Comments for Centrist Pundits

Comment on “I gotta get out of here! You run this place like a prison!” by Stephen Erickson

Stephen Erickson — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:16:47 +0000

Hello fellow Centrists. I hope you will do us the honor of checking out our new site: http://www.centermovement.org. Keep up the good work. And be in touch.

Comment on What have we learned today, kids? by JC

JC — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:49:56 +0000

One thing to remember when you call Scozzafava more liberal than the democrat is that Owens is a remarkably conservative Democrat. He’s no Zell Miller, but its pretty easy to be more liberal than he is.

I’d really, really like to know what’s going on with Lieberman. He’s always been a conservative Democrat, but he’s really turned around on some issues over the years, too. Like the big one at the moment, Health Care. He’s the one that suggested Medi-choice – a medicare for all program – for pete’s sake.

Comment on Modern Whigs: a potentially viable third party? by Britt

Britt — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:58:15 +0000

I agree, gay marriage needs a federal solution. One that treats everyone the same on legal/estate issues while respecting the traditional beliefs of the majority of Americans. Unfortunately, gay activists don’t respect traditionalists and the traditionalists don’t respect homosexuals, so it’s kinda difficult to arrive at a mutually beneficial compromse.

Of course we should extend SSI survivor benefits. This isn’t a theocracy. On the other hand, marriage predates Judeo-Christian ideas. It’s purpose, for literally thousands of years, is to support procreation, which is why even in societies where homosexuality was open and accepted there was no gay marriage. Surely we can set this traditional arrangement apart while extending the legal benefits to any couple, regardless of gender.

But to your point, the radicals on both sides are calling all the shots right now.

Comment on What have we learned today, kids? by Britt

Britt — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:35:56 +0000

I don’t think someone who was more liberal on social issues than her Democratic opponent is the “Future of the GOP” however your point is well taken. Liberman is an example of the same thing in the Democratic party. The moderates on both sides are being driven out, and I would say both parties are becoming more radicalized.

Comment on “I gotta get out of here! You run this place like a prison!” by Britt

Britt — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:53:45 +0000

I tend to generally agree with all these ideas. Some people in our prisons need treatment, not punishment. They aren’t sociopaths, they are addicts. Treat the addiction, and they stop committing crimes. Alternately, there are certain behaviors for which the recidivism is so certain, they should just be locked up forever, not punished for a few years and then released to ruin someone else’s life. I think we try to make it too simple, lock them up for x years then let them go. The realities of crimnal behavior are soo much more complex, we just can’t be bothered.

Comment on “I gotta get out of here! You run this place like a prison!” by Jim Clary

Jim Clary — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:15:50 +0000

In a lot of ways, I feel there be 2 types of prisons in our country. First time offenders and drug offenders need to be given the opportunity to do some volunteering. These are the people who still have a chance at rehabilitation.

repeat offenders need to be put in a horrible place. These are the people who just refuse to live under the rules of society.

Comment on “I gotta get out of here! You run this place like a prison!” by JC

JC — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:33:50 +0000

Okay, that certainly seems plausible. In which case, I guess the answer for volunteering would be… yes? Because they might as well do something useful while they are at it?

Comment on “I gotta get out of here! You run this place like a prison!” by Kalas

Kalas — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:58:02 +0000

I once asked some of my friends almost the same question, and I got a third option: Prisons are simply storage facilities for people who break the law. It is a place to put criminals so that they are no longer in ‘general circulation’. Along these lines punishment need not be harsh, nor should rehabilitation be wasted on them. Since the assumption is that they are in a sort of holding tank, a prison has only two tasks: 1. To keep criminals from getting out. & 2. To do so as cheaply as possible.

I’m not sold on this idea, but I must admit I can’t simply dismiss it as silly.

Comment on I can see NY 23 from my house! by janjanjan

janjanjan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:19:46 +0000

I am also truly a moderate, but here’s the problem. I strongly doubt that my moderation matches yours in enough particulars for us to build a third party. I say I’m fiscally moderate and socially liberal. But, I support single payer health insurance because I truly believe that is the most actually fiscally sound policy. I support a strong military, but believe that we need to start asking whether our military policy is overly burdened by the several branches of service all wanting to ensure that they “get their share,” when that costs too much from both a fiscal and security perspective. I don’t care whether the government is large or small, but I surely care whether there is a well marked, level, visible playing field.

So, I tried just 3 issues, and only in broad strokes, but how close did I get to your moderation?

Comment on Modern Whigs: a potentially viable third party? by Jim Clary

Jim Clary — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:33:16 +0000

I am going to seriously look at this party. I am tired of my feelings not being considered by the Dem’s and Rep’s