Would we be seen as "extremist"?

[southernleftylady]

by the "average" citizen out there...
what do you think and why?

[Stop_the_War]

1. Not by the average citizen. Probably by the average Republican Fascist...

[trumad]

2. LOL

Like I fucking care.

[leftyandproud]

3. yes

because the average citizen today is center-right. They have made the Republicans the most powerful party in America for the past 25 years (exclusing a brief 2-year period 92-94 when we had dem dominance). Americans have completely accepted the right wing arguments on economic issues...and most of the arguments on social issues. Obviously people who are on the left, or far left (us, lets be honest) look like whackos to red-state Joe Sixpack.

[Protagoras]

8. I don't agree that the "average" citizen

is center-right. I hold that the "average" citizen is apathetic and ignorant. 50% don't vote at all, not because they have any defined position, but because they have no position. I would say the "average" citizen is medicated with TV and other assorted consumerist propaganda into a stupor in which anyone with a mantle of authority generally gets their deference...and whatever the news tells them is the gospel truth. But I'm not sure that qualifies them to be granted any particular point on a political spectrum.

Then again regardless of what we might be called, I find this country to be so devoid of understanding of the span of an actual political spectrum that distinctions between left and right, conservative and liberal are vacuous. Our Right and Left are, for the largest part, about 1 inch apart these days, as we see from Biden, Lieberman, Pelosi, McCain etc...we get SOME span if we compare DK to GWB but that's really not what's taking up the popular consciousness at the moment. Who'll win the Oscars or the next survivor really play a much more significant role in the "average" person's life.

Then again, maybe the answer is YES...because to most of the apathetic and ignorant slugs out there, anyone who spends more than 5 minutes a day educating themselves on the issues or involving themselves in any type of activisim is extreme...

hmmm.

[SOS]

14. "Americans have completely accepted the right wing arguments"

Except for the 59 million Americans who voted against the right wing arguments.

[rogerashton]

4. I certainly hope so.

If not I'll just have to try harder.

[Vickers]

5. Sure, like Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry

Good company!

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. No. I think we are the average citizen. We are a vast and silent majority.

Let's work to change that. So many of my family members have become, if not active, at least more vocal about their beliefs. This is what will ultimately change the tone of politics. :hi:

[bunkerbuster1]

7. depends on the day, the topic, the number of freepers trolling...

I think at first glance we're pretty loony-left, although if you take a few minutes to read the typical replies to a typical post, it's not far left at all.

[Orangepeel]

9. Of course. That's why so many DUers see it as a refuge

DUers represent a wide spectrum of people with a wide range of beliefs and the vast majority of us are normal, reasonable people who want the best for America. But if there were many others in the outside world that felt the way the average DUer does about issues, it wouldn't be such a haven.

Of course, like would be the case on any Internet site, there are also some trolls and general nutcases that make it look more extreme.

[Padraig18]

10. It would depend on the poster

The replies are usually very 'average Joe', IMO, but some posters here are...well... ummm... I'll shut up now.

;)

[Hershman]

11. Perhaps

Depends on the person of course. The younger are more likely to do so since the decline of american schools.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi Hershman!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mwb970]

13. How extreme is it...

to favor justice, fairness, and equality? The liberal view used to be the basis for our country, before the dollar took over.

[bluedipper]

15. ...

I don't really care if I am condidered an extremist or not. I have my own beliefs and opinions, if people see it as extreme, so be it. I won't change.
-BD
www.cafepress.com/bluedipper