• Michael
• Jun 25,2008
• In: Featured Articles, Moderate, News

What is a Political Moderate?

Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.
- Alan Watts

If you want to know what a liberal stands for, just ask a conservative. The same is true if you want to know what a conservative stands for. In neither case do we allow liberals or conservatives to define themselves. They have tried, to be sure, but nobody but liberals really listen to other liberals when they talk about liberalism. Similarly, conservatives tend to preach to the choir when they discuss conservative values. Through this one simple dynamic the great American political rift is perpetuated.

While Democrats and Republicans each sling mud at the other camp, the most shrill and heated arguments originate not from the center of each party, but rather from the most outspoken minority on the fringe. These are the people who we don’t want driving policy. These are the ones we should never give power to. Yet, while these tend to be the loudest voices in many political discussions, they are not the most numerous, nor the most powerful.

No, my friends, the most powerful political bloc in the US is the political moderate. Chances are, you’re a member of this demographic and you don’t even know it.

Fringe political voices will tell you that moderates “live in the middle” of the political landscape, and that they don’t feel strongly about any issue. Instead, we’re told that moderates hold their finger to the political wind to see which way it’s blowing - and then make up their minds.

As in many other cases, the folks on the fringes are wrong here as well. A political moderate is a person who holds values that are considered traditionally conservative as well as some that are considered traditionally liberal. Are you for a strong national defense and for good public education? Do you value the environment while you also value the need to provide decent jobs? Do you believe that it’s wrong to discriminate against people for housing or employment because they belong to some minority or religious group? What about voluntary prayer in schools?

Most people are more complex than fringe political wonks believe. Most people have a variety of views, and these often span the political spectrum. If you’re one of those people, one of the multitude that holds some conservative views and some liberal views, then you’re a political moderate - regardless of the political party to which you belong.