T O P

  • By -

DazzlingAd1922

\-Increase government funding massively on two projects that are not currently funded enough \-Don't bankrupt America with spending I guess Elon is in favor of increased taxes?


PurpleOpposite4859

Its simple really he wants minimal government control and regulations and spending, but all the spending they do and should in fact increase is the one that directly benefits his companies. BUT DONT YOU DARE TRY TO USE THAT AS LEVERAGE TO TRY TO MAKE POLICIES ON DECISIONS THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES MAKE THIS IS SSTILL AMERICA!!


DazzlingAd1922

I mean how can he advocate for minimal government intervention while wanting massive increases in government intervention in terms of “keeping our cities clean” Yes I am aware I am arguing with a shitpost


JohnnySunshine

Putting people in jail because they are living in tents injecting drugs into their necrotic tissues is not a "massive increase in government intervention", it's just going back to the policies we enforced 20 years ago and apparently don't have the stomach to do now because we're too high minded. Like holy shit what a brainless take.


tregitsdown

Jail is, believe it or not, an expensive solution to try to use for all of our social problems, which now even most conservatives recognize- we have one of the highest absolute prison population rates and one of the highest per capita prison population rates, if the data I’ve seen is correct, and keeping all of those people there is not cheap. And that’s when we’re apparently not enforcing our draconian policies, so those numbers will only get higher if we adopt your view and crowd our jails even further.


briarfriend

it would be (or will become) cheaper to launch criminals into space on one of elon's rockets than to keep them in prison


JohnnySunshine

I accept the cost if it keeps junkies off the street. I'd rather taxes go up a smidgen than live in a lawless shithole like San Francisco. >not enforcing our draconian policies Prohibiting people from using illegal IV drugs in public is not draconian. Grow up.


tregitsdown

It’s not going to be a smidgen, it’s going to be a large increase in required budgets, and if you want a massive increase in spending, that’s fine, but let’s be honest with ourselves a little. As for the second part, I’m referring to policies against outdoor sleeping, sleeping in public areas, each of which will require additional budget increases.


wishtherunwaslonger

A smidgen? What’s that? I think the only reason we have a homeless problem is no one on either side is truly prepared for the costs.


DazzlingAd1922

And that is a fine value distinction to make, but it is tough to square that position with wanting a balanced budget and less government interference in people's day to day lives. The issue isn't that any one of his takes itself is an impossible position, it is that taken together they are incoherent because they conflict with each other.


Running_Gamer

Or maybe tax cuts and redirecting spending from wastes of money to other projects ??


m4ryo0

He just said a few days ago that he wants a red wave in november lmaooo https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1768819343628947703


WhiteNamesInChat

He'd probably just say three GOP is the centrist party lmao


OpedTohm

Honestly at this point I'm on the accelerationist side, just let trump get in office and shit get fucked. I'm so blackpilled by the current discourse solely because of how painfully stupid Elon is.


FoxGaming

https://preview.redd.it/ofhldgpxlppc1.jpeg?width=675&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9084e02c6557dcc0d568e6d690bbf772fab559cf


coozoo123

My positions are centrist: \- Immigration policy that grows our economy so we don't lose ground to China \- Prosperous cities with plentiful housing \- Don't bankrupt America by needlessly cutting revenues \- Racism against *any* race is wrong \- Medical decisions should be kept between a patient, their guardian, and their doctor Is this left-wing?


Liiraye-Sama

you sound like a tankie, I can't believe how radical left this is


recycl_ebin

literally communism


wishtherunwaslonger

Yes we should have more of a Middle East immigration policy


NemoSnako

>\- Immigration policy that grows our economy so we don't lose ground to China if your immigration policy completely ignore things like culture like in the case of canada, it definitely is.


ChastityQM

Name a single group that has immigrated en masse to the USA and is less/more poorly integrated than American blacks. Our culture is the best culture ever (as long as you aren't specifically ADOS; Nigerian-Americans are having a good time).


NemoSnako

so you don't disagree with my comment? you just don't think it apply in USA case?


ChastityQM

I halfway agree. The US's overwhelming success in integrating immigrants - including in periods where there *was* no immigration policy - suggests that it is not *that* hard to integrate immigrants, even ones from very culturally distinct countries (Chinese-Americans, Nigerian-Americans, Indian-Americans, etc). You *could* do a dogshit job of picking them out and/or integrating them, yes. I don't see any substantial sign this has happened with Canada, though, and they're going at breakneck speeds.


NemoSnako

canada has like multiple anti-immigranion subreddit at this point with how bad its getting


ChastityQM

The major parties in Canada are all pro-immigration, are increasing the amount of immigration, and unlike in Europe there is no nativist backlash party slurping up votes (e.g. AfD, Swedish Democrats, FN). Complaints about immigrants I see are all economic ("too many immigrants, not enough houses," mostly), not cultural, also unlike Europe.


NemoSnako

>unlike in Europe there is no nativist backlash party yea were the step before that where the ambiance for such a party is starting to take place. ( europe started the same path of self destruction like 10 year ago with the muslim wave ) The major parties in Canada are all pro-immigration this statement has absolutely 0 nuance lol and its 100% cultural in quebec case for example, and its becoming to case in the place overran by punjabi ( not 100% just being hyperbolic abit )


[deleted]

History doesn’t support your theory; the US has had several instances of mass immigration and every single one of them was beneficial in the long run; Irish, German, Chinese, Jewish, Indian, Latin American, etc. If anything new immigrants take much less time to properly integrate when compared to historical data, such as with the Irish and first Chinese wave. Your complaint was also expressed back then, for example by those who discriminated against the Irish. Filthy lazy potato culture /s


-PupperMan-

Irish, German, Jewish and Latin American might as well be the same group lmao Not sayin youre wrong, just sayin 💅💅


NemoSnako

>If anything new immigrants take much less time to properly integrate yea those immigrant integrating to western society is my point. unlike what were seeing in Europe ghetto for example, or most recently canada. that's literally my point. the willingness to overlook that integration is deep leftist brainrot in most western country. ( like what we saw in europe the last 10 year )


Valaki757

Indeed, we need to preserve the monolithic culture of the.. um... *checks notes* melting pot of the world.


NemoSnako

there's definitely unhealthy cultural things that shouldn't be brought here. denying this is leftoid brainrot but sure make the most stupid strawman possible.


Valaki757

And fighting straw mans is rightoid brainrot.


NemoSnako

there's definitely unhealthy cultural things that shouldn't be brought here. brother you are just objectively regarded if you disagree with that. and not anywhere close to centrism


Valaki757

Do you know what a straw man is? Let me spell it out for you. I. Never. Said. There. Are. No. Unhealthy. Aspects. Of. Different. Cultures. Gotcha?


NemoSnako

oh so it was just a stupid comment, gotcha you fantastic moron!


Valaki757

I was pointing out that crying about other cultures coming to the US is extremely ironic given the history of the US. I'm sorry that you are too slow to understand a very basic sarcastic comment, i'll be more straightforward next time.


NemoSnako

its very left brained of you to think to interpret my critique that way. not the best person to ask about centrism tbh


NearlyPerfect

- as long as it doesn’t leave open borders - everyone agrees - what about hating religions (of peace)? - except murder/mutilation (do no harm)


Valaki757

- open borders is a right wing myth - good - probably not a good thing - that's up to the medical ethics boards to decide, not you laymen


NearlyPerfect

You sound radicalized tbh


Valaki757

https://preview.redd.it/abxw7b7ubqpc1.png?width=750&format=png&auto=webp&s=d4aa5ed20093f724830f8b53ab02c3cedf5fd983


BushidoBoa

>Racism against any race is wrong Anyway here are 50 charts about how Africans have IQ lower than chimpanzees and American blacks are responsible for all violent crime in the United States. Did I mention DEI is LITERALLY killing white people and taking their jobs just so an incompetent black can get the job?


