We're More Moderate Than You Think
Unless you live in a cave, you probably read a newspaper or two, watch a bit of news on TV and listen to a bit
less of news on the radio. Left vs. Right has replaced Mad Magazine's Spy vs. Spy. Political commentators publish books
that blame the other side for all of our problems. They cry of a culture war and ask you to join their crusade.
Its like the Who song that warns, Don't get fooled again. Books from the center don't sell as well as angry books from
the edge. We're more moderate than you think! Most of us are somewhere in the center. That's why Americans often
elect one party to the White House and another to Congress. Most Americans see a middle-of-the-road solution to
gay marriage, abortion, and the budget. We're not electing extremists. Its usually the guy/woman perceived as closest to
the center who wins. Fiery debates? Where?
President Clinton was as pro-free trade as they get. The welfare overhaul he signed demanded personal responsibility
of those asking for government handouts. Not so liberal. President Bush encouraged the deficit to rise in the face of war and a recession. Not so conservative.
Same goes for Israel. Israeli support the war on terror and a majority support a withdrawal behind the fence
that's being built. We know the army is saving lives everyday, but we await the day we can negotiation with a post-Arafat
Palestinian leadership which will result in a Palestinian state. If anything, Israel's war on terror has marginalized extremists within Israeli society.
The
solutions offered by the edge don't make sense to us like they used to.
We, the people ignore ideological policies. The media attract audiences and sell ad spots. Next time you
read an article about the latest culture war, skip it. Look for articles about real trends touching our lives.
There are struggles worthy of your attention. Just know that the centrist solution/policy is probably what's gonna happen. There is a 50-50 split - only its down the middle, not the edge.
Kenny Sahr
