Hardkill

Why do more progressives than moderates seem to come off as “authentic”?

12 posts in this topic

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on something I’ve noticed in U.S. politics — specifically within the Democratic Party.

Progressives often feel more authentic than moderate Democrats. Even when people don’t agree with their ideas, they often say: “At least I know what this person really believes.”

Meanwhile, moderates tend to sound more calculated or scripted — even if they may actually be more pragmatic or experienced in governance.

So, why is this?

Is it simply that:

Progressives’ messages align more closely with their moral convictions, giving off a stronger sense of integrity and passion?

Or that moderates, by definition, have to balance multiple constituencies and compromise, which naturally dilutes perceived authenticity?

Or could this be a media/psychological phenomenon, where our brains reward moral clarity and “unfiltered” communication — even if it’s less nuanced?

From a Spiral Dynamics or consciousness-development perspective, maybe progressives are expressing Stage Green idealism (values-based authenticity), while moderates often operate from late Orange/early Green pragmatism — more focused on results and systemic stability than on “vibe” consistency.

It also raises a deeper question:

Is political authenticity about being true to your values, or about being honest about the trade-offs you’re willing to make to get things done?

 

Edited by Hardkill

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Any genuine attempt to understand the world’s problems inevitably lead to a progressive outlook. Capitalism as it stands has turned into a nightmarish leviathan that exists to suck the life out of modern society.

Being a moderate means to live under the delusion that somehow this leviathan can be tolerated or reasoned with. It can’t. That’s why we got Trump. 
 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
19 minutes ago, Apparition of Jack said:

Any genuine attempt to understand the world’s problems inevitably lead to a progressive outlook. Capitalism as it stands has turned into a nightmarish leviathan that exists to suck the life out of modern society.

Being a moderate means to live under the delusion that somehow this leviathan can be tolerated or reasoned with. It can’t. That’s why we got Trump. 
 

But being a hardcore progressive/leftist doesn't work for winning the greatest amount of power.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
4 hours ago, Hardkill said:

But being a hardcore progressive/leftist doesn't work for winning the greatest amount of power.

Does this mean that we will need to disguise ourselves as right wing fascists with the strategy to pretend to support billionaires so they are not alert to what is happening as they lobby against us? We would have to publicly talk about things like meritocracy and free market while downplaying the harms of capitalism. We would then make policies packages as something that gives billionaires more money and keeps wages low, which the government is doing anyway by the way. Then we would find ways to sneak in policies that seem to help billionaires at first but which have down stream effects that ultimately help the poor and gives them more power instead.

If you are too open about the problems of the world and those in power, then they will crush you. This might be a noble or necessary lie to work around it.

What would you think if I were someone who appeared to be a right wing capitalist fascist but was secretly working to undermine them? Would you consider me very conscious or very unconscious?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Marxism is a coherent ideology; the far right can also be coherent.
When you're in the middle, "centrist," there's no software; it's essentially cowardly support for the status quo.
The center is meant to give way to coherent software, paradigms, epistemiologies—call it what you will.


Nothing will prevent Willy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

They don't to me. I would hazard a guess that they do to you because they're so emotional and reactive. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
5 hours ago, Hardkill said:

Meanwhile, moderates tend to sound more calculated or scripted — even if they may actually be more pragmatic or experienced in governance.

Everything they say is scripted, poll tested, and they generally play it way too safe and by the book. It one of the biggest factors of why they lost according to many political commentators. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Its easy to be authentic when you are saying exactly what you believe, right or wrong, you'll more easily come across as authentic. If it aligns with the masses they like you.

When you have scripts to follow, numbers to juggle, donors to please, backroom deals to take into account etc, its a lot harder to just say what you want to say.

So centrists who take large money donations have a more difficult job. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Leftists may feel strongly about their ideals but many of their ideas tend to not be organically derived, but derived via osmosis and group think. Which is even more true for conservatives. Coming off as authentic doesn't mean your not being influenced by one's relative zeitgeist in an unconscious fashion. 

Or another way of phrasing, their diagnosis may be derived organically, but their solutions tend to be less original because politics is hard and very complicated and they may not be interested in questioning their beliefs. Centrists on the other hand tend to be more pragmatic and think in terms of cold hard facts.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So, progressives can’t win much power because they will always be too radical for most Americans. Meanwhile,  moderates are becoming less electable because people are tired of them sounding like soulless vessels who lack conviction, sound too rehearsed, don’t answer the questions like everyday people, come off as too pro-establishment/too pro-status quo, and have no clear bold reason for why they are running for office. 
 

I really feel so dejected about all of this….

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, Hardkill said:

So, progressives can’t win much power because they will always be too radical for most Americans. Meanwhile,  moderates are becoming less electable because people are tired of them sounding like soulless vessels who lack conviction, sound too rehearsed, don’t answer the questions like everyday people, come off as too pro-establishment/too pro-status quo, and have no clear bold reason for why they are running for office. 
 

I really feel so dejected about all of this….

Voters are to blame because their retarded. Also blackpill letfties like TYT, Secular Talk, Majority Rerport, Vaush etc are to blame because they have conditioned people & myself (ex tyt listener) for years that both parties are the same 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Moderates can be above or below progressives. It depends on the depth of their arguments.

Edited by Nivsch

🏔 Spiral dynamics can be limited, or it can be unlimited if one's development is constantly reflected in its interpretation.

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!


Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.


Sign In Now