Centrist Discussion Thread I - Welcome, centre!

[Australian Seperatists]

I don't think there has been a centrist discussion thread as of yet (Correct me if I'm wrong)

But with that said, I thought it might be a fair idea to have a thread where those who don't agree on left nor right wing politics in their full form can meet and discuss.

Of course Mods, if this thread does get out of hand or it isn't appropriate at this time, you can lock it if the need arises.


With that aside, why does it feel like centrism is being left out in majority of political parties and/or discussion? I think it might be because few people have agreement with either side. You have the liberals on the left while there are conservatives on the right. I'll list a few examples of my IRL positions from both sides as an example of why some people have been calling me a radical centrist:


Gun Control (L) - I personally feel in many countries (like the US) the gun lobby has a stranglehold on politics. If any effort is to be made on protecting human lives, then the loss of the right to self defense must be made in some cases. On these topics, I love to make reference to Australia's gun laws after Port Arthur in 1996, and until the shooting in Margaret River in WA earlier in 2018, there has been no mass shooting since.

LGBT+ Rights (L) - Originally, I wasn't a big fan of homosexuality. That was due to Bieber and a few other pollies that are in our electoral divisions. Since then, I have changed and now I support the rights of LGBT+ persons fully. This has also made me want to see religion abolished because I feel all it does is create division and controversy, and that is all based off a book created by a group of followers and has made people believe that if they commit homosexual acts that an invisible man with "all power" in the sky will send them to Hell.

Border Control (R) - I don't really wish for the inclusion of immigration in our society. I have no disrespect to those who need to flee their countries due to war, but if they come here and demand we change our society to make it their society, I'm sorry, but you will go back to where you came from. Remember: this isn't your country anymore, your practices have no place in our society.

Pro-Life (R) - I honestly believe that abortion is wrong because the unborn don't have a choice. I believe they should have a chance at living in the world, and not have their chance at life cut short due to reasons. Everyone deserves to have a right to live, even the smallest ones.

Mining (R) - If there is anything stronger to any nation's economy, where it is done, is mining. If we stop mining for environmental reasons, I worry that there is going to be a huge tumble in the economy. Besides, what the radical environmentalists don't realise is that many of the regulations in place have been effective enough, we shouldn't cripple our nation's resources for either tourism or environmental life.

Universal Health Care (L) - Everyone deserves to have health care covered by the State. I feel there should be no reason as to why someone shouldn't be given health care because they can't afford to get health insurance. As you know, getting medical attention without insurance in a nation without UHC will result in medical bills through the roof. That's why UHC with all conditions covered will help reduce the burden on families who would normally not be able to have insurance.


You will notice that I included either L or R to each position I support. They stand for Left-Wing and Right-Wing respectively.

With that aside, feel free to debate on your own positions, or my positions, or anything else that you have on the centrist topic. Of course, keep it civil and the like.

Oh, and ask yourself: Why do YOU feel centrism is left out of today's modern society?

[Costa Fierro]

There have been centrist threads, although they're usually filled with angry leftists and rightists complaining that we're being non-committal. There hasn't been one in a while, though.

[Eglaecia]

Finally, a centrist thread. I consider myself a centrist and consider myself an adherent to the Popolarismo line of Christian Democratic thought. I tend to be conservative on cultural and moral issues, but more liberal on issues such as personal freedoms and foreign policy, and I take a moderate left-wing stance on civil rights, environment and welfare.

Gun Rights (R) - I strongly support the second amendment and the right to bare arms. In the UK, firearms were confiscated from us following a small school shooting, and ever since the government has grown bigger and bigger and has began infringing on our civil liberties, slowly turning the UK into a police state.

LGBT+ Marriage (R) - Marriage is a religious institution between man and woman. The state shouldn't perform marriages and shouldn't be allowed to force Churches to perform same-sex marriages.

Pro-Life (R) - I believe that life begins at conception, and that if you don't want to have kids, DONT HAVE SEX. simple as that. Abortion is murder and I don't care what anyone says, it is evil and should be illegal.

Religion in School (R) - I support religion in school, in fact I believe all schools should be religious schools. If children aren't instilled with Judeo-Christian values, they will end up immoral and could easily be radicalised.

