Current Affairs London Protests

[PhilM]

I consider myself centre left but some of my views on crime lean deep to the right and I have some views on things that lean all the way to the left. I can't see how anyone can pick a side and agree on absolutely everything one side says and disagree with the other.

In most cases, it is partisan and tribal politics where entrenched views become the norm, and in most cases this is why the centre ground often feel ignored.

I guess the argument is from the far-left or right that centralist policies don't bring enough change (or as much as they desire) and maintains the status-quo.

John Cleese sort of tweeted about it the other day although I can't say I totally agree with his sentiments behind it. (I've copied a link from someone else)

 

[mill]

Well, there is always the old favourite . . .

https://www.politicalcompass.org/

I did it ...

 

[Charro]

Sadly I feel like we are heading towards US style politics where its either left or right populism.

Two party politics is a nightmare political system - the more credible opposition the better mate.

Even though labour are now very much a centre left party?

 

[davek]

Even though labour are now very much a centre left party?

They are a neo-liberal party now.

Blairism MkII

 

[dead_soft]

In most cases, it is partisan and tribal politics where entrenched views become the norm, and in most cases this is why the centre ground often feel ignored.

I guess the argument is from the far-left or right that centralist policies don't bring enough change (or as much as they desire) and maintains the status-quo.

John Cleese sort of tweeted about it the other day although I can't say I totally agree with his sentiments behind it.

Why do the centre feel ignored? They've been the focus of politics in the traditional west for most of the post-war period, certain countries excluded for brief periods. It wasn't that long ago that The End of Politics was the big academic thought.

Partisan and tribal politics didn't become the entrenched views - recently there has been a surge in populism but this is a very small blip (so far) in the history of postwar liberal democracies. We may well see a huge shift from the centre but there's little to suggest this is a set course (see Biden ousting Sanders, Starmer over Corbyn)

 

[dead_soft]

Sadly I feel like we are heading towards US style politics where its either left or right populism.

Two party politics is a nightmare political system - the more credible opposition the better mate.

WHAT? Joe Biden is left wing populism? Absolute WOW

 

[Shevin Keedy]

I did it ...

Yes I am roughly in the same quadrant.

Below shows the comparative placings of historical figures.

We are both Ghandi and should share a shandy.

 

[Harryflashman]

Getting your todger out in-front of a nun and showing her your best strokes constitutes outraging public decency.

ive made a note

 

[ForeverBlue92]

This is classic new labour policies

I didnt mind new Labour mate - Labour have been utter gash ever since.

If you wanted a credible opposition to get us away from the Tories then Labour have to move back towards the centre as Milliband & Corbyn pushed them too far to the left.

The Tories have moved further to the right in recent years but they have been able to as essentially they have hoodwinked those who believe UKIP and Farage are for the people.

I imagine a proper centre left party with backing would take both the current labour and tory parties to the cleaners.

 

[LostLegend]

The country is so divided. A lot of the blame for that is our media which sows the seeds which are then ramped up by social media.

This is a hugely important point here. Not just the media and social media in of itself, but the types of people who are encouraged to be on the air. Yaxley-Lennon, Hopkins, Farage and the like.
While it's easy to laugh these tin-pot fascists off, but the damage they have done is huge.

I've said it elsewhere in here, but the key for them was winning over the people of the UK's small towns.

For years, the smaller working class satellite towns (In particular ones that were built around industries such as coal mining, docklands and large industry) were traditionally Labour hold gimme's. Especially given how hard a lot of these towns were hit under Tory rule in the 80's (Thatcher especially) with the closures of the mine pits/docks and the like.

The issue is, that we've allowed the tin-pot fascists like Yaxley-Lennon and co. to infiltrate these towns, preach to the disenfranchised and somehow turn the narrative away from the Tories being to blame for the lack off opportunities and investment in their towns and shift the blame towards immigrants, muslims and lefties.

 

[edge]

Yes I am roughly in the same quadrant.

Below shows the comparative placings of historical figures.

We are both Ghandi and should share a shandy.

I got Ghandi but near right on the line directly above , just under , dont know what that makes me??

 

[dead_soft]

I didnt mind new Labour mate - Labour have been utter gash ever since.

If you wanted a credible opposition to get us away from the Tories then Labour have to move back towards the centre as Milliband & Corbyn pushed them too far to the left.

The Tories have moved further to the right in recent years but they have been able to as essentially they have hoodwinked those who believe UKIP and Farage are for the people.

I imagine a proper centre left party with backing would take both the current labour and tory parties to the cleaners.

I'm struggling here - who exactly do you think is polarised left and right? Is it the politicians? Or the general populous? It's really interesting to see how you appear to hold a few competing truths at one time. I may well be mistaken, but just trying to piece it together, so apologise if I am

 

[Shevin Keedy]

I got Ghandi but near right on the line directly above , just under , dont know what that makes me??

I think the majority of a lot of posters on here will fall similarly. I am suprised I did not end up (a little) closer to authoritarianism but the questions seem somewhat loaded. The thing that will cause most difference will be whether you select 'agree' or 'strongly agree'.

I would say it probably makes you leaning more towards state interventions and Socialism.

I had hoped @ForeverBlue92 would test his centrist theory to be honest.

 

[Tubey]

Well, there is always the old favourite . . .

https://www.politicalcompass.org/

Seems about right.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

I'm struggling here - who exactly do you think is polarised left and right? Is it the politicians? Or the general populous? It's really interesting to see how you appear to hold a few competing truths at one time. I may well be mistaken, but just trying to piece it together, so apologise if I am

Both.

However parties can set their policies to appeal to a voter base - Labour since the days of Corbyn and to an extent Miliband have danced to the tune of their middle class left politician's and think tanks hence why they have basically handed Tories power for the last 10 years.

Im not deluded enough to think a switch to the centre would suddenly shake off the left tinted specs alot in the Labour party have but providing their policies appeal to the centre ground then thats as best as you can hope for.

You'll never get a proper labour party until someone like Dave the Plumber has any real say - what do former lawyers, academics etc. Know about the working class?