Restoring Balance

The NBC/Esquire poll results show the American public is not only centrist in political thinking, but the range of centrist support is very broad. Liberal and conservative camps continue to exist but they appear frozen in place with distinct minorities.

As the results are analyzed it becomes clear that the public is not as easily compartmentalized as previously thought. We are not all republican or democrat. We are not mostly in the liberal and conservative camps with a small group of middle-ground folk. No sir! The middle is 52%; the right wing is 28%, and liberal constitutes only about 20%. The range of views represented by the middle are highly diverse. The issues that help people define themselves politically are all over the board. Some are pro-abortion, or at least pro-choice while very much against minimal gun regulations. Others are just the opposite.

We can see how difficult it is to represent voters in congress. An elected official will always be opposite a significant group of his/her constituents. It cannot be helped.

What can be helped is encouraging healthy dialogue on issues without attendant emotions. I understand why people are against abortion. I just don’t understand why they think I’m the devil incarnate because I support choice. Very few people would think abortion is a good thing; it is a difficult decision to make and not made lightly. There are those who make the decision lightly; they are the birth control abortion rightists, I guess. I don’t appreciate such an attitude, but for most people I believe women and their spouses ought to make reasonable decisions that they feel are best for the fetus, their own health and the prospects of the family surviving the tumultuous family rearing years.

I found the poll results comforting. For many years I felt I was abandoned to the middle ground – marooned and alone!  Now I see I have a lot of company.

Taking the quiz I measured 10 on the liberal side. There are two prime reasons why I would appear so liberal. 

First, when confronted with a noisy and well reported conservative legislative agenda, I react to balance those views with ones I feel are more healthy for the common good. That reaction is often a little more leftist than it need be to form a better balance.

Second, I’ve been active in church life most of my life. The teachings of the church – in my case a strong Christian heritage, but certainly Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and other traditions parallel each other – command us to care for one another, nurture the suffering, and love others as you want them to love you. Although these principles are based in theology, they are also liberal when compared with conservative dogma related to government.

I think health care and preventive care should be broadly available and financially accessible. It used to be much more so; in recent years a shift away from employer paid health benefits toward self funded benefits is evident. Increasingly the shift has resulted in massive numbers of uninsured citizens. The problem is huge. It affects stability of labor pools, financial stability of significant markets throughout the economy, and efficiency for most employers.

Huge problems require public policy. That usually requires government participation in the solutions. I support such participation. I don’t necessarily support government control of the issue. In hysterical public discourse of recent years small differences are obliterated by hyperbole. The discussants are not hearing each other and they assume conclusions not in evidence. All the more reason for calm, civil discussion on the issues to be sure we understand each other.

For now the poll provides a better view of the American public’s thinking on important matters. A middle ground is a healthy place in which to government. There is much room there for compromise and collaboration as reasonable people honestly struggle to find common ground and make decisions accordingly. In time tweaking and amending those decisions can be accomplished as operating results are better understood.

The poll also uncovered some interesting material the role of diversity in our culture. More on that another day. An important issue to be understood and dealt with.

Meanwhile, centrists stand up to the right and left elements. There’s more balance than we thought.

October 21, 2013