Police Brutality (L) - It's clear that American police are trigger-happy and don't hesitate to kill unarmed people of colour. I think a nationwide review should be conducted to eradicate racial bias within US police forces and to train police officers to be more disciplined.

Immigration (C) - I take a middle ground stance here. On one hand, I support European Union free movement and believe that immigration is of net benefit to the economy, but on the other hand, I think that some cultures aren't compatible with the Judeo-Christian west, and that we should close off our borders to most of the third world.

Environment (L) - The environment is probably my furthest left stance. As a Christian, I believe that we are stewards of the earth, and it is our duty to protect the environment. Sadly, industrialisation has resulted in a level of damage that is nearly irreversible, and unless we can work together as the human race, we will permanently destroy the planet.

Welfare (L) - I adore the concept of the welfare state, however I think it goes too far sometimes. I support the NHS, unemployment benefits, national insurance and stuff like that, but I think that they should only be available to natives of the country, and that people who have the ability to work but choose not to should be excluded from unemployment benefits.

Taxation (C) - I advocate progressive taxation so that those who can afford to pay their fair share, however I think taxation should be kept as low as possible. When necessary, taxes should be raised in the short term to fund programs that could improve economic growth and living conditions in the long run, but whenever possible, taxes should be cut so people have more money. I believe that a good way to start increasing tax revenue isn't necessarily raising them, but to go after those who avoid paying taxes through legal loopholes.

[RiderSyl]

Gun Control (L) - Gun lobbyists are preventing real common-sense restrictions on weapons. We need more situational background checks, situational registration, and bans on ridiculous add-ons and models that no civilian would have any sensible use for.

LGBT+ Rights (L) - Considering I fall under the LGBT+ community, I'm very much on the left side of the aisle here. Before I admitted to myself who and what I was, however, I was still just left-of-centre on LGBT+ rights, believing that there should be expanded civil rights as long as nothing insane happens.

Border Control (R) - I'm pretty solidly right-wing on this one. I think businesses have hiring practices that encourage illegal workers. I think that a merit-based immigration system (with reasonable exemptions) is the best solution. I sympathize with those fleeing hopeless situations, but I also worry about the likelihood that men and woman that could help resolve their country's woes are instead among those fleeing across the borders.

Pro-Life (R) - Just barely right-leaning here. In rape cases or incest, abortion should be allowed. Otherwise, no.

Mining (L) - Mining is not a sustainable boon for the economy, and those working in the field need to receive additional education and amenities so that they can transition into more sustainable fields.

Universal Health Care (L) - If there's a way to get UHC and keep costs from being absurd, then that's what's right and what should happen.

Centrism is left out of today's society because desperation has turned many away from the center and towards more extreme positions. There's also systematic discouragement of centrism in both public service and in the land of political debate.

[Dreshand]

Gun control (C) I'm unsure how to truly feel about gun control, while sure it helps keep people safe if people have less guns, a lot of people would be safe with guns, especially since if we don't go full Japan with gun control criminals will still be able to have them. Though semi-automatic weapons should probably be kept out of public hands

LGBT Marrige (L) Slight left on this. While I am a good heterosexual Catholic I respect the rights of people who want to marry, it's them making the decision not us. Likewise if a church doesn't support Gay marriage don't force them to, it's their decision too.

Abortion (C) While I feel like it would be irresponsible to kill babies just because people decided to have sex then decided they dont want them, in certain conditions such as rape or birh seriously endangering the mothers life it might be justified. might.

Immigration (R)- A lot of cultures just aren't really compatible, and a lot of people complain about how we don't follow the values of their country and such. If you aren't fine with it go home. And while it does benefit the economy with the influx of workers both skilled and unskilled, a lot of countries just can't handle that many immigrants.

Welfare (L) - Sure lots of people need welfare, the homeless, the crippled and those who can't find jobs. But if they can get a job and choose not to... yeah no that shouldn't fly. But other than that it's good so far,

Health Care (L) Free healthcare is an essential human right. I wouldn't want people to die just because they can't choke up the money, the swiss system is a good example of free/cheap healthcare done well without breaking the economy

Environment (Unsure which stance this is) - The environment should be protected, while not at severe detriment to industry, ecological safeguards should be in place to ensure we don't ruin what we have

[The Empire of Pretantia]

>All these people marking as left
>Forgetting that you gotta be armed if you wanna overthrow the state.

