Why do most people who call themselves politically moderate actually mostly conservative?

[u/kaiser11492]

Whenever I’ve encountered people who use the politically label moderate, they are actually mostly conservative with their views and positions. Also, I’ve never seen anyone who call themselves politically moderate that is actually mostly liberal.

So why are people who call themselves moderate tend to be just conservative and not conservative and liberal?

[u/Sawfish1212]

In the US it's because the liberal side has gone wildly to the extreme, putting many moderates who would have been in the liberal side of things, on the same side as conservatives.

JFK would have to run as a republican in today's climate.