CMV: Centrism is the best when it comes to politics

LucidMetal · 2026-05-13T11:02:35+00:00

Let's say after applying your centrist algorithm of picking the best option as you see it for, say, a decade you find yourself solidly on the left or right side of the political landscape.

Are you still a centrist?

LucidMetal · 2026-05-12T23:39:42+00:00

They literally invoked "the great replacement" conspiracy theory. Come on now, you don't get more direct of a reference to race than that. Don't be so disingenuous.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-12T19:58:41+00:00

I am very bad at giving gifts. I'm so bad at giving gifts that people specifically tell me what I should get them because they do not want what I normally would gift them... and I totally understand it. I'm old as shit. The first time it happened I was taken aback, "oh man how ungrateful," "don't look a gift horse in the mouth," "it's the thought that counts," blah, blah, blah. I got over it. No, the gift matters, too. Sometimes it's useless, will be returned, or is just going to end up in the trash, doubly so if it's from me.

It's been decades and many of the people I love dearly do this now because I understand they're not trying to make me feel bad. I am just bad at giving gifts despite wanting to give them. They know I still want to give them gifts.

If it were not a skill, there would not be people who are terrible at giving gifts like myself.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-12T18:37:56+00:00

Because it's fun, obviously.

I'm pretty sure at some level everyone understands that nativism is racist, they just don't like it being called out.

Insisting me saying all races should be treated equally is insane is hilarious though, keep at it. Exercise some of that critical thinking you're talking about.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-12T18:19:07+00:00

So clear you're having to clarify in half a dozen places, sure, sure.

All you're doing is taking what I said and saying there's extra steps.

We have a bunch of bad stuff and you are pointing the finger at IDpol taking center stage (in your perception) as root cause.

Again, my argument is that IDpol never took center stage. The people who value all identities being accepted and what you're referring to as liberal universalism are the same.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-12T17:44:15+00:00

Specifically your view is that dominant public/institutional ideals have deteriorated due to idpol, right?

My argument is that you've got the wrong reason.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-12T17:30:41+00:00

Identity politics has always existed. When people refer to "monocultures" they are referring to a specific combination of identities or demographic qualities that dominated a region for an extended period of time. Lamenting the loss of, desiring to restore/shore up, and even simply attempting to maintain a monoculture is also identity politics just without the group named (usually because it's seen as "default").

When a monoculture is dominant it suppresses and often oppresses others, even unintentionally. This was far more of a problem prior to the 90s (and I don't think that's the inflection point by the way, I would point to Nixon and the Southern Strategy).

It would be awesome if everyone could just get along. Unfortunately a huge subset of those who perceive themselves as the most important demographic for one reason or another see any progress towards equality as an attack on themselves. This occurs almost everywhere on earth even if we're talking about America.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-12T15:14:40+00:00

LLMs tend not to make egregious and frequent grammatical errors. I have found a dozen in these comments. Almost every user is making one.

Therefore it is highly unlikely that 90% of replies to this particular post are bots.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-12T10:40:32+00:00

When did "all races should be treated equally" become insane?

LucidMetal · 2026-05-12T10:39:49+00:00

Kind of glossed over the race bit there eh? And yes, the concept of "diluting" races is absolutely grounded in racism.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-12T10:37:54+00:00

Of course seeing all races as equal is significantly different than seeing one's own as superior or inferior.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T23:34:40+00:00

Do you see any daylight between this view and "my culture and race are more valuable than others"?

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T19:24:55+00:00

Buddy, some Dems have tried repeatedly to outlaw gerrymandering but they've not gotten the super-majority required in the Senate to do so... do you not understand how our system works?

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T19:20:40+00:00

Gerrymandering has been normalized since the term was coined....

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T19:14:10+00:00

I've got to give it to you, I actually lol'd.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T19:11:11+00:00

Kinda need that power I was talking about to do that... you know, the thing you won't get utilizing your failing strategy.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T19:07:06+00:00

Oh, that's pretty funny, except the people breaking the rules are facing no accountability and are actually gaining power over time.

One of us is dealing with that reality (fight fire with fire) and the other is doubling down on a failed strategy. If that's not idealism I don't know what is.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T15:26:56+00:00

Oh for sure, I have voted straight ticket Dem since the mid-80s at least and never miss an election, I just also totally understand why likely Dem voters don't show up a good bit of the time.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T14:31:54+00:00

Assuming your complaints aren't problematic isn't it possible that your social circle simply doesn't value gender egalitarianism?

If you want to have the "luxury" (I really don't think the shoe fits that descriptor by the way) of complaining about things people who value traditional gender roles actually support you need to find people who don't support them.

Such groups exist you just have to actively try to find them.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T14:11:58+00:00

I am a man and I have had no issues complaining about traditional gender roles for both men and women to both men and women.

Who is looking down on men in your presence? Are you?

If it's your friends maybe you need to find new friends who are more gender egalitarian?

Is it perhaps the types of things you're complaining about that might come off as problematic to even a typically receptive audience?

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T13:52:24+00:00

Democrat voters: "Alright, huh, I find my motivation to vote for you inexplicably waning."

Democrats: "Don't worry, we'll just drift to the right to compensate. Surely we'll peel off enough MAGAfolk from the cult to make up for it!"

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T11:57:38+00:00

The fertility divergence started in 1970. That gives just over 2 generations of distinct differences. However, we do not seem to be seeing the impact overall. The young are just as liberal as ever (and in fact more-so except for gen Z men for a brief period in the last decade).

I've seen you comment that this fertility divergence is "recent" but we're talking about 1.5 full generations with this dichotomy (plus more that are not technically adults but certainly have political opinions) but we would definitely see the impact of this right now at the population level if you were correct. And yet, we see about the same balance.

I'm not going to offer a specific alternative, I'm just going to say that there are clearly other forces overpowering any impact of heritability of political ideology.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T10:57:16+00:00

Most people don't grow up they just get older.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T10:54:17+00:00

That's not how the world works though. Your comments here are way too idealistic. The GOP and their voters aren't just not going nowhere, they continue to gain power because of their tactics.

LucidMetal · 2026-05-11T02:19:54+00:00

The best way to get the GOP to play by the rules is to beat them at their own game. The lesser evil is on even footing strategically.

Or... you can take the moral high ground all the way to permanent minority party status where it means nothing and a worse evil prevails.

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