This ought to be a howl.

 

[Derideo_Te]

Exactly the kind of fact-free, hollow, knee jerk response I'd expect from a 4th rate poster like you.

You never could handle the truth!

Tea Party Funding Koch Brothers Emerge From Anonymity - US News

Tea Party Funding Koch Brothers Emerge From Anonymity
The Koch brothers have been pouring millions into conservative political causes for years.

Few in America had heard about the third-richest Americans, brothers David and Charles Koch, until just recently. Aside from David Koch’s gifts to the Lincoln Center in New York and the naming of a theater after him, few outside a small, elite circle would recognize the name or know how to pronounce it. (“Koch” as in “coke”)

For decades, they were under the radar. They and their father had amassed an incredible fortune, mainly in the oil business. Their privately held company revenues last year were estimated at $100 billion. Each brother is worth $21.5 billion. That is a very big “B” in both cases.

For many years, they have been involved in politics but not terribly open or transparent about it. It is true that David Koch ran as vice president on the 1980 Libertarian ticket, to the right of Ronald Reagan. According to New York Times columnist Frank Rich, “his campaign called for the abolition not just of Social Security, federal regulatory agencies and welfare but also of the FBI, the CIA, and public schools.” Since the Libertarian party’s 1 percent showing in 1980, David Koch has very much been behind the scenes, until now. [See who donates the most to your member of Congress.]

Jane Mayer, of The New Yorker, in her 10,000 word piece last August, peeled the cover off the onion of the Koch brothers' empire. And she focused not only on their personal wealth and family, but on their political empire building.

It was not, and is not, easy to get the details on the extent of their tentacles. They funnel money through 501c3 tax-exempt foundations, and they give money to other foundations, lobbying organizations, and right wing think tanks. They have PACs; they support candidates. Only a small portion of what they control do they divulge.

But it has now come out how involved they have been in funding Tea Party groups, Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, and Citizens for a Sound Economy ($12 million). [Check out a roundup of political cartoons on the Tea Party.]

We do know, from Mayer’s reporting, that the Koch brothers have personally given over $2 million to candidates over the last 12 years, their PAC has contributed $8 million to candidates, and they have spent $50 million on lobbying. The Charles Koch Foundation has given $48 million, and another foundation they control gave $28 million. David Koch’s foundation gave more than $120 million. According to Mayer, $196 million dollars in total was distributed in the last 10 years to conservative causes and institutions.

Totally irrelevant and unresponsive to my post. How typical. How pathetic.

Denying your own words won't make the disappear!

The more conservative wing is opposed to corporatism. We are opposed to crony capitalism.

You are funded by corporatism and crony capitalism.

Too bad you utterly lack the inherent honesty and integrity to admit as much.

 

[Ava]

New Poll indicates 51% of Americans are Centralist

They're afraid to be anything else. They don't know how bad off we are economically and why. And these are the good ole` days.

 

[The Rabbi]

You never could handle the truth!

Tea Party Funding Koch Brothers Emerge From Anonymity - US News

Totally irrelevant and unresponsive to my post. How typical. How pathetic.

Denying your own words won't make the disappear!

The more conservative wing is opposed to corporatism. We are opposed to crony capitalism.

You are funded by corporatism and crony capitalism.

Too bad you utterly lack the inherent honesty and integrity to admit as much.

Too bad you are completely wrong and don't have the slightest clue what you're talking about.

 

[Bruce_T_Laney]

Think of it this way and the further our politicians move the other way on both end of the spectrum the middle is no longer the middle and is now what was radical but is no longer radical because the other two sides have moved further radical, so the middle has moved...

Get it or just look at Newt and remember he was once the radical of the GOP and now is consider a RINO because we now see those like Ted Cruz make Newt look more moderate than him...

I know insane...

 

[The Rabbi]

Think of it this way and the further our politicians move the other way on both end of the spectrum the middle is no longer the middle and is now what was radical but is no longer radical because the other two sides have moved further radical, so the middle has moved...

Get it or just look at Newt and remember he was once the radical of the GOP and now is consider a RINO because we now see those like Ted Cruz make Newt look more moderate than him...

I know insane...

Cruz shares a philosophy with Ronald Reagan, who was declared a far right fossil before he won.
The Left has become radicalized, pushing for Euro-socialism and statism to a degree I've never seen in my life. The only extremism is on the Left. The Right is where it always was.

 

[Siete]

the day will come when a Presidential candidate enters the race and runs on a platform based on common sense, a balanced economy in real time, a strong foundation sans special interest groups, and distances the campaign from war, and mudslinging, focusing on solutions that actually to benefit the PEOPLE not the politicians.


and a new POTUS will be in the Oval.

 

[The Rabbi]

the day will come when a Presidential candidate enters the race and runs on a platform based on common sense, a balanced economy in real time, a strong foundation sans special interest groups, and distances the campaign from war, and mudslinging, focusing on solutions that actually to benefit the PEOPLE not the politicians.


and a new POTUS will be in the Oval.

No, when he does that the liberals will trot out how he got a DUI 30 years earlier and there were rumors about what he did in college.
But Ted Cruz will be sworn in anyway.

 

[Derideo_Te]

New Poll indicates 51% of Americans are Centralist

They're afraid to be anything else. They don't know how bad off we are economically and why. And these are the good ole` days.

