Ash : So, you were a philosophy major ? At least three others here have serious philosophy interests, maybe more. Speaking personally, I was an undergrad phil major myself. My MA was in Intellectual History, philosophy by another name, but in the context of the general culture rather than limited to the realm of pure intellect centered in the academy. About the word "moderate," Mike has a preference for that term. About some issues I would also "check that box." However, the thing to understand about RC is that we are not "surfers." Sure, we are concerned, even very concerned, with public opinion and issues of the day, but this is not our raison d'etre. This is not a blog in the manner of Rush Limbaugh on the Right, or MSNBC on the Left, but for "centrists." More like Socrates, or Plato, seeking to get inside people's heads with provocative ideas. A more modern analogy might be some mix of Hume, Voltaire, Condorcet, JS Mill, Hegel, and all that gang. But re-written by good journalists so that real people can understand this stuff. Billy ================================================= 12/2/2011 10:34:03 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
I agree about the importance of branding which is why I've gone with the term "moderate." It was a strategic decision because I've done enough voter registration to know that voters will check the box that is best aligned with the way they perceive themselves to be. I've seen plenty of voters register with the American Independent Party because they think it's the same as registering as an independent. But aside from the strategic consideration, I think that the verb moderate opens up a process space that can better accomodate liberals and conservatives who are not extreme in their views. In other words, moderation promotes deliberation which leads to comprimise - and sometimes even consensus. Conversely, the "center" invokes a limited area of space on a single axis political spectrum. Having said that, I don't have any skin in this game. Call it what you want, there's not yet any organizational infrastructure. But the experimentation we're seeing will lead to a convergence of all the players in this nascent movement. I was a philosophy major in my undergrad and seriously considered Ph.D. programs. Then I realized I wanted to actually get something done before I die. :: ash -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
