Joe Manchin's ugly new demands expose the absurdity of arbitrary centrism

[Beastly Boy]

10. Finally, a criticism of Manchin's ideology rather than his tactics.

Whether right wing, centrist or left wing, any dogma becomes arbitrary at some point. Manchin is no exception, and his tactics should not surprise anyone as being exceptional in any way.

The problem with Manchin is that he had grown accustomed to his tunnel vision after a long career in politics, not that he is out to dismantle Biden's agenda or that he is selling out to the right wing for personal gain. But this is by no means unique to Manchin. We should stop regarding him as an aberration and start treating him as a rule. Sure, this makes dealing with him a lot more difficult than just nudging him to fall in line, but understanding where he is coming from is likely to be more productive than shaming him.