I ran across this and believe its spot-on. On being a "moderate" . There is NO SUCH THING as a political moderate. Moderate is an adjective, not a noun. Liberal, the noun, is a person with liberal ideas or opinions, or is a member of a Liberal political party. Conservative, the noun, is a person with conservative ideas or opinions, or is a member of a Conservative political party. Libertarian, the noun, is a person with libertarian ideas or opinions, or is a member of a Libertarian political party. Socialist, the noun, is a person with socialist ideas or opinions, or is a member of a socialist political party. There is no "moderate" political party that advances "moderate" ideas or opinions, although the unprincipled buffoons (of any political party) who are afraid to stand firmly on principle might want you to think otherwise. A politician wants to wear the "moderate" label for one reason, and one reason only. To get votes from BOTH sides so he can remain sitting on the fence and/or in his congressional seat. A non-politician wants to wear the "moderate" label for one reason, and one reason only. To give the appearance of being "open-minded"; but it really means that he can't, or is afraid to, commit to a particular principle and/or issue. A person either believes in transfer of wealth social programs or not. If he believes in transfer of wealth social programs, but in moderation, he still believes in them, so he is no "moderate"; and if he believes in transfer of wealth social programs for one reason, but not other reasons, he still believes in them, so he is no "moderate". A person either believes in abortion or not. If he believes in abortion, but in moderation, he still believes in them, so he is no "moderate". A person either believes in the death penalty or not. If he believes in the death penalty, but in moderation, or only in certain cases, he still believes in it, so he is no "moderate". And the people who might define themselves as "moderate" because they pick-and-choose certain issues from each major political party are just playing with words and/or are afraid to be called an extremist, and/or are afraid to show their true principled colors, most likely for reasons of political expediency. A pro-abortion Republican, for example, who claims to advance tax rate cuts (and maybe only in moderation) is not a "moderate". It's merely a silly ploy to attempt to be all things to all people, something that's impossible to do if maintaining a principled position is desired. You can drink in moderation; you can eat in moderation; you can do almost anything in moderation; but you can't think in moderation. (Sarcasm alert: Well, okay, maybe there are some people, politicians or otherwise, who really do think in moderation. End of sarcasm alert.) In almost ALL cases, a person either believes one way or the other -- there is no Moderate. http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=8&threadID=181935&messageID=1855869
From Websters: Main Entry: 1mod·er·ate Pronunciation: 'mä-d(&-)r&t Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin moderatus, from past participle of moderare to moderate; akin to Latin modus measure 1 a : avoiding extremes of behavior or expression : observing reasonable limits <a moderate drinker> b : CALM, TEMPERATE 2 a : tending toward the mean or average amount or dimension b : having average or less than average quality : MEDIOCRE 3 : professing or characterized by political or social beliefs that are not extreme 4 : limited in scope or effect 5 : not expensive : reasonable or low in price 6 of a color : of medium lightness and medium chroma - mod·er·ate·ly adverb - mod·er·ate·ness noun
well im quite aware what the definition means I agree its a term for straddling a fence which means electability for a candidate.
Normally, the correct use of the word is an adjective such as "Moderate Republican". As far as his scenarios for abortion and the death penalty. it is wrong. Look at definition 4 from Websters: "4 : limited in scope or effect" This can apply to abortion easily. If you have a moderate stance on abortion, you believe it should be limited in scope or effect. Same for the death penalty. The author of this article is intentionally misrepresenting the definition of the word and declaring there is no middle ground, only extremes. I'd have to "moderately" disagree.
i understand that most people's beliefs on a myriad of subjects can fall somewhere in between. Yet to seek the middle ground for no other reason than to not take a side is what I find foolish.
Absolute nonsense. They are everywhere, in fact most of America is moderate. The Harris Poll® found that conservatives continue to outnumber liberals by 36 to 18 percent but that the largest number of Americans are moderates (41%). More nonsense. Moderate can be used as a adjective, noun or a verb. mod·er·ate –adjective1. kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense: a moderate price. 2. of medium quantity, extent, or amount: a moderate income. 3. mediocre or fair: moderate talent. 4. calm or mild, as of the weather. 5. of or pertaining to moderates, as in politics or religion.–noun6. a person who is moderate in opinion or opposed to extreme views and actions, esp. in politics or religion. 7. (usually initial capital letter) a member of a political party advocating moderate reform.–verb (used with object)8. to reduce the excessiveness of; make less violent, severe, intense, or rigorous: to moderate the sharpness of one's words. 9. to preside over or at (a public forum, meeting, discussion, etc.). 10. to become less violent, severe, intense, or rigorous. 11. to act as moderator; preside. Complete and utter nonsense. there are a number of moderate parties, just not one as big as the democrats or republicans. The Liberatrian party is neither left nor right and is thus moderate. There are others: http://www.modparty.net/ http://www.americanmoderatepoliticalparty.org/ http://www.mnip.org/ This is getting so ridiculous that there is little point in refuting it any farther. A moderate is simply opposed to extreme views and actions. They commit to issues and principles all of the time. Only to a simpleton who lives in a black and white world. Such a fool cannot discern the shades of gray, much less percieve the color of a situation.
waiting to hear two sides before taking a stance is no stance at all. thats not even having your own opinion. its a way of connecting the dots which any fool can do, then claim its your view. how silly is that. its a lot different than having an opinion first which may sometimes fall between extremes or sometimes not than to just outright seek it.
"Critical thinking consists of the mental process of analyzing and evaluating statements or propositions that have been offered as true. It includes a process of reflecting upon the specific meaning of statements, examining offered evidence and reasoning, in order to form a judgment." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking I think we could use more of this in politics.
theres not much thinking needed to connect dots. you rely on others to think for you then take an average.
Where do you get the ridicuous notion that moderates have to wait to hear both sides before taking a stance? I've never heard anything so silly. I know right off the bat that I'm not taking an extreme position on anything. The moderate position is very broad and it overlaps the right and left a great deal. This sounds like martin, who can't tell a moderate from a centrist and sees the world in black & white.
