Is our nation really right-of-center? It's a quick throwaway-line parroted by Republican talking heads.

According to Republicans, they speak for us -- they are the voice of the "people" -- and all Americans agree with the Right.

Hardly.

Just to pick one: If we actually were a right-of-center nation, Social Security would not be the immortal sacred cow it is now. Right-of-center elected officials would have long ago done away with this safety net. A right-of-center nation would have never embraced the extremely liberal notion of public retirement insurance for its citizens.

And government-funded health care for seniors like Medicare?! That's not "free market" -- that's not "freedom."

If we were a right-of-center nation, you could win an election by saying you planned to eliminate Medicare and Social Security. After all, this would be an effortless way of leaving the unprecedentedly bloated defense budget intact while still cutting big "gubment." Instead such a proposal is grounds for getting you burned in effigy.

Even in 2005, President George W. Bush with his Republican majority in the infamously lazy, never-in-session 109th Congress couldn't "privatize" Social Security. A right-of-center nation would have not only embraced the proposal, but also stood up and collectively swelled with pride that when they retire, they'll be on their own! "The government will get off my back about only being able to afford to eat cat food!" Liberty!

This "right-of-center nation" sound bite is useful to Republicans because it is a means of getting their way while still seeming as if they're negotiating. It's actually very clever on their part.

If you want to sell an item for $100, price it at $150 and let someone talk you down to the price you really want. The buyer feels good about his power of persuasion, and you feel good about controlling the final price. The sound bite frames the debate to move liberalism to the outskirts of the conversation. The left side becomes the outlier -- the spectrum of the debate is then between the conservative far-right and the conservative right-of-center.

It's reminiscent of the Henry Ford quip about the Model T, "You can have any color you want as long as it's black."

The reality: the majority of Americans are actually progressive whether or not they call themselves that. Poll after poll finds when Americans are asked how they feel about issues like the minimum wage, protecting the environment, gay rights and even gun control -- the majority agrees with the Left. And no, "a majority" isn't two-thirds or 60%. A majority still means more than half unless you're in the U.S. Senate.

Progressives believe the future will be better. The whole idea of America is progressive. It's a new country founded on idealism and unalienable rights. America was an idea so progressive that even now as the U.S. Constitution is the oldest currently in use it still seems radical. We believe in equality. We believe in government protections of individual rights. We believe in the right of due process. We believe the government is best run by and for the people. We are not and have never been a conservative country.

According to Forbes, we have more millionaires than any other country in the world, and progress is about prosperity. Listen to Republicans and they'll try to sell you on business being only right-wing. Innovation isn't partisan. Our country's biggest export is the union-packed liberal staple of Hollywood entertainment. Job-creating venture capitalists like Warren Buffett are also progressive. Venture capitalism -- investing to improve the world through new ideas -- is the definition of progressive. Ditto Silicon Valley. The richest man in the world, Bill Gates, is nowhere near conservative. Saying liberals are anti-business is like saying conservatives are anti-border control.

Are we a right-center nation? No. First off, it's a false premise. We have to be a center-center nation. The consensus is the center. And the center voted for Democratic majorities in the House, Senate and White House.

So when a minority of 40 senators hold up unemployment insurance because mid-January of last year they inexplicably became worried about spending are the same 40 who tout continuing tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans -- it has nothing to do with "center right."

It's center not right.

© 2010 Statesman Journal
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/08/03-0

You people and your silly polls. "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics."

as long as the senators "get theirs" from the lobbiest, and whstever else is on their agenda, we as a people will continue to suffer. lower my taxes and i'll donate to your reelection fund...
pass this law, and i'll donate to your retirement fund... they are sitting up their getting fat off our hardships.

I didnt see any polls refrenced. The point the author made was if we truly were a center right country a politician could get elected by simply saying " we gona do away with social security and medicare, were gona get goberme'nt off your back" We all know that will never happen because we care if grandma gets her social security check and we are basicly a nation of progresives.

It says "The consensus is the center.", and other similar statements. This implies a poll or survey of some sort.

The majority of the right are just the negativity mongers of the nation. If someone has a dream they squash it. If someone thinks it is a good thing for the government to assist in times of need they call it breast feeding and communism.

The nays of the country unite under one banner, "the right"

Why do you think it is so easy for them to block all legislation in congress right now?

As for being a right center nation, only because of the religious, that is what pulls that stat out of the air, otherwise we would be a center liberal country.

"Breast feeding" and "communism" are pretty accurate terms for modern liberals. It's unfortunate they've mostly lost touch with their Anglo/French Classical liberal roots.

btw-it's wishful thinking to say "The majority of the right are just the negativity mongers of the nation". When "the right" (if you consider republicans "right") actually gains power, they are mostly indistinguishable from the "left". That's why it's virtually impossible to distinguish the policies when either one is elected by the sheeple.

You tell the truth about that.

I have yet to see a Politician, aside from Ron Paul, who honestly has the will of the people, Rule of Law and Governing in line with the Constitution, at heart.

Can't trust the losers who get sold by any of the MSM. MainStreamMindfcks is all they are.

If I could scrape up and sell all the BS they sell, I could own the presidency.

Isnt it the childrens responsibility to take care of the parents or it should be. Anyways this country definitely needs to move back towards democracy and away from socialistic programs causing higher taxes and diminishing the resources to care for our villages. It make a stronger famlial circle and create more respect in our nation. IMHO