FireKrakouer
Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest.
- Jul 5, 2011
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- AFL Club
- Collingwood
First of all, I acknowledge that the left/right axis is an oversimplification, and many do not fit neatly into either category. But a glance over social media will show you that many in political debates will cheer for every issue that their "side" is on, like a footy supporter. The axis is often quite sufficient.
Let's look at the 10% of people who are most "extreme" towards the left or the right. It sounds like a fringe group, but keep in mind that these two groups represent 1 in 5 people.
If you are in the far 10%, then essentially 90% of the population disagree with your views. 50% of them passionately so.
If you are a centrist (if there is such a thing as a genuine centrist), then you can be friends with the centre-left and centre-right, with perhaps only the aforementioned 10% extremes on either side genuinely disagreeing with you. 20% of the population against you, vs 90% for the previous groups.
There are several posters here who believe that the opposing "side" only have the beliefs that they do due to a lack of intelligence or a lack of knowledge/education... or even morals. I find this idea to be arrogant and absurd. There are many variables that go in to how one forms their political belief system, including both nature and nurture.
I contend that centrists, who can pick and choose the strong and weak arguments from both sides, are the most sensible and rational of us. No blind cheerleading, just logical assessment of each issue on its own merits.
There are only a couple of posters here who I believe could be accurately labeled as centrists, amongst many more who are quite clearly passionate in one direction or another but still claim to be centrist.
If you agree, what steps will you take to try to drag yourself towards the centre? If you disagree, why?
Let's look at the 10% of people who are most "extreme" towards the left or the right. It sounds like a fringe group, but keep in mind that these two groups represent 1 in 5 people.
If you are in the far 10%, then essentially 90% of the population disagree with your views. 50% of them passionately so.
If you are a centrist (if there is such a thing as a genuine centrist), then you can be friends with the centre-left and centre-right, with perhaps only the aforementioned 10% extremes on either side genuinely disagreeing with you. 20% of the population against you, vs 90% for the previous groups.
There are several posters here who believe that the opposing "side" only have the beliefs that they do due to a lack of intelligence or a lack of knowledge/education... or even morals. I find this idea to be arrogant and absurd. There are many variables that go in to how one forms their political belief system, including both nature and nurture.
I contend that centrists, who can pick and choose the strong and weak arguments from both sides, are the most sensible and rational of us. No blind cheerleading, just logical assessment of each issue on its own merits.
There are only a couple of posters here who I believe could be accurately labeled as centrists, amongst many more who are quite clearly passionate in one direction or another but still claim to be centrist.
If you agree, what steps will you take to try to drag yourself towards the centre? If you disagree, why?