The Lopsided U.S. Political Spectrum

And why there are no "centrists" in America.

The Political Spectrum in America

Last week I made a video on Instagram about how people in America who call themselves centrists are actually conservatives. I got several requests for clarification on this topic, so I made another video about the political spectrum in America. I’m embedding it here for anyone who wants to watch (and doesn’t use Instagram), and including a written version below for anyone who doesn’t like watching videos. I hope you find it helpful.

Video Version

Written Version

Here’s what the political spectrum looks like, going from Extreme Far Left to Extreme Far Right:

An example of an extreme far left ideology is Communism. An example of an extreme far right ideology is Fascism (Nazis).

Examples of Centrist Policies are healthcare for all, free education (including college), and addressing climate change. I know those aren’t centrist policies in America, but America is a major outlier here. Throughout the world, even in countries with big left/right divides, things like free healthcare, free education, and addressing climate change are totally centrist.

Here’s how America’s current political parties fit on the spectrum:

Democrats are in the center, Republicans are at the extreme far right, and people who call themselves Centrists, are between those two, which means their political beliefs align with the far right. So when I say there are no Centrists in America, that’s what I mean. If you are halfway between the current Democrat and Republican party, that means you are conservative.

When I say Democrats are at the center, it’s true. An example of Center-Left Democrats would be AOC and Bernie. And example of Center-Right Democrats would be the Harris-Walz tickets, which is a pro-military ticket.

At the moment, America really doesn’t have any functioning/influential political parties truly left of center. Policies that are called “extreme fall left” by Republicans, are things like healthcare for all, and free education, which as I’ve already mentioned are Centrist policies and aren’t extreme, or even “left” in any way.

Here’s how the political parties in America should look:

To have a functional, healthy two-party system, the Democrats need to be Center-Left, and Republicans need to be Center-Right. This is important for a lot of reasons. One of them is that we need debates and discussions and negotiations and compromises in order to find the best solutions. And we also need both parties hovering at the center, because belief-wise, that’s where the majority of the American population is at, and we need a government that represents our views.

My hope for this election is that the Republicans are defeated so soundly and so thoroughly, that they are forced to come to the center and come up with policies that Americans actually want. Right now, there really are no Republican policies — we all remember Trump’s Infrastructure Week that was constantly announced but never actually happened; we remember the big book of Trump’s Healthcare Plan that was entirely blank pages. There are lots of Republican complaints, but no real policies; lots of things they are fighting against, nothing they are fighting for. Instead of coming up with policies that Americans want, they spend their time and energy coming up with ways to repress votes and to cheat.

Voters need to defeat Republicans so badly, that they have no choice but to come up with policies that will actually help Americans.

Which is why I hope you are voting blue up and down your ballot.

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Happy Election Inspiration

Is election season stressing you out? The other day, in my Instagram Stories, I shared what it was like to vote from France, and then I asked others to share their voting plans. And the responses are so lovely and happy! I heard from people all over the country, and the world. It’s so encouraging!

I collected some of the responses in this highlight called Voting!

I keep going back to it whenever I need to calm my nerves.

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That’s all for now. I hope you are having a lovely week.

kisses,
Gabrielle