“Forward!” The New Centrist, Moderate Third Party

 

Andrew Yang, the failed Democratic presidential candidate (of which the country has no shortage) has launched a third political party called Forward! (and then backtracked a bit and described it as a “Political Action Committee) instead. The media are describing this new political party or PAC as a “centrist” alternative to the Democrat and Republican parties. Here are some of the centrist party’s centrist policies that are centrist.

  • Universal Basic Income
  • State-run (“universal”) health care
  • Private financing of political campaigns replaced by government-allocated “democracy dollars”
  • “Human-centered capitalism” and “alternative measures of economic growth”

Bush-Republicans Christie Todd-Whitman and David Jolly have already joined the new whatever-it-is. I wonder which Centrist policies hooked them in. Perhaps Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Mitt Romney can join in all the moderate moderation as well.

The moderate centrist Forward party has already endorsed nine candidates in the 2022 elections, one Independent, one Libertarian, and seven Democrats.

The Forward party also “cites issues including guns, climate change and abortion as those that could benefit from a moderate approach” but has not described what that “moderate approach” would look like. I think we can guess.

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  1. E. Kent Golding Moderator
    E. Kent Golding
    @EKentGolding

    Perhaps they care claiming to be only moderately harmful, moderately anti American,  moderately stupid.

    • #31
  2. aardo vozz Member
    aardo vozz
    @aardovozz

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Vance Richards (View Comment):
    Yeah, not really sure what “Human-centered capitalism” is but I bet it involves a lot of government intervention.

    “Human-centered capitalism” is a euphemism for “money laundering.”

    …or slavery…🙄

    • #32
  3. aardo vozz Member
    aardo vozz
    @aardovozz

    Misthiocracy has never (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):
    “Human-centered capitalism” is a euphemism for “money laundering.”

    Kind of like how “stakeholder capitalism” basically means “the community controls the means of production via the Government.”

    It’s like socialism, but it’s also nationalist!

    I can hear it now: “Real National Socialism hasn’t been tried!”

    • #33
  4. BastiatJunior Member
    BastiatJunior
    @BastiatJunior

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo:

    • Universal Basic Income
    • State-run (“universal”) health care
    • Private financing of political campaigns replaced by government-allocated “democracy dollars”
    • “Human-centered capitalism” and “alternative measures of economic growth”

    Imagine how far left you have to be for those to be considered “centrist”.

    I’m wondering what’s to the left of State-run (“universal”) healthcare.

    • #34
  5. BastiatJunior Member
    BastiatJunior
    @BastiatJunior

    I’m beginning to prefer the kind of hard left that is least honest about it.  Like Antifa.

    The worst lefties are 1.) those that call themselves “moderate” and 2.) those with impeccable conservative bonafides.

    • #35
  6. BastiatJunior Member
    BastiatJunior
    @BastiatJunior

    I forgot to mention the excruciatingly severe conservatives.

    • #36
  7. Unsk Member
    Unsk
    @Unsk

    I Love It ! What a great political PARTY! Moderate Communist in their beliefs! Versus Hard shoot them all down in the streets  without a thought Communist! That way one can always say to themselves they are still a good person after they arrest everyone they don’t agree with because you know they kinda deserved it! And then we are still soooooooo compassionate toooooo!

    • #37
  8. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    Raxxalan (View Comment):

    Doesn’t seem very moderate. It basically reads as a far left agenda, I guess it is “moderate” because they are going to dump the woke and identity stuff? I guess I am “for” this as I don’t see it getting very many people from the right it might get a lot of people from the “moderate” left, so as a third party threat it has a better chance of splitting the democratic vote than the Republican vote.

    If this group siphons away Republican voters, then this will be celebrated.  If it draws more Democrat voters, then all hell will break loose.  

    • #38
  9. navyjag Coolidge
    navyjag
    @navyjag

    EXACTLY what we need. An American version of the British Labor Party.  What a race it will be with the 3 parties racing to see who can spend us to death first. 

    • #39
  10. db25db Inactive
    db25db
    @db25db

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    I am sure it’s just a coincidence that the Forward Party’s “Centrist” positions align precisely with Andrew Yang’s.

    I prefer the Yang Gang.

    • #40
  11. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    I guess its true.

    Middle of the road politics stink. The only things in the middle of the road are a yellow line and a dead skunk.