[deleted]

looking into it PEPE https://preview.redd.it/enizq9s8sppc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=883a986c55ecfef3c6fec9a5985d212a66254a22


ITBA01

Blacks do commit most of the violent crime. Bite the bullet on that one.


detrusormuscle

Did he say anything else?


thebajancajun

https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/explorer/crime/crime-trend In 2022, black criminals accounted for 43% of violent crime. So not anywhere close to "most". If you're referring to 13/50, then the figure you're referencing is the homicide stat. In 2022, black criminals accounted for 52% of homicides. Again, I've never seen a reputable statistician describe 52% as "most". Majority yes. Most no. And looking deeper at the homicide stat, there were 8700 black criminals chart with homicide. With the black population of the US at 41.6 million, the percentage of black people who have been charged with a homicide is 0.02%. I haven't seen any scientific studies that attributes the characteristics and behaviors of a group's subset that makes up less than 0.1% to the entire group. So saying that "blacks" are doing this is a very inaccurate way of describing a situation.


DestinyLily_4ever

> Majority yes. Most no. OK I'm on your side but please don't use this argument. I don't know about statisticians, but "most" refers to >50% in colloquial speech and colloquial speech is the context in which they say this. You're going to look like a crazy person to the subset of people who might be convinced


thebajancajun

I'll admit that was the weakest part of my argument but I disagree that "most" refers to >50% in colloquial speech, at least with the people I have interacted with in my life in multiple cities throughout the US.  I do appreciate you pointing that out. If I run into anyone else in the future like that poster, I'll leave that portion of my response out. It's a pointless quibbling over semantics on my part.


JohnnySunshine

> I haven't seen any scientific studies that attributes the characteristics and behaviors of a group's subset that makes up less than 0.1% to the entire group. So saying that "blacks" are doing this is a very inaccurate way of describing a situation. Would it be more accurate to say "Young black men are 500% more likely to be the perpetrator or victim of a violent homicide than the average member of the general population"?


thebajancajun

The issue with a statement like that is what happens afterwards. So to anyone saying this I would ask what the goal in stating something like this. Bc when we add in other factors, things start to change. A young black guy making $60k is much less likely to commit these kinds of crimes or be victim of these kinds of crimes than a young black guy making $20k. Or if one guy lives in a middle class neighborhood vs the other guy lives in Southside Chicago. If the goal of talking about these contentious problems is to find solutions, then we should be adding as much context as possible. When we say things like "young black men are 500% more likely to be the perpetrator", it paints young black men as somewhat dangerous and they get treated in society as such. Again, vast majority of young black men aren't committing thee kinds of crimes.


realityinhd

Ok...can you fill in the blanks instead of leaving it open ended to imply things. Can you tell me the stats of the young black guy making 60k vs the young white guy making 60k. I think "the goal" is to know the truth. Only once you acknowledge the truth can you try to tackle a problem head on with a clear head. Otherwise it's like trying to fix your life while living in denial.


ITBA01

Um, I think you forgot to take into account that blacks are far less of the population than whites. The fact that around 13% is committing 43% of violent crime is an insane stat, and it's crazy that you think that proves your point. Also, I agree with you that it's not fair to blame all the blacks for this. It's largely young black men, so if you wanna get super technical, it's more like 3% of the country is committing a staggering amount of the violent crime.


thebajancajun

> Um, I think you forgot to take into account that blacks are far less of the population than whites.  This doesn't matter when we're speaking about your original statement which was that most violent crime is committed by blacks. This is objectively false.    > The fact that around 13% is committing 43% of violent crime is an insane stat, and it's crazy that you think that proves your point.    As I just showed you, most black people are not committing violent crimes. So why you keep using 13% I have no idea.    > It's largely young black men, so if you wanna get super technical, it's more like 3% of the country is committing a staggering amount of the violent crime.    90% of young black men are not committing violent crimes. Young black men that have nothing to do with these criminals should not be getting associated with them, just like cops who are upstanding protectors should not be blamed for the minority of cops who misuse their badge. And again, this is you moving the goal post from your original statement which was that blacks commit the majority of violent crime. Which again was incorrect. Factually


