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News, Politics, Centrism and an Idea - Musings - VulcanWerks - 07-09-2024
I post today with some observations and an idea. Haven’t posted in a while and thought that what dawned on me today was interesting. With that…
I’ve had a few days off work visiting my folks. It was good to see them as they’re aging, they like seeing the grandkids, etc.
It also happens to be hot as all bloody hell at home upon our return. Disappointing because it’s a beautiful day but I just can’t do a fourth day in a row in the sun.
So, after spending an hour in the garage trying to buff out the hood on a project car and losing a few lbs of water weight I headed back to the AC to read some news.
Per usual, everything is hyperbolic, partisan mudslinging with a lot of noise and minimal signal. I rarely find an article where I think “yeah, that’s on point” in terms of content and messaging.
This got me thinking… I should take some political affiliation tests for fun. Maybe it’s me?
Turns out, it kind of is.
Here’s what I can say after taking four tests from different sites:
- I’m more libertarian than authoritarian
- I’m more free market than not
- I’m more moderate or “centrist” in general than not
- I’m more socially liberal than not
I can also tell you that the “mainstream” “Quizzes” like Pew and NYT give you very limited options to answer - almost no nuance to answer questions.
Both of these outlets pegged me as “hard core right wing”.
Both of the other tests I took that had many more questions and more of a “1-5” scale more-less pegged me right in the middle - which is more-less where I see myself.
I say all of this as I was pretty blown by, upon further reading, how much “centrists” or “radical centrists” like myself take it from both sides of the political spectrum - this explains my political homelessness.
The shorter tests were trying to make me “pick a side” and then peg me as “hard core right wing” even though I was almost entirely in-line with the “majority of responders”. They are pushing tribalism - not thinking.
I don’t think of myself as “radical” in any way but instead a pragmatist - maybe somewhat of a logic absolutist. To read about how my line of thinking got at least one Kennedy killed was pretty eye opening. Borrowing from the left and right is apparently quite taboo.
But, the real alarming thing to me was about violence. 3/4 tests asked a question about using violence to push an agenda. I answered NO in all cases. Ironically, my lack of desire for any sort of political violence or aggression made me more conservative! Wtf!?
This is the absolute opposite of what the MSM is pushing. In fact, these tests (along with the MSM) are pushing for violence! Unreal!
Because I’m not a “radical” I must by default then be “hard core right wing”? That’s some oddly spun logic based on the broader narrative that has been pushed.
I’m not putting much weight into these quizzes other than seeing what shakes out, how these tests are designed and what they say about the output. It’s downright frightening they advocate for “radicalism” and put down non-violent, centrist views.
These observations align with a realization I had the other day. That observation was that my country hates me. Fully hates me. I’m gainfully employed, pay my taxes, am non-violent, public school educated through higher education, donate my time, “doing my part” with solar on my house (does in fact work), am not a nuisance to society, etc.
But, my country’s leadership hates me because I’m
White with a productive family that includes a mom who stays home to raise our kids while I work (and the kids even attend public school!), am not a radical, hold centrist/pragmatic views overall and use the very skills “the state” taught me to question what’s going on and shaking my head at the “radicalism” on all sides!
Rather than be deflated, I have an idea that I may well deploy - which is one I haven’t yet seen done at scale or marketed - and my experience today affirmed my thinking:
I’m considering starting a website that would allow people to post themselves (family, education level, assets, skills, etc.) and allow countries from all over the world to signal interest to people to relocate to their country because they WANT THEM. Not necessarily pay them to move but signal interest in having someone bring their family, knowledge, education, work-ethic and wealth to their country - be additive to their collective human capital and resources.
Can you imagine? Think California exodus on steroids. Go where you’re wanted!
I even have a name for this venture. :)
Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part that another country would view me and my family as “useful” to their society - because we’re actually useful in a fact-based and non-violent way. It appears that society certainly wouldn’t be “Western” given how all the NATO countries have gone, which is unfortunate as my family can be traced back to the 16th century and is very much NATO aligned.
So, to sum all of what is now stream of consciousness up:
- Political tests with binary multiple choice answers only push tribalism.
- Radicalism is encouraged
- Centrism is frowned upon and apparently dangerous
- This explains the MSM on all sides yet another way
- I see little hope of recovery to the extremism
- This adds to the explanation of why my country hates me, despite making me.
- I think a free market solution to allocating human capital around the globe would have legs and may lead many people to happier lives and more belonging
- It would be interesting to see 10-20 million wealthy centrists move out of the US and to more productive, peaceful and rational societies. At least one great nation could be built inside a generation, elsewhere.
- I suspect the only solution is to leave the US as soon as reasonably possible as we have devolved into something that I doubt is salvageable to my liking - or theirs, it seems.
- It’s all too bad and unfortunate as I wish all of this wasn’t the case, but, the pragmatist in me sees reality for what it is.
Signed -
VW
RE: News, Politics, Centrism and an Idea - Musings - Byrd - 07-10-2024
Got some links to the tests? I think it might be fun to post one and then have others take it, show their rating, and comment on how accurate they think it is.
