Matt Lutz at Persuasion:
Left-wing activists benefit from a framework where “center left” just means “whatever the left says, but less,” because this gives them the power to alter what it means to be on the center left just by advocating for more extreme views. If the left gets more extreme, the center left must follow them at least part of the way, or risk being labeled as “on the right.” That can be an effective rhetorical cudgel against those who care about being “on the left.” And it raises the question: If your position is that you support what we do (just less), why not go all the way? Not only does this framework provide too much power to activists, it also harms the electoral prospects of center-left political parties, like the Democrats. If the best account the Democrats can give of their stance on cultural issues is “Whatever activists say, but less,” they’re setting themselves up for defeat. That message alienates everyone.
To resist this dynamic, those on the center left must defend a positive vision of what it means to be on the center left. To that end, here are three principles that can provide a unifying framework:
- Liberalism is the first principle.
- Inequalities are problems to be solved.
- Absolutes are unwise.
I don’t pretend that any of these ideas are novel. But they’re no less important for being familiar. Let’s look at them in more depth.
More here.
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