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0 pointscrazygringo5y ago0 comments

You mean "fish hook theory", the idea that centrism is somehow inherently ideologically aligned with the far right?

AFAIK that's simply a fantasy promoted in certain corners of the internet (like the ironically-named r/EnlightenedCentrism). It's not supported by any actual quantitative evidence at all, nor am I aware of any credence given to it in academia. It's essentially made-up. There is no political scientist I'm aware of who takes it seriously.

To my knowledge, it's nothing more than a talking point invented by progressives to try to convince other progressives not to be pulled to the center.

0 comments

throwaway22455y ago

The Martin Luther King quote that begins: "I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate," should be read in full.

If you define a centrist as someone who finds the status quo a reasonable compromise,

and you recognise that the history of the United States (among others) and its status quo is infused with white supremacy,

then it's unsurprising that a self-declared "centrist" would often hold views that more closely align with the right-wing than the left.

crazygringoOP5y ago

But that's not how centrism is defined.

Centrist public opinion is very different from the status quo, and this is a hugely important distinction to make.

The status quo is set mainly by elites who have a vested interest in their own wealth and power.

The "center" of public opinion, when you actually survey people in detail on the preferences they hold, does not match particularly well with government policy in the US.

(If democracy worked perfectly, then the two might coincide, but they don't because it doesn't.)

From surveys I've seen, the American "center" maps best to a moderately liberal position in current politics, though it really depends on the issue. The American center is extremely liberal when it comes to gay marriage, very liberal with a public option for health care and race issues, moderately liberal when it comes to abortion and gun ownership, and moderately conserative when it comes to economic policy.

throwaway22455y ago

>Centrist public opinion is very different from the status quo

The centre of public opinion might be different from the status quo, I don't want to argue about that here.

I was doubting that people who identify as 'centrist' usually hold the 'centre of public opinion'; I think they are more likely to hold a significantly right-wing opinion on most issues.

1 more reply

bigbubba5y ago

Fish hook theory is perpetuated by some among the far right in an attempt to rebrand their ideology to give it more mainstream appeal.

k__5y ago

I don't know.

The center is pro police, which is known to the other way for right terrorism.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointscrazygringo5y ago0 comments

You mean "fish hook theory", the idea that centrism is somehow inherently ideologically aligned with the far right?

To my knowledge, it's nothing more than a talking point invented by progressives to try to convince other progressives not to be pulled to the center.

0 comments

throwaway22455y ago

The Martin Luther King quote that begins: "I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate," should be read in full.

If you define a centrist as someone who finds the status quo a reasonable compromise,

and you recognise that the history of the United States (among others) and its status quo is infused with white supremacy,

then it's unsurprising that a self-declared "centrist" would often hold views that more closely align with the right-wing than the left.

crazygringoOP5y ago

But that's not how centrism is defined.

Centrist public opinion is very different from the status quo, and this is a hugely important distinction to make.

The status quo is set mainly by elites who have a vested interest in their own wealth and power.

The "center" of public opinion, when you actually survey people in detail on the preferences they hold, does not match particularly well with government policy in the US.

(If democracy worked perfectly, then the two might coincide, but they don't because it doesn't.)

throwaway22455y ago

>Centrist public opinion is very different from the status quo

The centre of public opinion might be different from the status quo, I don't want to argue about that here.

I was doubting that people who identify as 'centrist' usually hold the 'centre of public opinion'; I think they are more likely to hold a significantly right-wing opinion on most issues.

1 more reply

bigbubba5y ago

Fish hook theory is perpetuated by some among the far right in an attempt to rebrand their ideology to give it more mainstream appeal.

k__5y ago

I don't know.

The center is pro police, which is known to the other way for right terrorism.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse