The Two Kinds of Moderate

i write math notes for myself that i only publish to a public github repo. the repo is public because it lends me some credibility to have it on display that i study math. if there's an error in them and someone chances upon them and internalizes that error then i am (to a small extent) culpable.

Also:

“The defining quality of an ideologue, whether on the left or the right, is to acquire one's opinions in bulk. You don't get to pick and choose.”

PG has clearly never encountered two leftists in the same room together. We argue on critical issues more than a thanksgiving dinner table.

In any case, I guess it all comes down to this:

“A good compromise is when both parties are dissatisfied”

-Larry David

2. There is strong agreement on lots of things:

95 percent disapprove of people using cell phones in movie theaters. (Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel Poll, 2014)

97 percent believe there should be laws against texting while driving. (The New York Times/CBS News Poll, 2009)

96 percent have a positive impression of small business. (Gallup Poll, 2016)

95 percent believe employers should not be able to access the DNA of their employees without permission. (Time/CNN/Yankelovich Partners Poll, 1998)

95 percent support laws against money laundering involving terrorism. (Washington Post Poll, 2001)

95 percent think doctors should be licensed. (Private Initiatives & Public Values, 1981)

95 percent would support going to war if the United States were invaded. (Harris Survey, 1971)

96 percent oppose legalizing crystal meth. (CNN/ORC International Poll, 2014)

95 percent are satisfied with their friends. (Associated Press/Media General Poll, 1984)

95 percent say that “if a pill were available that made you twice as good looking as you are now, but only half as smart,” they would not take it. (Men’s Health Work Survey, 2000)

98 percent believe adults should watch swimmers rather than reading or talking on the phone. (American Red Cross Water Safety Poll, 2013)

99 percent think it’s wrong for employees to steal expensive equipment from their workplace. (NBC News Poll, 1995)

95 percent think it’s wrong to pay someone to do a term paper for you. (NBC News Poll, 1995)

98 percent would like to see a decline in hunger in the world. (Harris Survey, 1983)

97 percent would like to see a decline in terrorism and violence. (Harris Survey, 1983)

98% would like to see an end to high unemployment. (Harris Survey, 1982)

95 percent would like to see an end to all wars. (Harris Survey, 1981)

95 percent would like to see a decline in prejudice. (Harris Survey, 1977)

95 percent don’t believe Magic 8 Balls can predict the future. (Shell Poll, 1998)

96 percent think the Olympics are a great sports competition. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution Poll, 1996)

(source How To Monroe 2019, by way of https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-to-win-an-election/)

He sure can, but having a platform and competence in one area doesn't mean your skill applies to another. This whole article is a fascinating example of the Dunning–Kruger effect.

The idea, of two kinds of moderates is interesting. The framing is, at best weak and at worst very flawed, shallow and a gross oversimplification.

The shots at the left, at marxists, are palatable. At no point does this article take a genuinely "moderate" stance on the current political climate. Rather it takes an insidious right leaning view.