A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics
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A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics | |
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October 27, 2003Dialogue: 'If I had a hammer...'Jesse: What's that you've got, Ras? Erasmus: My centrist toolbox. Jesse: What makes a toolbox 'centrist'? Erasmus: It has tools to solve problems, but, unlike the partisans of left and right, it has a variety of tools. Jesse: Partisans don't have a set of tools? Erasmus: Yes, but they have a very limited set of tools. And every problem is seen in the light of what tools they are accustomed to using. For example, a partisan toolbox may contain a hammer. This works well when the task at hand is to drive in a nail. The problem is that they tend to think that every two-inch sliver of metal that needs to be inserted into wood as a nail. They don't notice it when presented with a screw. They just start hammering away. Jesse: Don't they have a screwdriver? Erasmus: No, but there's one in the other partisan toolbox. But these other partisans don't have a hammer, so they get really frustrated when confronted with a nail! Jesse: Ha! I get it! Bet I know what you have in your centrist toolbox. Erasmus: Take a look! [opens toolbox to reveal a hammer, a screwdriver and numerous other tools] Jesse: Cool! (originally posted to CivicDialogues.org) Posted by Erasmus at October 27, 2003 02:32 PMComments
Nice post, Erasmus. I would object strenuously, however, to adopting "If I had a hammer" as the official centrist theme song. ;-) I always think of something like "Middle of the Road" by the Pretenders -- some real middle-age life lessons in that tune. Posted by: William Swann at October 27, 2003 02:43 PMGreat point! Here I though being centrist was just about being inconsistent! =) Posted by: Rustmeister at October 28, 2003 01:31 PM |
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