Lately, I’ve been hearing about how “the public doesn’t want the Far Left or the Far Right.” Supposedly, if Republicans take over the House and the Senate again in November, they should remember to be more moderate.
Yes, that always sounds good, to do things in moderation. But sometimes this is simply impossible for those who hold to standards with any degree of consistency. For example, if I believe abortion is murder, how do I moderate that position? It does not mix with the notion that abortion is not murder.
Should the abolitionists have been more moderate in their desire to see slavery end? Should they have worked with southern Democrats in a “bi-partisan” fashion? What would they have come up with? Some kind of new law that gives slaves extra benefits without actually granting them their freedom?
I would also ask those who believe in a happy middle to define “Far Right.” The reason I challenge you this way is because the definition of “Far Right” is ever changing. Most Liberals, when they think of the Far Right, imagine some kind of Fascist teaching. And yet, it is the Liberal who wants government to control every sector of our lives. These days, those who believe in less government are viewed as Far Right. By that definition, our forefathers were Far Right because they wrote a constitution with extremely limited government.
And ten years ago, would you have believed the day would come when those who want to protect our own borders would be viewed as Far Right? All other countries believe in protecting their borders, even the countries who chastise us for caring about ours.
How about marriage? Ten years ago, most Liberals, regardless of their view of gay marriage, would have laughed at the idea of calling somebody a Fascist, simply because he had the audacity to believe marriage should be defined as a union between a man and a woman.
You see, as the Left goes farther left, the real genuine center looks “farther Right.”
For me, it is no longer a matter of Right or Left as ends in themselves. Neither do I accept the fact that Centrists alone are the only wise and balanced individuals; not if Centrists are embracing the Left’s definition of what is “too far right.” One might ask where Liberals got the authority to issue such classifications. After all, if we hold to the current definition authored by the Left, Centrists are no longer Centrists. They are instead, people who pat themselves on the back for being moderate, all the while failing to watch the undertow. They themselves are moving to the left unawares. Gradual and unnoticed as the change in landscape may be, we should stop for a moment and look how far down the beach we drifted. Chances are, our towels and umbrellas are nowhere in sight.
Bob Siegel is a weekend radio talk show host on KCBQ and columnist. Details of his show can be found at www.bobsiegel.net. Comments to posts are discussed by Bob over the air where anyone is free to call in and respond/debate. Call in toll free number: 1-888-344-1170