Reply #9: The Center exists, but it is fragmented [View All]

[Nederland]

The example I like to use is of my father and my brother-in-law.

My father is a social conservative and an economic liberal. He hates the Bush tax cuts, thinks the rich are taxed too low, believes that free trade is hurting America and bemoans the loss of American jobs due to globalization. However, he is a devote evangelical, opposed to gay marriage, and very pro-life.

My brother-in-law is a classic libertarian. He believes in the free market, supports globalization and thinks that government is way too big and the rich pay too much in taxes. He is also pro-choice, pro-drug legalization, and pro-gay marriage.

Now, these two people have exactly opposite political views, but neither fits well into either party. As a result, there are both members of "the center", but will never in a million years vote for the same person.

I agree, courting "the center" is a complete waste of time.