Is the USA a center-right nation?
My 94-year-old father, a New-Deal-Democrat, said so in a recent conversation about HRC's monumental loss. I replied "first you need to define what you mean by center-right".
Dad defined Roe-v-Wade as a center-right compromise to legalize access to abortion while minimizing its use to the first trimester. He was focused on minimization of access to abortion, as opposed to recognizing that the access Roe-v-Wade provided has been under continuous attack since the decision was made.
I disagreed, claiming that Roe-v-Wade, in its watered down form, is nevertheless center-left, because it represents some legalized access to abortion, and allows for personal choice. In context, the opposition wants to make abortion access and contraception access (and even access to the choice) illegal for everyone and generally use a religious argument to support their position, claiming that the USA is "a christian nation".
For another example, I claimed that movement toward school vouchers are center-right because they promote privatization of the educational system. Dad claimed that school vouchers are center-left because they represent flexibility in the funding of public education.
So, is the USA a center-right nation or not? What other issues allow a parameterized definition of this claim? Where do you think the temperament of the nation actually resides?
Comments
I have never believed that
and no offense--I know a lot of folk may disagree with this, but to me, that "centrist" crap is what finally screwed the Democrats, possibly for good this time.
It seems really simple to me: forget sucking up to the damned "middle". If you're going to be Left, be left. If you're going to be Right, be right. If you want to be in The Middle, start another g-d party already, and stop chasing each others' tails.
centrists?
I'm surprised that there's still anyone out there who even questions that fact. And fact is what that is. The "centrist", DLC excreta is exactly what screwed the Democrats clean into the ground -- and our country right along with it.
Bill Clinton is always touted as an example of a "Middle" President; and he certainly spent quite a bit of time chasing tails, didn't he? [ducking]
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
I think the government is center-right and getting closer
to right all the time (add to that most people in authoritative positions). The general population is more center-left. Look at the polls of what most Americans want versus what they get.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass
Exactly right
when and what was the last bill passed by clowngress that benefited the people rather than the corporations?
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
The center is for lukewarm christians and dead animals.
People who don't have the moral integrity to hold a position in the presence of bullying, or who lack the moral center to understand the issue.
My favorite example is the ACA. It could be said that the ACA is a "center" position. That argument is the moral equivalent of stepping over someone laying n the ground bleeding to death because your smart phone is too busy with Facebook to call 911. The ACA says that people have a right to health care, but only if that care is approved by an insurance company. If you don't see that you don't have a moral center, and if you accept that you are a moral coward.
America is not a center anything country, it is a country of amoral cowards.
On to Biden since 1973
"America is not a center anything country
It's a GOVERNMENT of amoral cowards, who represent NOTHING but their amoral, cowardly selves--with a population that no longer respects them because they now know exactly how cowardly they are.
(and thumbs up to the rest of your comment, too!)
True, but
the people don't have the courage or the moral center to stand up. (both the Dem primary and the GE were stolen. who's demanding investigations and prosecutions?) We may be starting.
On to Biden since 1973
I think the people do have a moral center
they just don't act on it until they feel that they're (their chosen identity group, that is) the victims.
No.
Bernie isn't center-right, and he was the most popular politician on the menu this time.
The choice of Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton suggests that, on the contrary, America would do almost anything to avoid another "center-right" president. Although the truth is that Hillary is actually rabidly right-wing--the people calling themselves "center-right" aren't actually the center of anything except a crap pile of money and power.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
better evil than incompetent
Including electing a known evil candidate.
How Macchiavellian!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
I don't see a left at all anymore in power...
Not of any significant proportion. Obama is weak on climate matters. He has supported domestic spying along with aggressively persecuting whistle blowers. He takes his sweet time with the Keystone pipeline while granting countless leases in the Gulf of Mexico. His ACA is garbage. He never bothered to push to strengthen it or even push back when the republicans are doing their best to repeal it. It seems his favorite pastime is using drones to take out some terrorist while at the same time killing civilians creating more generations of people that will hate us. He gave nearly free reign to an insane woman to stir up shit in Libya and Syria. He has little backbone when it comes to curtailing Israel's continued occupation and expansion of the West Bank. He supports the wholesale slaughter occurring in Yemen by the Saudis. Ok, He got a treaty with Iran. Yay. Let's see how long it lasts now with Herr Trump behind the wheel. Here at home he has promoted the militarization of the police while failing miserably to address the weekly, sometimes daily, outright murders committed by the police against unarmed citizens. Oh, he has been good at creating Federally protected areas... I suppose that is something. I could go on and I'm sure you out there could as well.
On the democratic side of the congress, what do we have? Outside of Sanders, Warren and Babs Mikulski, I have trouble thinking of anyone. Franken sold out. I need a curator to help me find more on the left.
So. No. I don't see much of a left and even less progressive in government.
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage
Depends what you mean by "The USA."
If you mean the US government, then I could agree, though it's on the very right edge of that "center-right" position.
If, however, you mean the people who make up this nation, then I can't really agree, as when you look at the issues favored by the people, the left positions are generally the most favored, regardless of the identity groups asked.