This is actually a re-write of a post I wrote for another website years ago. The theme remains the same, but it’s a different post. I use Manhattan as political metaphor.
When most people think of New York City, they are referring to the island of Manhattan. In fact, people from the other boroughs will usually refer to themselves as coming from those other boroughs by name. The streets of Manhattan above Houston (and you pronounce it wrong) mostly form a grid: Avenues run North-South, and Streets run East-West. We’re a few degrees off the axis, but it works.
We are bounded on the right by the East River and on the left by the Hudson, technically tidal estuaries (education is fun!). Visually it works well for a good political metaphor- East is Right, Left is West. The dividing line between East and West is 5th Avenue. 4th Avenue is also mostly known as Park Avenue and 6th Avenue is mostly known as Avenue of the Americas.
I used to think that I was a 5th Avenue guy according to this metaphor- Hell I’m a middle child! The Corporate Media, which the Right Wing Corporate Media calls “Liberal” constantly tells us we are a “Center-Right” nation. I used to believe most of us lived between Park and Avenue of the Americas- Centrist.
But what is Centrist now? A recent study published in the NY Times shows that ideologically the Republicans are further to the right than most right wing parties in Europe while the Democrats are a fairly mainstream left party by the same standards. Or as I like to say, the Democrats haven’t moved much, but the Republicans have crossed the East river into Brooklyn and Queens!
Does the center have to move to the right? Another study about 6 months ago showed that on policy ideas, most Americans are to the left of THEMSELVES! Many people who self-identify as moderate or conservative support policies identified with the left. For example, Gun Control is considered a left wing issue, but background checks poll at 90%!
Higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans, Strengthening Social Security and Medicare, Higher minimum wage- even Medicare for All poll well across the popular political spectrum. There were a couple of diaries his week arguing whether we should support a “progressive” or a “centrist”- It’s a bullshit argument! We, on the left, are right. We have the support of most Americans. We need someone who knows how to communicate that simple fact.
Even on immigration, there is a reason why Trump keeps saying he’s only getting rid of the “bad hombres” and “these kids are MS-13”- they are trying to portray their racist policies as reasonable because, if they didn’t they’d lose a sizable potion of their base.
So here’s the question: The Republicans have moved so far right that they’re off the map, the Democrats have moved slightly to the left, the Corporate media tells us that America is Center Right, and research says Americans actually are to the left of the Left- Locate the majority on a map.