Are you 'murican? I don’t think the rest of the world agrees on any of the US’s “definitions” of left, right and liberal. From a European POV, the US democrats are really, really far to the right. Sanders might be leaning toward the center. The republicans are a strange mixture of libertarian regarding economical matters and very very right-wing/intrusive on personal matters. Whenever someone even mentions/comments other people’s sexual orientation and identity I automitcally assume they are creep that wants to sniff other people’s bedsheets. How can you be partly libertarian and also creepily nazi-intrusive? US-republican invention I can’t wrap my head around, that is.
Europeans are like vegans and Arch users, but somehow even less funny
Do your bedsheets smell good?
Removed by mod
You can have a little genocide, as a treat
You’re grounded, mister! No genocide for an entire month.
Mom: we have genocide at home
i’ve never seen centrism so badly misunderstood.
It seems to be Lemmy in general when dealing with Centrism or Independents. Despite very little knowledge, they are very excited to tell you the things that you think.
other areas of Lemmy have been alright for me.
here however, they just repeat the brain rot “Enlightened Centrist” meme with absolutely 0 arguments being made. very lame and simple minded “politics” being done over here!
Please enlighten us.
I’ll bite. Most of what I see here in this thread against Centrism or Independents is bad strawman arguments consisting of: “There are three types of people: reasonable people who agree with me, crazy fascists, and lily-livered wimps who can’t pick a side (and are also fascists)!”
If someone says that they are “centrist” they are not telling you that they base all of their opinions on being dead center in the middle of any two positions. That would be stupid.
They are telling you that they agree with neither major party on everything, and find that both parties have views that they don’t agree with. It’s pretty easy to come to that conclusion because the US two-party system packs in an almost incoherent mishmash of beliefs into exactly two sides.
There is absolutely no contradiction in being for police reform, and against riots lasting for days. There is no contradiction in being for gun rights, while also wanting massive limits on them. There is no contradiction in wanting functional government services and universal healthcare, and thinking that free markets are effective to an extent. There is no contradiction in wanting a more balanced budget, and government services to be funded properly.
The idea that there are only two (or maybe 2.5 depending on where you live) sides in politics is a strange delusion created by your two party system.
The reason the meme creator is running into situations like this is because they don’t witness the Centrist also vehemently argue with right-wing policies frequently.
They only see them argue with them and therefore have a skewed view of Centrists / Independents and their politics. If you are left wing, and argue for left-wing policies in every case, that means you will also be argued with by somebody who believes political nuance and not just waving a party flag.
Remember, the right wing also shits on centrists because they think they are secretly left-wing since they argue with their stupider points as well.
So no, these people are not secretly right-wing and just don’t have the balls to say it. That is a horrendous take no matter where you fall on the political spectrum and only serves to limit conversation.
Now you go.
That’s not the center’s position. That’s the position of people pretending to be center.
It’s more like:
Left: "Let’s destroy people’s livelihoods with higher taxes on small businesses and also force people to do things they don’t agree with. "
Center: “Um, that’s not a good idea. Let’s not do either of those things.”
Right: “Yeah, that’s right! Let’s commit genocide and make it easy for murderers to get weapons.”
Center: “No, that’s way worse! What the hell?”
Left: “That’s it, if you don’t agree with us, you’re the enemy!”
Right: “Exactly!”
Center: …
Except that’s literally not what the left wants
But the right literally wants genocide?
Depends on where. America? Yes
If “the left” raises taxes on a business or individual that pays close to 0 and normal taxes bankrupts them, is that bad?
fInAnCiAl GeNoCiDe
whY wOnt AnYbOdy tHinK oF tHE PoOr rIcH peOpLe!???
Left: "Let’s destroy people’s livelihoods with higher taxes on small businesses and also force people to do things they don’t agree with. "
Jesse, wtf are you talking about??
If it’s not from the Genocide region of France then it’s only sparkling mass murder.
This is insanely reductionist lol
Tbf, most memes are. It’s why they’re memes.
Some might say it’s their defining characteristic.
Yeah you really have no idea what you’re talking about.
I’m ionaore what it is that makes so many lemmy users think that centrist (like me) are evil or dumb or just enabling right wing extremists. I think it’s fair to say that such view are actually quite extremist in themselves.
Let me put it in a similar story as this apparently works for you?
Leftist: all right wings are Nazi’s and they all want to commit genocide, we should kill them all before they kill us!
Centrist : well, let’s not go so fast? Things aren’t that simple nor that black and white. First off, a dead man can’t learn, and a lot of actual neo Nazi types are just misinformed, disgruntled and would do well with the right people to look up to. Then, I’m quite sure that most right wing or conservatives aren’t anywhere near liking neo nazi ideas, let alone genocide. I think a lot of the more extreme ones have, like you, over simplified world views that cause these extreme views. I think if you simply keep talking you will find that nearly all of them are like you, have families and friends and a dog, they love people too, they simply have different experiences and ideas than you have. Talk to them.
In short, it’s not that simple, moet people really aren’t that bad.
Leftist: WHAT? HOW DARE YOU, YOU NAZI! WE SHOULD KILL YOU FOR DISAGREEING!
Centrist: wut?
Oh hey a strawman response to a strawman post!
I’m on the left and I constantly fight to remind people that the vast majority of people siding with the actual fascists in government are just being manipulated by propaganda and are as you say. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” comes to mind. When I discus this I’m almost always agreed with by other leftists. The “let’s kill them all” are the ignorant, angry, vocal minority.
Also strawmen don’t help arguments at all lol
Right: Let’s cut off our Dicks.
Left: Let’s not cut off our Dicks.
Center: Guys, your going to have to compromise, let’s just do some dick cutting.
Right: I guess I can live with that for now.
Left: No.
Center: See, this is why no one likes the left, you guys are the real extremists, smh
Interesting how everyone seems to think this tweet from 2018 seems to refer to th situation in Gaza in 2023.
To be fair, the situation in Gaza isn’t new and was probably the same in 2018
Sure but by that logic anything anybody ever said during my entire lifetime could be a reference to Gaza.
First it has to be genocide for anyone with a brain to care about posts like this.
Don’t cheapen the word.
It’s moreso Right: Let’s kill muslims Left: Let’s kill jews Centrists: let’s not do either of that
Left: Let’s kill jews
Seriously? Bernie Sanders is arguing for killing Jewish people?
Genocide of those who want genocide? Since we’ve agreed that some genocide is ok?
Genocide for some, tiny American flags for others
Extremists be like “You’re either with me or against me!”
Is that such a wrong position to have when the questions are as starkly “respect human rights or don’t respect human rights” as most issues are in today’s conversation? This isn’t a discussion on the minutia of how much money should be allocated to transit subsidy, this is “should the queers be allowed to exist?” and “should women have rights?” and “do parents have the right to ruin their child’s life just because they’re the parent?”
If you really think there’s a middle ground there, either you’re a fucking idiot, or you actually don’t and you’re just trying to pretend you do because you know your actual answer is morally indefensible unless you ascribe to a world view that has no business being respected in a democratic rights respecting society.
I’m an extremist when the issue is “should we do a genocide”.
On the “no” side, to be clear. I will indeed not accept any answer other than that one.
Enlightening comment section. Very revealing discussions on our current political discourse.