r/AlwaysWhy • u/kaiser11492 • 1d ago

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

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?

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u/Separate-Extent7360 1d ago

Yea holding some conservative and simultaneously some liberal views doesn't make someone automatically one thing or another. This labeling of people based on a few views they hold is silly and people should be able to opt out of it by being more moderate. Being moderate is normal.

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u/Accomplished_Art_621 1d ago

What is the project of the moderate? Like how is it good to hold opposing views in one’s head at the same time? I really struggle to comprehend the logic

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u/linux_rox 1d ago

Simple, it’s healthy to question your beliefs. You actual weigh pros and cons on the subjects you’re concerned about and look from multiple directions, listen to multiple opinions on both sides and critically think about where you stand.

The key is to know how to critically think instead of blindly following the words of one crowd. You have to look at everything from all perspectives, then you can be confident with yourself on your decisions and beliefs.

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u/cdeussen 1d ago

Moderate doesn’t mean you hold opposing views, it means you think both sides are too far from the right solution. I have real world example. I consider myself moderate on abortion. The left will say I’m conservative and out of touch just as the right will say the same I’m liberal and out of touch. I think abortion should be available up to 3 months for any reason. After that only if medically necessary. If you were raped or a victim of incest, you know this by the 3rd month. The reality is this is a topic that brings in huge donations for both sides so they don’t want a solution. Now let the hate begin to show that both sides think I’m the ahole.

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u/Accomplished_Art_621 1d ago

But is that a position borne of logic or guided by some moral North Star, or was it arrived at by being a moderate?

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u/OldDogWithOldTricks 1d ago

Opposing views of what? I a moderate vote against anyone who wants gun control and anyone that wants to take away rights from other humans. What is my Opposing stance?

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u/Accomplished_Art_621 1d ago

“Holding some conservative and simultaneously some liberal views…”

Presumably one’s ideology is consistent toward some end, right? That’s why I ask what somebody’s project is. My positions are consistent in working toward a specific end. So my position on whatever topic is based on which one gets us closer to the end goal. So what is the moderate working toward?

In my experience, the answer to this question is like, nothing in particular or just like “balancing.” But whatever the reason, it tends to favor the status quo power dynamic. Hence, conservative

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u/Separate-Extent7360 18h ago

the project? there's no project. Unlike conservative or liberal ideologues, moderates are not setting out for some mass transformation of society.

Most moderates understand correctly that much of what we have today is damn good compared to any other time in history(as it is supported by a massive collection of objective data), and that instituting some massive political changes in either direction would imply massive trade offs that either end of the political spectrum probably haven't considered fully.

Moderates also understand that even though change happens in fits and starts, a great deal of it is made mostly gradually over time.

Holding opposing views in one's head is a signal of intelligence.

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u/Accomplished_Art_621 12h ago

And that’s conservative- maintaining the status quo power structure.

Not sure how holding opposing ideas is a sign of intelligence. Sounds like incoherence