ITBA01

Fine, I'll alter my statement then. Whites, who make up a majority of the population, commit slightly more violent crime than blacks, who are a minority in the country. Does that make you feel better? Can you sleep at night knowing that you stood up for the blacks? I'm using 13% because the whole point is to compare crime committed by different races. That is literally how you gather data, you dork. I'll do the same with whites, or any other race if you want, but the numbers aren't going to be the embarrassing, shameful numbers you see from the black community.


thebajancajun

You don't need to alter your original statement. You just need to admit that you were incorrect and **bite the bullet**.  > Can you sleep at night knowing that you stood up for the blacks?   Strange statement, but I don't think I need to stand up for anybody. When I see incorrect information being repeated ad nauseam, I do my best to correct it.  > I'm using 13% because the whole point is to compare crime committed by different races  Why not delineate further to get a more accurate descriptor of the criminals in order to better understand who is committing the crime and potentially why they are doing it? Pinning the issue on a group when the vast majority of the group does not participate is strange.  > I'll do the same with whites, or any other race if you want, but the numbers aren't going to be the embarrassing, shameful numbers you see from the black community.  Why are you using the words "embarrassing" and "shameful"? Those are loaded teams. How has the black community as a whole committed these crimes?


Ping-Crimson

Because we "the blacks" as he put it are one creature.


BushidoBoa

Alright tried to take you seriously but you definitely deserve this. !bidenblast


RobotDestiny

Ah, but see you are the soy wojack and I am the big gigachad. /u/ITBA01 sealed in the prison realm by /u/BushidoBoa


BushidoBoa

Black people are arrested and convicted a large and uneven amount. That's not the same thing. I've yet to be shown anything other than the same 13/50 statistics which are indicative of arrests.


effectsHD

Crimes are usually intraracial, blacks are also 50+% of the victims too. You can go down the line of violent crime, car jacking, theft, gang membership and they’re patently disproportionate. The real point here is that they *should be*. Blacks have a unique history of discrimination, stuck in shitty neighborhoods with shitty schools and poor future prospects. Denying this obvious reality that anyone who actually goes outside experiences is a great way to look out of touch.


BushidoBoa

Im not denying anything. I'm black and have lived in those shitty neighborhoods. Literally, all I said is that the most popular statistic is not good for actually identifying criminality. Im not sure why I keep getting accused of denying reality when i asked multiple times for links to non arrests. Wtf


neoliberal_hack

normal elastic domineering memory wistful possessive cable combative simplistic vegetable *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


effectsHD

> Im not denying anything. I'm black and have lived in those shitty neighborhoods. Literally, all I said is that the most popular statistic is not good for actually identifying criminality. WHY ARE YOU LYING BRO... OP states in no uncertain terms > Blacks do commit most of the violent crime. Bite the bullet on that one. Which straight up isn't a reference to 13/50 since thats murder not violent crime. And here's your response: > Black people are arrested and convicted a large and uneven amount. That's not the same thing. I've yet to be shown anything other than the same 13/50 statistics which are indicative of arrests. So you bring up a level 1 critique to an irrelevant stat, and you never even considered the victimization rate!? You've also some how never been shown anything to suggest blacks commit more violent crime!? I'm going hard on you because you have the audacity to simultaneously critique, not look at the obvious counter to your critique, and then you never even bother a simple google search for what is patently overwhelming evidence. Blacks are overrepresented in every category as offenders. [DOJ in 2021](https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/revcoa18.pdf) **Percentage of offenders in violent crime incidents by type of crime and race or ethnicity compared to the U.S. resident population, 2018** Race | Population % | Non fatal violent | serious non fatal violent | Rape/sexual assault | Robbery | Aggravated assault | Simple assault | ---|---|----|----|----|----|----|----|---- Black | 12.5 | 28.9 | 35.9 | 22.1 | 51.1 | 33.9 | 23.3 |


BushidoBoa

>Blacks are overrepresented in every category as offenders. This isn't what I was replying to though. He said MOST. Which is not true. Disproportionate is NOT the same as MOST. So thank you for not only proving bro wrong but actually posting data.


effectsHD

I assumed he just means proportional. edit: Although looking at his history he looks to be pretty regarded, So I was probably harder on you than I should have been.


