If we define conservatism as:

“ideology that seeks to preserve the traditional”,

then CENTRISM may end up “conservative”,

in relation to the left, of course,

but ALSO in relation to far right

 

My intention is not to a new definition of conservatism,

Nor is it to promote any particular political view, be it centrism or conservatism or progressivism or you name it

I am however observing two facts

 

One is that our vague definitions and labels lead to confusion, equivocation

We become peddlers of ideologies and labels — rather than solvers of particular problems

And even the logic and ideas of those ideologies we bungle — because we fail to define them precisely — therefore our reasoning does not follow precise rules,

Therefore ultimately takes us only to where we want to arrive ideologically, rather than where reason would guide

 

…And then the centre becomes “far right”, for the leftists

And then the progressive centre becomes “woke”, for conservatives

And we become more radicalised — and less able to communicate — and less able to achieve opur goals

 

The second fact is,

Indeed after decades of centre politics — it would seem this is the new conservative paradigm

Meaning that the traditional right is perhaps no longer what we should call conservatism — because it has now became… reactionary

It has now became unusual and uncommon enough to not comprise the tradition, the normal, that’s worth preserving — but rather a revolution, revolution of return to what once was, but is by no means “normal” or “traditional” any more

indeed just like the left proclaims a revolution, a new paradigm, a paradigm that is so different… perhaps so does the right today, so detached from what is the NEW normal, that what they proclaim is no longer conservative but revolutionary,

it’s like return to monarchism would today be considered quite revolutionary

 

And indeed, maybe then the far left lunatics calling centre “far right” — maybe they accidentally have a point

For it is indeed the new conservative paradigm

With far left being now the left, and traditional progressives being the new centre

Technology is the REAL driver of progress — and we keep getting MORE of it

 

…but this again only proves the ABSURDITY of those labels

Indeed we’re not talking philosophical ideas when we use those labels

We’re not extolling the virtues of decentralised liberal systems,

Nor are we invoking social cohesion, social order, civic virtue,

We use those labels not to build ideological systems and explore them and expand them — we use those labels to SIMPLIFY, to DWARF ideas, into an easily digestible buzzword

Which we can then hurl at those we disagree with

 

Indeed therefore it would seem prudent to dispense with labels and ideologies,

Not in a cynical way, bullshitting with pleasant platitudes,

But to become more focused on solving the problem at hand,

And then invoking some set of ideas in a productive, PRECISE, coherent, data-driven way,

to the degree to which that is even possible,

and it at all times being profoundly leery of a label being uttered in a thought-terminating way, rather than constructive

And indeed as usual best to develop zero patience for bullshitting: whether it’s populism, plain salesmanship, or ideological fanaticism and derangement

We’ve played around for too long