Centrists, what is worse: Changing the government or continuing the status quo?

[Fire Walk With Me]

This does come down to a question of Kucinich vs. everyone else. Is impeachment and dethroning the corporations worse, more dangerous, more uncomfortable, than waiting for the Presidential election and seeing what happens?

Are we actually buying the Republican "change is worse than what we have" meme? Which is basically a get-out-of-jail-free card for them? Literally?

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. I try to take a longer view of history. We're not the first to face this

Europe, with its longer history, has good social models which can be adapted here. But there are fundamental forces we cannot ignore, particularly the rise of advertised-sponsored media. There are countervailing institutions, which deserve our support.

But if you want either/or or a quick fix ... I don't hold out much hope.

[Richardo]

2. Depends on what you mean by 'change the government'

I think everyone would agree that some change is necessary. Do you mean regime change? Congressional change? Constitutional change? Regulatory change?

Not everyone thinks that impeachment is the one true path to achieve that.

And what do you mean by 'dethroning the corporations'? Tax policy? Lobbying reform? Political contributions? My view is that only individual American citizens should be allowed to make political contributions. This would eliminate corporations, unions, charities and all other entities that are not actual people. In fact, I'd prefer total public financing of campaigns.

[dmallind]

3. Hmm I THOUGHT I understood the question

but the text confuses me. Are you saying the only way to change the status quo is to impeach and move away from capitalism?

How about we just stand firm on the key bills, do our best to make Bush a lame duck, and vote in a better president in less than a year?

[riqster]

4. Hate to break it to ya

...but Kooch's positions pretty much dovetail with what the majority of Americans want. He IS a Centrist. The problem is that the bulk of politicians have slid to the Right, which makes Kooch look Leftish.

I often joke about myself, having stayed in the same Centrist position over the decades, and somehow was redesignated as a Commie pinko bastard. :)

[cuke]

5. I know many moderates. I don't know any centrists

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. To respond to the first five posts...

Thank you for answering. This is not about what I think; I want to hear DUer's views on why we're stuck in a quagmire of non-change, when there is nothing to fear about it, and everything to gain, IMO.

I believe that the republicans have been conditioning us with constant fear and the concept that to change anything would be to make things worse, or vulnerable to becoming worse. While they siphon the Treasury and make laws turning corporations into overlords, and manipulate international markets resulting in the rising cost of oil and the falling value of the dollar.

I think that yes, people want impeachment for the ludicrous number of crimes that have been committed against our country, and that continue to occur. We need immediate regime change to stop them from continuing to pass laws that favor them and damage us.

Indeed, there are no quick fixes, especially when so many aspects of the country have been corrupted and privatized. We must fully address each and every item, bar none, as well as supporting progressive organizations. The functional models of other countries are a very good idea/source for inspiration. I like how Vaclav Havel helped move his country from fascism to freedom, for example. Apropos.

Standing firm allows them to continue to pass laws that damage the country, take the lives of our young people in an illegal invasion that supports the manipulation of the oil market to our disadvantage, and the continued weakening of the Treasury to perilous levels for the benefit of the few rich. IMO, the parasites will leave a corpse if we don't remove them. The downward trend is too alarming. How will we refill the treasury? New taxes? Those are two extremely dangerous words for any Democratic President who is faced with the mess BushCo have left behind. If we stop the siphon now, we stand a chance of "natural" economic recovery.

Yes, Kucinich IS a centrist. Good point :)

Thank you for your thoughts and ideas. There are many things that we need to do, and keeping them in mind and in conversation is a good idea, and should lead to us expecting them from those representing us.

[The Traveler]

7. This centrist

does not believe the relationships between government and the corporatocracy has produced a centrist result. The result we have obtained is a drift towards facism and that is far from a centrist outcome. As a centrist, it is my perception that the country is best served when honest conservatism is roughly balanced with sane liberalism. This produces a creative tension, wherein the best ideas of both camps find expression in the conduct of our affairs. We do not have this today. Therefore ideas which were once properly considered centrist in character are now placed in the "far left" category.

Consequently, I have come to regard Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards to be the principle standard bearers of centrism in this primary season. Yes. Centrism. (Dennis is not a radical. He just is farther along the learning curve than most.) I have recently swung to the Edwards camp principally because I think he has the best (albeit a small) chance of winning the nomination. Frankly, I would be delighted if either of these two won the Democratic nomination.

[Fire Walk With Me]

8. Good thoughts.

I like the concept of both parties creating benefit from their interplay. It certainly does not allow for too much racing forward or for too much stagnation.

And yes, we've tilted far too far away from any reasonable expectation of a level playing field for mutual benefit. Sorry if I'm putting words in your mouth; you've said them better than I could.

[The Traveler]

9. You just summarized my thinking

And to summarize the conclusion, change is absolutely required. But this change must be based on the accurate exposure of truth, and much of that truth is being deliberately concealed from us or shrouded in distortion. The media is often wittingly or unwittingly complicent. In my view, this is the strongest argument for impeachment proceedings ... to provide a vehicle by which the truth may be relentlessly exposed. The result of said proceedings may not result in the removal of Bush and his gang of thugs from the places of power, but a great deal of truth they would rather keep hidden would come out.

[Fire Walk With Me]

10. One kick.