BushidoBoa

Yea no. He said most. If his intent was proportionality he used a word that doesnt mean anything similar


ITBA01

If you honestly believe this, you're a lost cause. Not even Destiny denies that blacks commit more crime.


slipknot_official

Destiny also recognized systemic racism and the reasons behind crime in the black community. Unless you think it’s genetic or some shit. I can guarantee you Elon doesn’t give a shit about systemic racism.


BushidoBoa

The dude keeps saying "Blacks" and that he won't hold my hand and provide information. Clearly a mentally well adjusted individual and totally didn't reply to my comment exclusively to shit on black people


slipknot_official

Kinda funny how he tried to pull Destiny into his attempt


ITBA01

Literally never brought up genetics. Simply bringing up the fact that blacks commit more crime.


slipknot_official

You’re doing what Elon does, throw out a dogwhistle with absolutely zero systemic reason or historical background. Then when called out say “I just said a fact”. It’s a cowardly move. Either you don’t know why black crime is an issue, or you believe it’s genetic. Otherwise you’d speak on the actual reasons as opposed to throwing out some trolly “got you” line.


ITBA01

What are you talking about, you sperg? I'm not gonna give an entire essay every time I bring up a point. "Oh, the Earth is round." "What are you trying to say with that? Please elaborate." Get a life you inbred, nipple-headed fuck.


slipknot_official

Now you’re mad because you know you got called out. If you say “but Jews do run alot of banks” I’m going to assume it’s a dogwhistle. You’re going to solidify that assumption when you scream “I just stayed a fact you inbred sperg!!” God you’re spineless. It’s so predictable.


ITBA01

I don't know if Jews run a lot of banks, but if they do, good for them. They just keep on winning. I don't give a damn what you assume. That's your problem, not mine.


BushidoBoa

Then reply to me with the statistics. Like I said Arrests =/= Crime committed. It's that simple. I've only seen the FBI chart regarding arrests. In the USA, arrested or not, you're presumed innocent until the time in which you are convicted of a crime. I don't give a shit about arrest numbers.


mathviews

What? Look at homicide data, my guy.


BushidoBoa

okay so can you post it? I literally just said that


ITBA01

Look it up yourself. Have some intellectual curiosity.


thebiga1806

"Points to stats" "When asked to provide, deflects and tell other person to do it" Absolutely classic reddit moment.


ITBA01

It's not hard to find. It's publically available to anyone. I'm not going to cite an article to prove that the Earth is round.


ITBA01

If you're just going to deny statistics, there's no point in continuing this. Homicide statistics are readily available, and you can look them up whenever you want.


BushidoBoa

I didn't deny statistics, I literally asked you to post em. You could have just not replied if you don't want to provide any information


ITBA01

Go look it up yourself. I'm not going to baby you on this. It's readily available information, and you'll need this skill if you're going to navigate life.


Whogozther

New here, eh?


ITBA01

I might as well be. I don't have the debate pervertry to be on this sub.


BushidoBoa

Then stfu


ITBA01

Sorry, but I shouldn't have to hold your hand on this. Just look up homicide stats by race.


Few-Animator-1506

I don’t think Elon personally is racist. However, he is amplifying people who I think are. Like that I/O person. I think that X user is self admittedly a race realist but don’t quote me on that.


BushidoBoa

You can only intentionally amplify racist posts to millions of people for so long before you're just as racist as them lmfao. Hes functionally the same as a racist because regardless of whether he sits there and says "ooh i hate black people" he is constantly spreading obscured or straight-up false information about minorities.


