Centrism

by George Lakoff ,  Gil Duran 

ā€œModerateā€ has become a key word in San Francisco politics as a movement funded by wealthy tech interests campaigns to undermine progressive power at City Hall. But thereā€™s a big problem with words like "moderate" and "centrist": They mean different things to different people. As such, they lack any real definition or meaning.

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San Francisco has serious challenges, but regressive Republican policies are not the answer. Neither are they moderate in any sense of the word. To do something ā€œin moderationā€ is to avoid extremes on either side. But itā€™s quite extreme to push failed right-wing policies designed to treat poverty and illness with more pain.

In 2024, we should reject meaningless frames like centrist and moderate. Instead, examine the moral views underlying each candidate and proposal.

Are they rooted in a morality of Republican strictness or Democratic empathy?

Does the evidence suggest their policy approaches are effective or ineffective?

What are the moral politics of the people funding the campaign? Are they progressive or regressive?

Then vote your values.