Writer plays centrism card convincingly for most of the piece but just could not help himself with that little barb at Dems in the last paragraph. Reminded me of the tale with the scorpion—it is my nature.
That wasn’t a “barb,” simply a statement of fact. Do you deny that most Democrats currently call Republicans “fascist” and “Nazi” and will never consider voting for them? They’re deranged.
Thank you for a thoughtful and well‑argued piece. As someone who is not originally from Virginia but has spent the better part of my professional life in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, Maryland, Alabama, and now Virginia since the early 1990s, I read your column through a slightly different lens—but I arrive at much the same place.
Over those years, I have served under presidents of both parties and, until two years ago, seldom participated in the electoral process beyond voting. What has always struck me, wherever I’ve lived, is how similar most people’s core wants really are: decent work, safe communities, good schools, some measure of economic security, and a sense that the system isn’t rigged against them. Politically, they often differ—sometimes bitterly—but compromise was the glue that kept things functioning and kept our disagreements within what felt like normal bounds.
Today, that glue is badly weakened. We live in a political culture saturated with fear, anger, and resentment, and under those conditions it is very easy for both leaders and voters to drift toward the extremes. That is precisely why, as you argue, genuine centrism—governing from the broad middle with an eye to stability and shared interests—is so important right now. The polling you reference tracks with what I see: the largest “party” in America is now independents, and the appetite for moderation and problem‑solving is real.
I agree with your central thesis: we should give Governor Spanberger the chance to govern as a centrist, and we should expect and encourage her to keep the focus on affordability, competent governance, and a renewed “Virginia Way” of civility and compromise. Let’s follow your advice and create space for that kind of leadership.
At the same time, I don’t think “support centrism” can mean turning a blind eye to extremism or genuine danger from any party. Being in the middle does not require moral blindness. Voters still have an obligation to draw lines, to reject those who traffic in chaos and bad faith, and to vote their conscience—even if that means splitting tickets or withholding support from a party that has moved too far from democratic norms.
If Spanberger—and leaders in both parties—can model the kind of steady, pragmatic, humane politics you describe, a lot of us in the broad center will gladly meet them there.
Well stated and broadly agreed. I concur entirely that the resistance to extremism is indeed the moral clarity required to push back against moral blindness (or more accurately stated, political nihilism and all that entails).
Interesting to me is that moderation implies "we have to accept a little bit of socialism/fascism!" as a critique. There's a ring of truth to that, I suspect. Yet centrism -- the "honorable middle" as it were -- is far more pragmatic about preserving what works in the face of radicalism.
Of course, there's always room for growth and change and all the contaminants that come with growth and change. Centrism isn't resistant to better and more improved, but it is and should be resistant to throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and perhaps more than this, that there is a lot more baby than bathwater going on!
So I'm with you. And the good news is that there are a lot more of us than there are of "them" (whomever they may be), even if we are nodding quietly!
Lovely article Shaun, fully support the point being made. Govern as a Virginian. It's actually the best advice for Democrats. Great Solzhenitsyn quote, I just shared on Mastodon.
Writer plays centrism card convincingly for most of the piece but just could not help himself with that little barb at Dems in the last paragraph. Reminded me of the tale with the scorpion—it is my nature.
That wasn’t a “barb,” simply a statement of fact. Do you deny that most Democrats currently call Republicans “fascist” and “Nazi” and will never consider voting for them? They’re deranged.
...and unironically proving the point.
Shaun,
Thank you for a thoughtful and well‑argued piece. As someone who is not originally from Virginia but has spent the better part of my professional life in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, Maryland, Alabama, and now Virginia since the early 1990s, I read your column through a slightly different lens—but I arrive at much the same place.
Over those years, I have served under presidents of both parties and, until two years ago, seldom participated in the electoral process beyond voting. What has always struck me, wherever I’ve lived, is how similar most people’s core wants really are: decent work, safe communities, good schools, some measure of economic security, and a sense that the system isn’t rigged against them. Politically, they often differ—sometimes bitterly—but compromise was the glue that kept things functioning and kept our disagreements within what felt like normal bounds.
Today, that glue is badly weakened. We live in a political culture saturated with fear, anger, and resentment, and under those conditions it is very easy for both leaders and voters to drift toward the extremes. That is precisely why, as you argue, genuine centrism—governing from the broad middle with an eye to stability and shared interests—is so important right now. The polling you reference tracks with what I see: the largest “party” in America is now independents, and the appetite for moderation and problem‑solving is real.
I agree with your central thesis: we should give Governor Spanberger the chance to govern as a centrist, and we should expect and encourage her to keep the focus on affordability, competent governance, and a renewed “Virginia Way” of civility and compromise. Let’s follow your advice and create space for that kind of leadership.
At the same time, I don’t think “support centrism” can mean turning a blind eye to extremism or genuine danger from any party. Being in the middle does not require moral blindness. Voters still have an obligation to draw lines, to reject those who traffic in chaos and bad faith, and to vote their conscience—even if that means splitting tickets or withholding support from a party that has moved too far from democratic norms.
If Spanberger—and leaders in both parties—can model the kind of steady, pragmatic, humane politics you describe, a lot of us in the broad center will gladly meet them there.
Phil --
Well stated and broadly agreed. I concur entirely that the resistance to extremism is indeed the moral clarity required to push back against moral blindness (or more accurately stated, political nihilism and all that entails).
Interesting to me is that moderation implies "we have to accept a little bit of socialism/fascism!" as a critique. There's a ring of truth to that, I suspect. Yet centrism -- the "honorable middle" as it were -- is far more pragmatic about preserving what works in the face of radicalism.
Of course, there's always room for growth and change and all the contaminants that come with growth and change. Centrism isn't resistant to better and more improved, but it is and should be resistant to throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and perhaps more than this, that there is a lot more baby than bathwater going on!
So I'm with you. And the good news is that there are a lot more of us than there are of "them" (whomever they may be), even if we are nodding quietly!
Warm regards,
Lovely article Shaun, fully support the point being made. Govern as a Virginian. It's actually the best advice for Democrats. Great Solzhenitsyn quote, I just shared on Mastodon.