[Dreshand]

>All these people marking as left
>Forgetting that you gotta be armed if you wanna overthrow the state.

>Assuming I'm not armed and not actively trying to overthrow the state
>In which case you would be right
>F__k

[Cekoviu]

There have been centrist threads, although they're usually filled with angry leftists and rightists complaining that we're being non-committal.

because it's true.

[Dumb Ideologies]

There have been centrist threads, although they're usually filled with angry leftists and rightists complaining that we're being non-committal.

because it's true.

When they commit you get R a d i c a l C e n t r i s m and people complain even more.

[Helensburgh]

OP, I appreciate the creation of this thread, but I seriously doubt that you are a centrist at all, radical or not. Being in favour of autocracy, for instance, is not even remotely close to the political centre of modern politics. Nor is wanting immigrants to "go back where they came from." Or being so staunchly against abortion, the UN, and environmental protection. I don't think having a few radical left and right wing opinions simultaneously is what makes one centrist. It's probably more to do with gentle reform and pragmatism within liberal democratic institutions.

As for myself, I consider myself centre-left. I support:
- Progressive taxation
- Some gun control
- Unrestricted abortion
- LGBT
- Relatively unrestricted immigration, but not open borders. And I enjoy the cultural syncretism that we gain from that
- Free markets, but not laissez-faire
- Occupational licensing reform/deregulation - the poor should not be fleeced by the government in order to have the right to earn a living
- YIMBY to the core
- Australia's HECS Loan system
- Universal healthcare in the style of Australia, where the market does some or much of the heavy lifting
- A welfare state/UBI/NIT/Social Wealth Funds
- Environmental regulations, such as cap-and-trade and carbon tax. I feel quite strongly about this, and I'm most likely going to major in environmental economics.
- Most importantly, the liberal democratic system.
I think some of our biggest mistakes as a 'civilisation' (if you can call Australia that) have been our decisions to tax labour at higher rates than capital, not taxing land values, and some of the financial deregulation in the 1980s. We should aim to fix these, and also roll back rent controls, relax zoning laws, etc.
Does thread think I'm in the centre, or am I a whack job?

[The Empire of Pretantia]

Gun Control (L) - Gun lobbyists are preventing real common-sense restrictions on weapons. We need more situational background checks, situational registration, and bans on ridiculous add-ons and models that no civilian would have any sensible use for.

Like barrel shrouds?

[Petrolheadia]

Does centre-libertarian count?

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Gun Control (No mater what I pick people are pissed at me)

Ugh. Geting in to this is just pain. First things first, no baning guns is not a good idea. No we should not take away guns.
That said, the US needs a system where first time gun owners get a psychiatric screening to make sure there not nuts when they have a gun. Maybe more cops so that we have more good guys with guns that are also sane people with guns.
Also, illegal gun trafficking needs to be cracked down on.

However, every time I say this, people come out of the woodwork to call me an ebil gun grabber. Geting into this debate is like beating your head against a wall.
No mater what stance you take, people see you as either not doing anything to stop mass shooting or as an ebil gun grabber.

LGBT+ Rights (L)
Gay people are ok and they should be left do whatever they want to do along as its consensual.

They shouldn't be treated differently then a straight person. Transgenders should be allowed to choose what gender they want to be. There gender doesn't matter. What matters if they are an asshole or not.

But things like transage and otherkin should be treated as pedophilia and mental disorder.

Border Control (Leftish)
Most people are just good people wanting a new life and can't afford to get here legally. Thats cool. If they live life differently then us, thats also cool, as long as they don't do anything really wrong. People who do really wrong things (ie robbing, rapeing, killing, ect) who did get here illegally should be deported.
But deportation for smoking weed or other small crimes, deportation is too harsh for that.


Pro-Life (Depends)
In cases where a couple can't afford a child or would be abusive and can't deal with leaving them for adoption, then yes.
In cases where the mother will die if not done, yes.
In cases where it is done where you can afford a child but get an abortion anyway, then no.

Mining (Depends)
Depends on what they are mining, how safe is it, where they are mining, ect. Every case is different.

Universal Health Care (L)
Incredibly good thing that needs to be done. Damn the expense.