    The problem with moderate centrists is that they dont excite anyone – nobody goes door knocking for them… Its like an agnostic evangelist, nobody will stand on your door step, knock on your door to proudly proclaim “We dont know!”

    I think we need a more clarifying division of politics, left vs right arent as meaningful as they once where – Trump for example, was all over the left-right spectrum on a policy by policy basis. I think populist vs elitist or libertarian vs socialist are more clarifying.

    • #41
  12. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    After marching up to the edge of the cliff, “Forward!” is definitely the direction to go.  

    There are any number of Roadrunner vs Wile E. Coyote cartoons that can illustrate how it’s done. 

    • #42
  13. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment)

    What a perfect time to do a remake of Max Headroom.

    From your lips to Ben Cheviot’s ears:

    ‘Max Headroom’ Series Reboot Starring Matt Frewer In Works At AMC Networks From Christopher Cantwell & Elijah Wood’s SpectreVision

    • #43
  14. GlennAmurgis Coolidge
    GlennAmurgis
    @GlennAmurgis

    How is this different than Democrats? ESG, more central planning 

    • #44
  15. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Misthiocracy has never (View Comment):

    Insert obligatory “UBI would be great if every single other form of social spending was simultaneously abolished, including government health care subsidies” comment here.

    ;-)

    I’m not saying I endorse the policy, but there needs to be a conversation on how it came to this. Andrew Yang brings it up and then he makes the conversation go as far backwards as one person can. What an idiot. 

    • #45
  16. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    The local principles first group had this on their agenda a couple weeks ago. Some of them were actually falling for rank choice voting.

    • #46
  17. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    It’s a party for failed GOP candidates and Democrats that have not been elected to anything. 

    • #47
  18. Raxxalan Member
    Raxxalan
    @Raxxalan

    DaveSchmidt (View Comment):

    Raxxalan (View Comment):

    Doesn’t seem very moderate. It basically reads as a far left agenda, I guess it is “moderate” because they are going to dump the woke and identity stuff? I guess I am “for” this as I don’t see it getting very many people from the right it might get a lot of people from the “moderate” left, so as a third party threat it has a better chance of splitting the democratic vote than the Republican vote.

    If this group siphons away Republican voters, then this will be celebrated. If it draws more Democrat voters, then all hell will break loose.

    Honestly I can’t think of a platform less likely to siphon away Republican votes than this.   If you really wanted a moderate party you would have to have at least one plank that could appeal to conservatives.  Simply being anti-woke isn’t enough.  This is basically 2006 liberalism.  

    • #48
  19. Raxxalan Member
    Raxxalan
    @Raxxalan

    OccupantCDN (View Comment):

    I guess its true.

    Middle of the road politics stink. The only things in the middle of the road are a yellow line and a dead skunk.

    The problem with moderate centrists is that they dont excite anyone – nobody goes door knocking for them… Its like an agnostic evangelist, nobody will stand on your door step, knock on your door to proudly proclaim “We dont know!”

    I think we need a more clarifying division of politics, left vs right arent as meaningful as they once where – Trump for example, was all over the left-right spectrum on a policy by policy basis. I think populist vs elitist or libertarian vs socialist are more clarifying.

    It isn’t middle of the road.  It is about a foot to right of the progressive democratic party of today.  I am only assuming that mind you because none of the planks are overtly woke.  It also doesn’t mention any of the social issues.  Which means it is basically a splinter group of the left.   

    Quite frankly I don’t even think it would appeal to moderate republicans because the spending is too great.  Moderate Republicans tend to be the mythical fiscally conservative, well not really, socially liberal crowd.  They aren’t going to sign onto a UBI and socialized medicine.   

    A really functional moderate party in America that would get broad support and dominate politics would be a big spending socially conservative party.  Basically what the southern democrats use to claim to be, but really weren’t, and more or less what Trump was.   American’s like government spending, for some reason I can’t fathom, and are pretty conservative socially, maybe with a little bit of libertarianism on the social side.  That is they want their entitlements they think spending money on national industrial policy and infrastructure is a good idea.  They want traditional values taught in school, but are reasonably comfortable with a gay neighbor or coworker.   A party that embraced this set of issues would be unstoppable force at least for a little while.  

    • #49
  20. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Raxxalan (View Comment):
    American’s like government spending, for some reason I can’t fathom,

    http://financialrepressionauthority.com/2017/07/26/the-roundtable-insight-george-bragues-on-how-the-financial-markets-are-influenced-by-politics/

    With a central bank that has so much discretion and is so easy, you can’t expect conservativism to work or sell. The last chance to turn things around was about 1995.