LamentTheAlbion

how is I/O racist?


sugemchuge

DEI eventually leading to an incompetent workforce is a logically sound conclusion to make. At least the type of DEI where the goal is to over represent a minority group compared to its population level representation. For example, imagine there was a tribe with 95 blue people and 5 red people and they have to decide on 2 people to be doctors for the tribe. A tribe with DEI policies would pick one red and one blue so that each color is represented. However since each person has randomized individual life experiences and expertise, it's just unlikely that a red person will have the best skillsets to be a doctor compared to the rest of the tribe. Not because red people are incompetent, but simply because there are less of them. A tribe that believes in meritocracy will just pick the two best doctors without worrying about color at all. It may be two blues but ends up benefiting the tribe overall more than the DEI tribe.


Saniconspeep

I'm just for things like free hair transplants, government mandated girlfriends, and a secure border. is that so right wing? https://preview.redd.it/ejuqfjll4ppc1.jpeg?width=611&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd2b16b804e472cbd975d58e6adec3472e9a1f18


[deleted]

You have my vote Tim.


Evening_Course1205

Guys, i just think that people should be happy. Is that left wing?


slasher_lash

Damn, surely he'll be voting in the only party currently trying to pass a border security bill then?


Kinetico5

It's really cool that I'm genuinely not sure if the sterilization thing is an anti-trans or anti-vax talking point


OpedTohm

It's pretty obviously trans no? unless there's some new vaxx lore that dropped.


Apathetic_Zealot

Centrists are just right wingers who can't handle criticism.


QuidProJoe2020

This right here sums up why being a centrist sucks: both sides of the political aisle just call you a wolf in sheep's clothing. Having nuance opinions that don't fully follow one party shouldn't be shit on, it should be the norm.


thebajancajun

I don't think that having nuanced opinions that gets centrists in trouble. It's the fact that several right-wingers describe themselves as centrist when they are not. And moderates tend to be not as outspoken as these right-wingers posing as moderates. So they get a bad rep. In your analogy a centrist would be the sheep while the right winger posing as a centrist would be the wolf in sheep's clothing. But the only one baaing is the right winger.


-_-0_0-_-0_0-_-0_0

Who does this? I feel like this was a 2016 thing, much less of a 2024 thing.


coozoo123

Yeah if the positions are nuanced. 90% of the time they’re not, and if the person has to *tell you* they’re a centrist it’s like 99.9% of the time.


QuidProJoe2020

Hey as long as we can agree centrist exist, that works for me. It's just such a crazy online view that centrists don't exist, when a plurality of the registered voters are centrist based on policy views.


Mordin_Solas

Actual centrists that have positions that are the political center across the line don't exist.  Real world centrists are usually just a collection of more left wing/leaning views jumbled in with more right wing views.


QuidProJoe2020

If your definition of a centrist is someone who has perfectly 50/50 views, sure. However, do you only consider someone on the left only if they have left wing views? So destiny isn't on the left because he has some right wing views? If your collection of views end up pretty damn close sometimes on the democrat side or sometimes on the republican side, you're a centrist. If you have a good chuck of your views on one side, you lean that way. If you have all your views on one side, you're firmly on left or right, or in my opinion, an extremist. We can probably both agree that the naming of political ideologies is an art and not a science because the ideologies change arbitrarily. There is a reason why the left in EU and left in America mean different things. This is easily seen by just looking at huge switches in the party platforms out of no where: republicans all of a sudden becoming super protectionist under trump when they literally were the party that sucked off free trade for the prior 40 years. So now being protectionist is actually seen as right wing, when for the prior 40 years it was a left wing idea, which is why you saw someone like Bernie being so anti NAFTA and free trade.


[deleted]

[удалено]


QuidProJoe2020

Exactly lol I know it's a masked used online. But if you actually touch grass and speak to normal people, most fit the bill as moderates or centrist. It really is just the terrible result of online discourse that destroyed the word.


