Author: Paul Ratner / Source: Big Think
- Niskanen Center, a Washington think tank, argues for avoiding the extremes of political positions.
- The analysts propose that both a regulated free market and bolstered social insurance programs are important.
- If we don’t correct course soon, the American political system may never recover, warn the authors.
If you’ve had enough of all the political bickering coming from all sides, a Washington think tank released a manifesto that it hopes will inspire those in the middle. The Niskanen Center‘s policy essay “The Center Can Hold: Public Policy in the Age of Extremes” attempts to incorporate positions from rival ideological positions into a way forward for the divided America.
The cognitive scientist Steven Pinker of Harvard University highlighted the document in his tweet, indicating it will appeal to those who are “frustrated with the stale ideologies and mutual demonization of the Left and Right”.
Are you frustrated with the stale ideologies and mutual demonization of the Left and Right? Here’s a manifesto for Radical Centrism, Liberal-tarianism, Bold Moderation, an Open Society, smart regulation, and a liberal democratic capitalist welfare state. https://t.co/mEJFBPZZAW
— Steven Pinker (@sapinker)
In an overview of the paper on the center’s site, Niskanen’s Vice Presidents Brink Lindsey and Will Wilkinson, along with other senior analysts write that American democracy is in the midst of a “crisis of legitimacy,” which started with Donald Trump’s ascendancy to the Presidency.
Niskanen’s document describes Trump as “an extravagantly unfit demagogue” who was elevated to “the most powerful position on the planet.” His rise to power would not happened “in a healthy, stable, well-governed polity,” argue the writers. What’s more, they warn that without addressing the underlying issues, even stronger “anti-democratic demagogues” might…The post Too far right and left? DC think tank releases manifesto for radical centrism appeared first on FeedBox.