    Government Is How We Steal From Each Other™

    Everything Moves Left All Of The Time

     

    • #50
  21. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    BastiatJunior (View Comment):

    I’m beginning to prefer the kind of hard left that is least honest about it. Like Antifa.

    The worst lefties are 1.) those that call themselves “moderate” and 2.) those with impeccable conservative bonafides.

    Wasn’t Biden supposed to be the more moderate choice? If we are going to get Bernie’s policies, why can’t we have Bernie too. At least he actually believes all that nonsense, Biden just repeats what he is told.

    • #51
  22. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    Nothing perverse in this.  It’s giving us insight into where the Democrats and some Republicans who have and like power are going.  It’s what happens in various forms, shapes, speeds with articulated  attitudes as power accumulates centrally.  At least they’re willing to say it.  The good news is that it destroys itself.   The bad news is that it destroys civilization in the process  

    • #52
  23. Franco Member
    Franco
    @Franco

    Christine Todd Whitman as Governor of NJ performing an illegal pat-down as a photo op.

     I guess this new party will be tough on crime with a smile.

    Up against the wall motherf*er

    • #53
  24. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    Franco (View Comment):

    Christine Todd Whitman as Governor of NJ performing an illegal pat-down as a photo op.

    I guess this new party will be tough on crime with a smile.

    Up against the wall motherf*er

    The color contrast is not a good look. 

    • #54
  25. Douglas Pratt Coolidge
    Douglas Pratt
    @DouglasPratt

    OccupantCDN (View Comment):

    I guess its true.

    Middle of the road politics stink. The only things in the middle of the road are a yellow line and a dead skunk.

     

    This brings to mind a political argument between Pogo and Albert. “You ever see two dogs fighting over a bone?” “Yeah, so?” “You ever see the bone fight?”

    • #55
  26. Misthiocracy has never Member
    Misthiocracy has never
    @Misthiocracy

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Misthiocracy has never (View Comment):

    Insert obligatory “UBI would be great if every single other form of social spending was simultaneously abolished, including government health care subsidies” comment here.

    ;-)

    I’m not saying I endorse the policy, but there needs to be a conversation on how it came to this. Andrew Yang brings it up and then he makes the conversation go as far backwards as one person can. What an idiot.

    I’d have a lot more respect for Andrew Yang if he’d bring up Friedman’s original “negative income tax” and not misrepresent how it would actually work.

    • #56
  27. Misthiocracy has never Member
    Misthiocracy has never
    @Misthiocracy

    OccupantCDN (View Comment):

     

    Middle of the road politics stink. The only things in the middle of the road are a yellow line and a dead skunk.

     

    Middle of the road,
    Man it stank.
    Let’s run over Lionel Ritchie,
    With a tank.

    – One of Dethtöngue’s lesser-known masterpieces.

    • #57
  28. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Misthiocracy has never (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Misthiocracy has never (View Comment):

    Insert obligatory “UBI would be great if every single other form of social spending was simultaneously abolished, including government health care subsidies” comment here.

    ;-)

    I’m not saying I endorse the policy, but there needs to be a conversation on how it came to this. Andrew Yang brings it up and then he makes the conversation go as far backwards as one person can. What an idiot.

    I’d have a lot more respect for Andrew Yang if he’d bring up Friedman’s original “reverse income tax” and not misrepresent how it would actually work.

    He ended up pitching it like he’s Huey Long. The totally stupidest version. No big picture thinking about how it came to this. It just makes everything worse. I really wish he would evaporate.

     

    • #58
  29. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Misthiocracy has never (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):
    “Human-centered capitalism” is a euphemism for “money laundering.”

    Kind of like how “stakeholder capitalism” basically means “the community controls the means of production via the Government.”

    It’s like socialism, but it’s also nationalist!

    National Socialists . . . Hmm . . . nope, doesn’t ring a bell . . .

    You are always at the top of your game.

    • #59
  30. BastiatJunior Member
    BastiatJunior
    @BastiatJunior

    Victor Tango Kilo: The moderate centrist Forward party has already endorsed nine candidates in the 2022 elections, one Independent, one Libertarian, and seven Democrats.

    They found a Libertarian that would support the items listed in the post?  I guess smoking pot is the only right endowed by our creator.

    • #60
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