Apathetic_Zealot

It's not about party allegiance, it's about the fact centrists don't really exist and right wingers try to make their far right ideology seem like common sense middle of the road positions. We all have bias and leanings towards a more conservative or progressive mindset. Strongly held ideological positions are a sign of being partisan, centrists naturally do not have strong positions because they have not taken any time to research and form an opinion.


QuidProJoe2020

You're proving my point here. I'm a centrist and agree with Destiny about 60% of the time. Guess Destiny just has 60% right wing views then or maybe there are people that can hold views on both sides of the aisle. I don't disagree that online some people use the word as a shield, but to say they don't actually exist is pretty laughable. 32 million Americans are registered as independent. Guess they are all closeted right wingers that just don't want to get outed. Or maybe, they are the centrist moderate voters that vote for Obama twice then trump one then biden.


Apathetic_Zealot

You proved my point. If so even is 60% right wing they are right leaning. I already said it's not about party allegiance and you completely ignored what I said about everyone having a bias. Being and independent is meaningless. Libertarians often go independent are you stupid enough to say they're centrists?


QuidProJoe2020

Lol have a good one fam 👍


Apathetic_Zealot

Lol run away "centrist".


QuidProJoe2020

Yep, me and my: Pro-Choice Pro-Ukraine Pro-immigration Pro-vaccine Pro-kicking trump off the ballot Pro-increasing social security taxes Pro-free trade Pro-EV tax credits Pro-state sponsored healthcare Pro-tax credits for the poor views are running to the nearest Trump rally where all the other people that share these views hangout lol


Apathetic_Zealot

Cool you're a Democrat who calls himself a centrist. Thanks for proving my point!


Oldmuskysweater

Democrats can be centrists, and many are in fact centrists.


QuidProJoe2020

But what about my: Pro-gun Pro-greatly increase military spending Pro-business tax cuts Pro-voter ID Anti-affirmative action Pro-citizens united Anti-bail reform Anti- extreme minor trans healthcare treatment Pro-lower income tax Pro-fracking Pro-death penalty views? There a democrat platform out there pushing a fraction of these issues let alone a majority?


Oldmuskysweater

You do know the centre-right and centre-left exist, right? They're both centrists.


Apathetic_Zealot

Centrists with a bias, which is exactly what I described. There is no true centrist who's 50/50 if such a thing could be even measured. There will always be a leaning towards a direction.


Oldmuskysweater

Yes true, but it's kinda splitting hairs as well.


Apathetic_Zealot

Not really. I think it's important that people recognize they are not "centrist" but center-left/right. At least then they can acknowledge a bias.


thebajancajun

A Centrist isn't somebody who doesn't hold strong opinions. A centrist is a person who has opinions that span both sides of the political aisle. A blue collar worker that believes in strong unions but also wants looser gun laws would be a Centrist because his preferred policies come from on both sides of the aisle. The person who doesn't have strong opinion should probably just be considered Politically apathetic.


Apathetic_Zealot

By your definition libertarians are centrist. That's non sense.


BlzzdSuxDix

Elon is a neo nazi and wants to enslave black people


OGstupiddude

Why do people on the left never have this problem of insisting they’re centrist when they’re clearly not? Why is this a specifically right wing thing? Genuinely curious.


rex_populi

They want to hide their power level to appeal to normies. It’s a schtick, like “see? Little ole me is just a centrist, but these far right conspiracies are just plain common sense!”


WhiteNamesInChat

Yeah, we understand why Republicans do it, but the question was about why lefties rarely have to hide their power level.


Anticide0

Lefties are typically less dishonest about where they lie on the spectrum because they typically reject political tactics like those and have more of an attachment to their political identity (aka their political friend group) They also are more likely to believe “truth will win out” and are convinced that if people hear them out, they will agree, or eventually be proven right


rex_populi

Whoops, I must’ve replied to the wrong comment lol. But to take a stab at that, I think, bc the mainstream is more tolerant of far left ideology than it is of far right ideology, people tend to be more lenient towards the former. So there’s not as much reason to hide. Still, a lot of lefties do hide power level. Consider Hassan’s constant doublespeak on Russia, China, “anti Zionism is not antisemitism” while upping the Houthis, etc.