51% of Americans are in the center because there is nothing that either side is offering that appeals to them in my opinion.

As far as where we are economically we are living on credit when we should be paying our bills. In order to pay our bills we need a compromise solution that neither side will be happy with. That means reducing spending AND raising taxes. Doing only one or the other won't pay the bills. We can't cut enough spending and we can't raise enough taxes. We MUST do both.

Yes, that makes me unpopular with both sides but that is why I am an Independent and part of the new 51% majority.

 

[Siete]

New Poll indicates 51% of Americans are Centralist

They're afraid to be anything else. They don't know how bad off we are economically and why. And these are the good ole` days.

51% of Americans are in the center because there is nothing that either side is offering that appeals to them in my opinion.

As far as where we are economically we are living on credit when we should be paying our bills. In order to pay our bills we need a compromise solution that neither side will be happy with. That means reducing spending AND raising taxes. Doing only one or the other won't pay the bills. We can't cut enough spending and we can't raise enough taxes. We MUST do both.

Yes, that makes me unpopular with both sides but that is why I am an Independent and part of the new 51% majority.

you're not alone ... people of that feather are communists in the eye of the right..

 

[Jack203]

A new poll by Esquire magazine and NBC News found that 51% of Americans are centralist.
Most Americans are centrists, study finds

And what are both parties doing? Moving farther and farther away from the center. How is the concept of moving farther away from the center working for the Democratic and Republican Parties? 61% of Democrats agreed with their party on key issues, where as only 42% of Republicans agree with their party on key issues.
How far right can Republicans go? | The Great Debate

Not only are the demographics here on USMB not even close to mirroring the true demographics of America, the two major parties don't mirror the demographics of America either.
So when we get a group pf people telling us what is best for America on these boards or in the media, their concept doesn't fit the thinking of a huge majority of Americans at all.
Basically what we have here is taxation without representation for a majority of Americans.

I used to be a moderate Republican until they threw me out of their party for being too moderate. Obama has been a centrist's dream. An articulate and charismatic moderate...not to mention being a minority is a plus.

 

[Derideo_Te]

New Poll indicates 51% of Americans are Centralist

They're afraid to be anything else. They don't know how bad off we are economically and why. And these are the good ole` days.

51% of Americans are in the center because there is nothing that either side is offering that appeals to them in my opinion.

As far as where we are economically we are living on credit when we should be paying our bills. In order to pay our bills we need a compromise solution that neither side will be happy with. That means reducing spending AND raising taxes. Doing only one or the other won't pay the bills. We can't cut enough spending and we can't raise enough taxes. We MUST do both.

Yes, that makes me unpopular with both sides but that is why I am an Independent and part of the new 51% majority.

you're not alone ... people of that feather are communists in the eye of the right..

The irony here is that even though I am socially liberal I am fiscally conservative. Genuine fiscal conservatives understand that taxation is the price we must pay for a civilized society. We are fooling ourselves by living on credit. Ultimately we are going to have to raise taxes if only to pay down the national debt. We cannot abandon that debt and it is grossly unfair to burden future generations with our malfeasance.

Electing those who don't understand that this nation was founded upon a compromise and has always been a compromise and will only ever work as a compromise is not doing ourselves any favors.

The Constitution is a symbol of compromise and any genuine conservative that claims that they want to uphold the Constitution must be willing to uphold compromises as the way forward in my opinion.

 

[Jack203]

New Poll indicates 51% of Americans are Centralist

They're afraid to be anything else. They don't know how bad off we are economically and why. And these are the good ole` days.

51% of Americans are in the center because there is nothing that either side is offering that appeals to them in my opinion.

As far as where we are economically we are living on credit when we should be paying our bills. In order to pay our bills we need a compromise solution that neither side will be happy with. That means reducing spending AND raising taxes. Doing only one or the other won't pay the bills. We can't cut enough spending and we can't raise enough taxes. We MUST do both.

Yes, that makes me unpopular with both sides but that is why I am an Independent and part of the new 51% majority.

Great post. I agree completely. The far left and far right are very similar. Many times it is difficult to tell them apart.

Compromise has always been a dirty word for the extremists of both parties. It's only when compromise became a dirty word for the majority of the party that things become bad. That has happened to the Republican party. If it happens to the Democrats too...then it will really be bad. Say for example someone like Michael Moore became the Grover Norquist of the Democrats, and targeted moderate Democrats like the Tea Party does to moderate Republicans.

 

[ScienceRocks]

51% of America agree's with me...We want.
-Science
-Infrastructure
-education
-Investment into r&d
-sane economic policies
-Safety net
-Unemployment incase we lose our jobs.

The nut cases can't get pass the reality that no government is bad and full on government is also bad. I love the private sector and believe it can do a lot, but we do need government to have its place.

 

[kaz]

The true center are libertarians. The left want oppressive fiscal government that owns our wallets. The right want fiscal social government that owns our bodies. As centralists, we want government to stay out of both our wallets and our bedrooms so people can make their own choices.

Libertarians are missing a screw

Do it myself? That's just freaking NUTS!

I hear ya, man...

 

[Jack203]

The true center are libertarians.

Not accurate. Libertarians are moderate left on social policy (pro-choice, pro gay marriage), but are far far right on fiscal policy. (flat income taxes).

If you want the ultra rich to get even richer than they already are. Libertarians are great candidates.