# What is centrism in American politics today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 27, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-centrism-in-american-politics-today/750410 "2016-03-27T23:39:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-centrism-in-american-politics-today/750410/61 "2016-04-04T20:24:40Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Austerity has wide backing in Europe, which explains why fringe parties have had a new lease in life. In what sense does austerity have wide backing in Europe? > [@](#): > > I disagree about evolution. As for GWBush, his public statements matter a lot more than his personal beliefs expressed in an obscure interview. (Just as the personal beliefs of the public matter more than the personal beliefs of one politician or another.) And it’s just as clear his public statement went absolutely nowhere. I don’t see it as much different then Clinton’s [pandering](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/02/hillary-clinton-vaccine-tweet) to the anti-vaxxer crowd in 2008. > [@](#): > > Politically the NHS _is_ indeed comparable to Medicare: both are almost third rails. But that’s telling, since the NHS involves government owned hospitals (like those of the Veterans Administration): if something like that for the wider public isn’t far left in the US, I’m not sure what is. Yes but that’s just one issue and only because the Labour government in the 1940s managed to get it enacted. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-centrism-in-american-politics-today/750410/62 "2016-04-04T20:52:42Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > And it’s just as clear his public statement went absolutely nowhere. I don’t see it as much different then Clinton’s [pandering](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/02/hillary-clinton-vaccine-tweet) to the anti-vaxxer crowd in 2008. Clinton got better, the Republicans like Trump devolved, we know then who to give the keys to the CDC now. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-centrism-in-american-politics-today/750410/63 "2016-04-04T20:57:46Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > In what sense does austerity have wide backing in Europe? It appears to be part of EU membership, > [@"\[Social](#): > > ([Social Europe](https://www.socialeurope.eu/2015/08/explaining-the-eus-politics-of-austerity/))"]Austerity is the pillar of the European edifice. It is based on two different but communicating levels. The institutional level is the one already encapsulated in the original treaties. Austerity is not only a politics of fiscal cuts aimed at reducing debt – it would be mightily failing if that were the only scope. It is, rather, a complex system of internal devaluation to be achieved via budgetary cuts and reforms, aimed at increasing competitiveness. The deeper the economic crisis, the harsher the programme of austerity. > > This second, political, level has a strong disciplinary connotation. Countries which are non reliable lose autonomy, discretionary politics is not allowed in any form. Debt is now partially guaranteed – via intra-state support and ECB intervention – but only in exchange of further limitation of sovereignty. Countries at fault have to pay the consequences of their actions; countries that question the norms are threatened – no more financial support from any European institutions, even possible “voluntary” expulsion from the Eurozone. Part of being in the EU seems to be compliance with the Maastricht Agreement, which requires member states to limit deficits to 3% of GDP and overall debt to 60%. In some states, that could become burdensome if they experience severe economic problems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-centrism-in-american-politics-today/750410.md?page=3)