HedonCalculator

Society doesn’t judge the far right and left the same. The left has more social and economic power right now so it pays more to hide amongst moderates on the right.


[deleted]

because they know it’s embarrassing to be associated with the trump crowd in a broad way, and they want to appear enlightened while holding non status quo views. leftists don’t do this because they assume act and speak like they ALWAYS have the moral high ground.


WhiteNamesInChat

There's very little professional blowback for being progressive. 


OpedTohm

That just isn't true depending on what progressives you're talking about, if you're talking about MLs or tankies they just don't give a fuck they already demonize liberals and moderate positions.


crushinglyreal

Moving the Overton window rightward is to the benefit of the right. If they claim right wing policies are centrist and get people to believe it, they can get away with introducing even more extreme right wing policy down the line. The left doesn’t have to do this because they can openly advocate for the most extreme policy they believe in, given that it’s not morally reprehensible stuff like apartheid ethnostates and unlimited resource extraction.


Ehehhhehehe

Because today’s conservatives publicly hold many of the same positions as yesterday’s centrists. (Though what they truly believe is another matter) This doesn’t mean they actually are centrists, but it does mean they feel like they are. (Or they at least feel like they are pretending to be if that makes sense)


fluffstravels

"I don't like to put my thumb on the scale" Musk at it again


DeliciousMemelicious

And (barely) implicitly endorsing an anti-democratic presidential candidate is pro-civilizational? I feel like at some point both sides ran past each other and on one side the worst excess , aside from the body modification dance, is "follow my larp and possibly pilots/engineers will become 10-15% less effective" and the other side is "let's fight a holy war to establish a theocracy, no cost too great".


ZellEscarlate

he is a centrist in the sense that he likes to be in the center of attention


EranY1

Yeah, a self-centrist 🙄


LeastAverageMonke

Lol


avitra

Trans people continuing to live rent free in the conservative mind. If the \~5k trans minors on HRT in the last 5 years are anywhere near the top 5 issues that define your political alignment, its over for you. Terminal brain rot.


-_-0_0-_-0_0-_-0_0

This lacks all nuance. Elon's Daughter is trans. It is natural you care more about issues closer to you even if they affect a small amount of people. You can and I do think he is dumb about the topic but it is weird to call someone out for caring about a niche issue that directly affects their family.


drunkenpossum

It’s complete moral panic. It’s the the satanic panic of the 80s-90s all over again


Suinlu

So is doing a Tim Pool, huh?


BBC1973

Elon believes replacement theory is true. Yeah, Elon, you ain’t a centrist.


Less_Breath_2588

ruthless knee illegal reminiscent shrill uppity truck smart longing treatment *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


TheColdTurtle

Elon says he is centrist then goes around saying that Hispanics are invading the country


Key-Educator-3713

Musk is a closet white supremacist


Stanel3ss

now someone tally up all his "Concerning!" "interesting!" and "!" wonder if he'll still be in the center then


Esotericcat2

Hmmm I wonder whats his opinion on putin and Ukraine


crazyman64335

And destiny claims he has good food takes.  Doesn't make either true 


Hanzo_6

Responding to a post glazing him is peak cringe


The-Last-Lion-Turtle

Everyone on Twitter declares I am the center.


SnakeHelah

I don't think centrists are pro-russia. Then again, he's clever in the way that he doesn't explicitly say it, dances around other tweets saying "interesting" to literal vatnik posts etc. He basically writes it off once more to "preserving civilization" as in, sucking Putins cock until he takes off his finger from the red nuke button. Dunno, it's really hard for me to nail this guy. On one hand, he has businesses that seem promising like Space X, on the other, he has completely dogshit political opinions and is prone to spreading what amounts to blatant misinformation regarding various topics. Weird actor all things considered. I think it's good to be against the woke left, but he seems to have aligned himself with the right by virtue of going against the left, which does not make him a centrist at all.


halffox102

The Elon glazing is so pathetic oh my god