“Compromise is the essence of democracy, but the far right and far left are too mad to realize it.”
A Different Perspective
American Politics Topics
Contrary to Popular Belief
February 7th, 2012
Who said, “There’s no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons?”
Who said, “Elected officials need to find common ground and work together to solve difficult problems?”
Are taxes lower under Obama or were they lower during Reagan’s presidency?
Who granted amnesty to 2.6 million illegal immigrants?
Who was president when the United States became a debtor nation for the first time since World War I?
Which president enacted the bill which guaranteed health care access to illegal immigrants?
If you answered Ronald Reagan to all of these questions you are correct.
What am I trying to do?
February 3rd, 2012
The Pragmatic Center is a political blog and a social networking site. I utilize the blog to analyze issues and ideas important to political moderates. The social networking component connects me, the moderator with political leaders, activists, and citizen contributors like you.
As Politico reported in 2011, political blogs have become the most influential gatekeepers in American politics. Candidates seeking support have a much better chance of success if they seek the endorsement of political bloggers.
Partisanship for Profit
January 30th, 2012
Partisanship is overwhelming our democracy. It is warping our politics, amplifying the power of special interests, damaging our country’s reputation, distracting us from our real competition overseas, dividing us into rival factions, and creating gridlock so that the people’s work does not get done.
John Adams once wrote, "There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.”
Why is China laughing at America?
January 23rd, 2012
China has become an economic powerhouse. Since Deng Xiaoping initiated economic reforms in 1978 it has averaged almost 10% economic growth each year. That’s unprecedented and unheard of.
The pre-1978 Chinese economy was averaging 6% growth per year; however, it was unstable and experienced repetitive crises. Its GDP was only a fraction of that of the United States. So China had a lot of room to grow. In addition, its enormous population which is now more than 1 billion people meant its potential economic output could easily outdo the American economy if it could get its act together. And that is exactly what China did.
Special Interests Dominate American Politics
January 7th, 2012
In the past three years Americans have witnessed something quite amazing and extremely rare. Not only was there one major political movement that shook the establishment, but there were two. First it was the Tea Party movement then the Occupy Wall Street movement, both of which captured the nation’s attention and changed the political debate.
The Definitive Pragmatic Politician
December 2nd, 2011
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is the definitive pragmatic politician. He may also be the most unique elected official in the entire United States. In an era of hyper-partisanship, vicious rhetoric, partisan agendas, and special interests dominated politics, Rick Snyder charts a different path. His no labels approach, smart government designs, post-partisan policy prescriptions, and relentless positive outlook should make him an icon for centrists everywhere.
Moderates Just Don't Get It
October 25th, 2011
Will Marshall, the president of the Progressive Policy Institute, recently wrote, “Conservatives appeal to voters on a gut level; liberals invoke facts, analysis, rational arguments. It’s no contest: Demagoguery trumps sweet reason every time.” But it’s not just liberals that rely on rationality, it’s also moderates.
Why Liberals Should Support Michigan Governor Rick Snyder
October 12th, 2011
Liberals do not like Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. In fact, he is the topic of conversation for many segments on the Rachel Maddow Show. His policies, which include teacher tenure reform, huge budget cuts, cuts to education at all levels, and changing arbitration rules for public employee unions, have infuriated many liberals.
Yet non-partisan political pundits recognize that Snyder is quite different than his fellow Republican governors across the country. Instead of antagonizing liberals with a partisan agenda he has consistently ignored the contentious wedge issues that usually divide voters into partisan armies.
Practical is not Political
March 22nd, 2011
The biggest objection that ideologues and hard core partisans have of moderates is that we are too political. Tea Partiers abhor the moderates in the Republican Party because “they do only what’s in their self interest instead of promoting the conservative values they campaigned on.” Progressives view moderates in the Democratic Party with the same disdain. To them moderates are “corporate Democrats who sell themselves instead of standing up for American families and workers.” Ideologues at both ends of the political spectrum think moderates are too political.
The Moderate Brand of Rick Snyder
November 30th, 2010
Over the course of the past year I’ve been writing consistently about my frustration with the moderate brand. As I’ve written, most voters think of moderates as wishy-washy; they sit on the fence playing politics; they always choose the most politically expedient option; and they have no character, strength, or principles. I’ve also argued repeatedly that we need to change this perception or else we moderates will never be politically competitive.
He uses non-political terms and ideas that average, moderate, mainstream voters can understand.
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