Radical Centrism
Radical Centrism
I’ve been referencing Radical
Centrism quite a bit lately. In a recent essay, I described Radical Centrism as:
1. More than
championing compromise.
More than appeasement.
More than RINOism. More than traditional Centrism.
Not Libertarianism.
Not "Social Liberalism and Economic Conservatism."
2. Positioned within
the first sigmas of a "Liberty Bell Curve" it stridently,
actively--radically--opposes the apoplectic noise from beyond those sigmas.
3. A strain of
compassionate patriotism that treats rational policy solutions to otherwise
divisive issues with a moral urgency. Its prescriptions are rooted in
historical reality and poetic imagination: aggressively, stridently, and
uncompromisingly. Its solutions eschew partisan hyperbole and are radical in
their opposition to the divisive frames that politicians present. We needn’t
compromise, Radical Centrists argue,
to arrive at a radical center. Rather, a radical center is the best absolute
position unto itself.
I have been challenged to present a set of policies that
would make up a Radical Centrist’s
platform. Policy, of course, is far more complex than broad statements of
ideology. Given the opportunity to present a set of policies, I assert
that they come as an intermingled suite: a set of interconnected causal and
affective solutions that work together. The policies that I enumerate
below should not
be taken in isolation.
I’d like to especially develop the concept of the
“Liberty Bell Curve” as the metaphor for how this works. Hopefully, you can intuit the metaphor and how it fits into the broader discussion.
I’m confident that some of these bullets will induce gasps from my friends on the Right who know me to be an economist and traditional Conservative; doubtless, I’ll garner some rolled eyes from friends who know me as a poet, teacher, and academic. Most importantly, I know that it will also set off the noisy timbre on the outer edges of the Liberty Bell Curve. My goal is to rile the sigma-sitters: to advance a catalog of Radical Centrism that is so discomfiting that they may fall into apoplexy (a state that is not too far from their normal state, anyhow).
Domestic
1.
Statehood for Puerto Rico
2.
Statehood for Cuba
3.
Universal catastrophic healthcare
4.
Fast path FDA approvals for “critical” disease
pharmaceuticals; Shortened patent periods
5.
Tort reform for “critical” disease
pharmaceuticals
6.
Preserve abortion “rights” but also preserve “rights”
for doctors and local (not state) governments to decline such coverage
7.
National legalization, taxation, and regulation
of marijuana
8.
Removal of any federal laws or regulations that
discriminate against or act affirmatively for LGBTQ citizens
9.
Federal initiative to ban and develop a replacement
for opioid drugs
10.
Outlaw capital punishment
11.
Federal education stipend funded by property tax
(to be used for public or private schools) for all children from age 4-21 (or
second year of community college)
12.
Compulsory 18 month tour for all men and women
in Military/Peace Corps/AmeriCorps
13.
Require and fund body camera technology for all
police in U.S.
Economic:
1.
Maintain independent Federal Reserve
2.
Create an independent agency to regulate
“consumer credit and banking” with a head appointed and approved solely by the
party that does not control the Executive Branch. 4 year terms that coincide
with President.
3.
National infrastructure initiative:
Transportation and Digi-com
4.
National Climate Change policy that concentrates
on adaptation/resiliency rather than reversal.
5.
Further flattened income tax (with only a deduction
for home mortgage interest, charitable donations, and catastrophe.
6. Revenue neutral carbon surcharge to capture free-rider, external costs of ecological damage. Lead international efforts to incentivize reduction of greenhouse emissions; to further incentivize “all-of-the-above” American energy independence.
7.
Welfare, CHIP reform.
8.
Recalibration of Social Security funding and
management
Citizenship:
1.
Comprehensive immigration reform, enforcement,
and path to citizenship for all who enter legally.
2.
Grandfather existing DACA.
3.
Deport any illegals who have committed any crime
(besides illegal entry) and/or cannot prove gainful employment.
4.
Two immigrant classes: 1. Merit-based with no
set asides based on country of origin—and their immediate families. 2. Refugees
who may stay max of 3 years and leave or enter pool for merit-based track.
International/Military:
1.
Development of Strategic Defense Initiative
technology
2.
Disband CIA and FBI and reorganize under a
single Global (National) Intelligence Agency
3.
Redefine NATO as an organization meant to protect
“democratic” nations from “non-democratic” nations. To be led by America. To
replace United Nations.
4.
Support Israel in claiming Jerusalem as capital.
Support Palestinian independence.
5.
Withdraw from foreign wars except for purposes
of “stabilization of peace” and “protection of innocents.”
6.
Create an embassy in every nation on Earth with
professional diplomats.
7.
Expand and partial-privatize VA model to provide basic healthcare for all who’ve
served 18 month tour
8.
Free trade agreements with Canada, Mexico, Cuba.
NAFFTA (Free and Fair trade).
9.
International FFT agreements w/Tariffs on goods
that come in from any nation not participating.
10.
Assert
dollar as money for all Int’l trade.
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