Nov 11 2008

Open Thread & DD “Ripple” Awards!

I hereby announce the Docudharma Ripple Award, which means … well I’m not sure, but it’s an award, for Pete’s sake, so who cares!

More seriously, on a purely subjective note, these two comments were the result of the conversations we’ve all had on the blog, the ripples of ideas which flow from this site every day, I’m just catching two of them.

They come from my Friday Night at 8 essay Core and speak to the notion of centrism, left, right, middle, all that jazz.

First one is from NLinStPaul:

I remember a while ago

looking for a post by Madman in the Marketplace where he articulated that compromise (or the center) is the place you reach AFTER you’ve made effective arguments from opposing sides. It is NOT the place you start from. But I haven’t been able to find it.

That thought keeps surfacing for me when I hear all this talk about finding the “middle.” We haven’t even clearly defined all the positions yet!!!

And the second is from RUkind:

It’s like center is the new meme,

Same as the old meme. I think it’s more about clinging to the present or some vision of a recent past or embracing change and seeing where it takes us.

This country was founded by people seeking change from the old ways of post-feudal Europe. Once they got a foothold on the coast it was the Cumberland Gap and on to the Northwest Territories (Great Lakes region). Feeling too settled down? Across the Mississippi, up the MIssouri and then over the Rockies.

Same thing has been going on always here. People just keep coming seeking change. Even when you’re born here you’re likely to live in several places during your life.

Some people thrive on change, some people fear it. Change in your surroundings, your neighbors or even who you are. Like the song says, “You can’t go back and you can’t stand still.”

I don’t think left-center-right are the proper adjectives any more. I’d say change/status quo are the basic definitions and from there the direction of the change becomes a secondary attribute.

Just thinkin’.  Satya.

Congratulations!  Now all we need is a prize of some kind!

Open thread is now open for bidness!

32 comments

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  1. … NOT a top-down kinda place, anyone here can bestow the DD Ripple Award!

    So much good stuff, it’s an embarrassment of riches.

    • Edger on November 11, 2008 at 02:14
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    • RiaD on November 11, 2008 at 02:19
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    PhotobucketPhotobucket

    Photobucket

    ripple

  4. I could find that comment by Madman. In the meantime, I humbly accept this prestigious award on his behalf.

    But RUKind’s comment sent me rippling again. This time to one of my all-time favorite essays ever. Its by leftvet titled On Moderates and Radicals. Absolutely perfect for some of the conversations we’ve been having around here lately, like buhdy’s essay today on Strategery and Framing. Here’s some highlights.

    See, thar’s the rub, the problem with moderates.  Deep down, they don’t want change, because change could threaten the accumulations of their lives, and since their lives are defined by their accumulations, the very essence of their being is threatened by change…  

    It is the job of the radical to make the moderate uncomfortable, because that is the only way to get the moderate to consider change…

    The right lets their radicals yell – LOUDLY.  The left tries to silence its radicals.  The right understands you need radicals to move the moderates.  The left thinks that radicals alienate the moderates.  Yeah, on occasion, we (see, I still identify myself as a radical) do alienate moderates.  My response?  Tough shit, they deserve it.  Did I alienate anyone with that?  Good.  It’s my job as a radical to alienate, to make uncomfortable, to challenge the status quo.  I don’t even have to be right.  I merely need to make the moderates THINK about change, something they will seldom do on their own.

     

    • Edger on November 11, 2008 at 03:24
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    and liberal progressives are the real center:

    So what do the numbers really show us about where the mainstream of America is on the political spectrum? Well, in late 2004 and early 2005 Pew Research conducted an in depth Political Typology study of American society: Beyond Red vs. Blue. It’s Principal Findings, among other things, were that:

    Coming out of the 2004 election, the American political landscape decidedly favored the Republican Party. The GOP had extensive appeal among a disparate group of voters in the middle of the electorate, drew extraordinary loyalty from its own varied constituencies, and made some inroads among conservative Democrats. These advantages outweighed continued nationwide parity in party affiliation. Looking forward, however, there is no assurance that Republicans will be able to consolidate and build upon these advantages.

    Republicans have neither gained nor lost in party identification in 2005. Moreover, divisions within the Republican coalition over economic and domestic issues may loom larger in the future, given the increasing salience of these matters. The Democratic party faces its own formidable challenges, despite the fact that the public sides with them on many key values and policy questions. Their constituencies are more diverse and, while united in opposition to President Bush, the Democrats are fractured by differences over social and personal values.

    And as Profiles of the Typology Groups break down, Liberals [Liberal Democrats/Seculars/60’s Democrats] comprise the largest group at 17% of General Population and 19% of Registered Voters, followed by Conservative Democrats at 15% of Adult Population and 15% of registered Voters.

    • kj on November 11, 2008 at 14:28
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    I’d say change/status quo are the basic definitions and from there the direction of the change becomes a secondary attribute.

    Just thinkin’.  Satya.

    ~~RUKind

    gets my vote.  in fact, i’ve already stolen the idea of “change/status quo” which is of course, the ultimate compliment, hmmmm, i mean, award.   @;-)  LOL

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