I think I'm a centrist in that my policy preferences are not "team" oriented.
I saw that the FTC recently limited non-competes that ere signed just in return for takin a job. That's a good example of a common sense centrist policy, where business had been unchecked.
Biden’s policy of supporting and financing genocide in Gaza is far from centrist and his policy to ban Tik Tok in all likelihood in combination with his aiding and abetting crimes against humanity in Gaza will probably lose him the election to one of the most ridiculous political figures in modern civilization. It’s interesting, however, that many Americans only vote on domestic policy and never foreign but there’s clearly enough animosity towards his foreign policy now especially in the younger voter that he risks losing his Presidency. Either way, none of this bodes well for our collective futures.
Hi, Sam, and I have a thought on your observations on the theater of elections and the possibility that the capacity to be rhetorically convincing can fail with age. Here are a few of your intriguing notes on those points:
"the poohbahs of the Democratic Party have, largely through age, lost any ability to communicate effectively with the heart of the country."
"the Biden administration has itself been a shining light of how it looks to enact centrist policies . . . but the president’s age inhibits any ability to effectively communicate his accomplishments to the country-at-large."
"electoral politics is theater — what matters, more than anything, is the charisma and personability of the figure facing the camera"
All of that rings true, and I even offer the amendment that it may not be personability so much as the resonance of the persona of the speaker, perhaps even fractious, with an audience that finds the persona persuasive. But more to the point, what is behind that waning of persuasiveness? When does something or someone read as "old"? Is it just a big fat truism that generational shifts -- in rhetorical styles and rhetorical expectations and also in self-presentation, happen and matter, so that an attempt at communication can come in time to seem quaint and deeply out of it -- "your father's Oldsmobile" -- indulged, maybe, but likely to be discredited to some extent? I suppose we all need to worry about how the assembly (and location) of the center will be shaped by the styles that can be persuasive in this moment.
I find it hard to be a centrist when we have two right wing parties. One party likes war with a side of DEI, the other likes war with a side of vitriol and race baiting. Both parties serve the needs and whims of the corporate ‘persons’ - flesh and blood persons be damned.
Thanks Sam.
I think I'm a centrist in that my policy preferences are not "team" oriented.
I saw that the FTC recently limited non-competes that ere signed just in return for takin a job. That's a good example of a common sense centrist policy, where business had been unchecked.
Biden will be remembered for the good things he did as President longer than most of his haters will be alive.
Good work, Sam. This period needs voices like yours more than ever. I feel somewhat sane when I read your stuff. I thank you for that!
Biden’s policy of supporting and financing genocide in Gaza is far from centrist and his policy to ban Tik Tok in all likelihood in combination with his aiding and abetting crimes against humanity in Gaza will probably lose him the election to one of the most ridiculous political figures in modern civilization. It’s interesting, however, that many Americans only vote on domestic policy and never foreign but there’s clearly enough animosity towards his foreign policy now especially in the younger voter that he risks losing his Presidency. Either way, none of this bodes well for our collective futures.
Hi, Sam, and I have a thought on your observations on the theater of elections and the possibility that the capacity to be rhetorically convincing can fail with age. Here are a few of your intriguing notes on those points:
"the poohbahs of the Democratic Party have, largely through age, lost any ability to communicate effectively with the heart of the country."
"the Biden administration has itself been a shining light of how it looks to enact centrist policies . . . but the president’s age inhibits any ability to effectively communicate his accomplishments to the country-at-large."
"electoral politics is theater — what matters, more than anything, is the charisma and personability of the figure facing the camera"
All of that rings true, and I even offer the amendment that it may not be personability so much as the resonance of the persona of the speaker, perhaps even fractious, with an audience that finds the persona persuasive. But more to the point, what is behind that waning of persuasiveness? When does something or someone read as "old"? Is it just a big fat truism that generational shifts -- in rhetorical styles and rhetorical expectations and also in self-presentation, happen and matter, so that an attempt at communication can come in time to seem quaint and deeply out of it -- "your father's Oldsmobile" -- indulged, maybe, but likely to be discredited to some extent? I suppose we all need to worry about how the assembly (and location) of the center will be shaped by the styles that can be persuasive in this moment.
I find it hard to be a centrist when we have two right wing parties. One party likes war with a side of DEI, the other likes war with a side of vitriol and race baiting. Both parties serve the needs and whims of the corporate ‘persons’ - flesh and blood persons be damned.