[The Archregimancy]

I would have really liked to have contributed to this thread, but it seems entirely predicated on American political perspectives.

The foregrounding of gun control in particular seems solely predicated on the politics of the United States. Discussions of gun control are essentially settled within the United Kingdom across virtually all mainstream political strands in favour of strict gun controls. I'm not particularly inclined to lecture Americans on what they do with their guns so long as they extend me the same courtesy.

Likewise, abortion is safe and legal in most of the United Kingdom, and virtually no mainstream politicians outside of Northern Ireland are attempting to argue otherwise.

And mining? There's very little mining left in the UK. It was largely obliterated in the UK by conservative administrations who considered it A) uneconomic and B) a bastion of left-wing opposition to the government. Whether they were right on either count is still debated, but those battles largely ended decades ago.

I live in a country where the self-proclaimed liberal party is the centrist party. In Australia the Liberal Party is, of course, the conservative party.

So this whole 'liberal - conservative' dichotomy likely needs some rethinking by the OP.

[Major-Tom]

People try to make these a lot. They never gain much ground, for whatever reason. I'm centre-left, for sure, I have some centrist/centre right positions, but I'm usually pretty firmly on the left.

[Kubumba Tribe]

I'm an Islamist who like Socialist leaders. Does that make me centrist or just a right-winger who like leftist dudes?

[Xmara]

Gun Control (No mater what I pick people are pissed at me)

Ugh. Geting in to this is just pain. First things first, no baning guns is not a good idea. No we should not take away guns.
That said, the US needs a system where first time gun owners get a psychiatric screening to make sure there not nuts when they have a gun. Maybe more cops so that we have more good guys with guns that are also sane people with guns.
Also, illegal gun trafficking needs to be cracked down on.

However, every time I say this, people come out of the woodwork to call me an ebil gun grabber. Geting into this debate is like beating your head against a wall.
No mater what stance you take, people see you as either not doing anything to stop mass shooting or as an ebil gun grabber.

That’s, that’s actually how I view it. Don’t get why everyone would hate you for it.

[Mardla]

I would have really liked to have contributed to this thread, but it seems entirely predicated on American political perspectives.

The foregrounding of gun control in particular seems solely predicated on the politics of the United States. Discussions of gun control are essentially settled within the United Kingdom across virtually all mainstream political strands in favour of strict gun controls. I'm not particularly inclined to lecture Americans on what they do with their guns so long as they extend me the same courtesy.

Likewise, abortion is safe and legal in most of the United Kingdom, and virtually no mainstream politicians outside of Northern Ireland are attempting to argue otherwise.

And mining? There's very little mining left in the UK. It was largely obliterated in the UK by conservative administrations who considered it A) uneconomic and B) a bastion of left-wing opposition to the government. Whether they were right on either count is still debated, but those battles largely ended decades ago.

I live in a country where the self-proclaimed liberal party is the centrist party. In Australia the Liberal Party is, of course, the conservative party.

So this whole 'liberal - conservative' dichotomy likely needs some rethinking by the OP.

Conservatism barely existed in Western Europe for the last few decades, it is only now making a comeback--the SD, the AfD, Jacob Rees-Mogg, etc. It is also a thing in Poland and Hungary.

Your perspective is warped

[Mardla]

I also find your use of the phrase "safe and legal" extremely loaded. It's obviously not """safe""" for the human life being taken.

[Cekoviu]

I'm an Islamist who like Socialist leaders. Does that make me centrist or just a right-winger who like leftist dudes?

an authoritarian leftist.

[Cekoviu]

I also find your use of the phrase "safe and legal" extremely loaded. It's obviously not """safe""" for the human life being taken.

this is in reference to removing tumors, right?

[El-Amin Caliphate]

I'm an Islamist who like Socialist leaders. Does that make me centrist or just a right-winger who like leftist dudes?

an authoritarian leftist.

How is Islamism left tho? Or authoritarian?

[Mardla]

I also find your use of the phrase "safe and legal" extremely loaded. It's obviously not """safe""" for the human life being taken.

this is in reference to removing tumors, right?

I do not approve of dehumanizing the left

[Costa Fierro]

Somewhat centre-left.

[Munkchester]

Judeo-Christian values

Judeo-Christian west

uh-huh