Editing Radical centrism (section)

== 21st-century overviews ==
[[File:Author Michael Lind.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Michael Lind]], co-author of ''The Radical Center: The Future of American Politics'']]
The first years of the 21st century saw publication of four introductions to radical centrist politics: [[Ted Halstead]] and [[Michael Lind]]'s ''The Radical Center'' (2001), [[Matthew Miller (journalist)|Matthew Miller]]'s ''The Two Percent Solution'' (2003), [[John Avlon]]'s ''Independent Nation'' (2004) and [[Mark Satin]]'s ''Radical Middle'' (2004).<ref>Satin (2004), p. 10 (citing "big-picture introductions" by Halstead-Lind and Miller).</ref><ref>Wall, Wendy L. (2008). ''Inventing the 'American Way': The Politics of Consensus from the New Deal to the Civil Rights Movement''. Oxford University Press, pp. 297–98 n. 25 (citing Avlon, Halstead-Lind, and Satin as contemporary calls to the creative center). {{ISBN|978-0-19-532910-0}}.</ref> These books attempted to take the concept of radical centrism beyond the stage of "cautious gestures"<ref>Avlon (2004), p. 3.</ref> and journalistic observation and define it as a political philosophy.<ref name=Olson>{{cite magazine|first=Robert|last=Olson|date=January–February 2005|title=The Rise of 'Radical Middle' Politics|magazine=[[World Future Society|The Futurist]]|volume=39|issue=1|pages=45–47|publisher=[[World Future Society]]|location=Chicago, Illinois|url=http://www.wfs.org/revsatinjf05.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716184225/http://www.wfs.org/revsatinjf05.htm |archive-date=16 July 2012 }}</ref><ref name=Tanenhaus/>

The authors came to their task from diverse political backgrounds: Avlon had been a speechwriter for New York Republican Mayor [[Rudolph Giuliani]];<ref>Avlon (2004), pp. 378–79.</ref> Miller had been a business consultant before serving in President [[Bill Clinton]]'s budget office;<ref>Miller (2003), p. xiv.</ref> Lind had been an exponent of [[Harry S. Truman|Harry Truman]]-style "national liberalism";<ref>Lind, Michael (1996). ''Up from Conservatism: Why the Right Is Wrong for America''. Free Press / Simon & Schuster, p. 259. {{ISBN|978-0-684-83186-2}}.</ref> Halstead had run a think tank called Redefining Progress;<ref name=Morin/> and Satin had co-drafted the [[Green Party of the United States|U.S. Green Party]]'s foundational political statement, "Ten Key Values".<ref>Gaard, Greta (1998). ''Ecological Politics: Ecofeminism and the Greens''. Temple University Press, pp. 142–43. {{ISBN|978-1-56639-569-4}}.</ref> However, there is a [[Generation X|generational bond]]: all these authors were between 31 and 41 years of age when their books were published (except for Satin, who was nearing 60).

While the four books do not speak with one voice, among them they express assumptions, analyses, policies and strategies that helped set the parameters for radical centrism as a 21st-century political philosophy:

=== Assumptions ===
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| footer = Former Green activist [[Mark Satin]] (left) and former Republican activist [[John Avlon]] (right), two early 21st-century radical centrist authors
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* Our problems cannot be solved by twiddling the dials; substantial reforms are needed in many areas.<ref>Halstead and Lind (2001), p. 16.</ref><ref>Satin (2004), pp. 3–5.</ref>
* Solving our problems will not require massive infusions of new money.<ref name=John/><ref>Miller (2003), pp. ix–xiii.</ref>
* However, solving our problems will require drawing on the best ideas from left and right and wherever else they may be found.<ref name=Avlon /><ref name=Matthew>Miller (2003), pp. xii–xii.</ref>
* It will also require creative and original ideas – [[thinking outside the box]].<ref>Avlon (2004), p. 21.</ref><ref>Halstead and Lind (2001), pp. 6–12.</ref><ref name=Utne>Utne, Leif (September–October 2004). "[http://www.utne.com/2004-09-01/the-radical-middle.aspx The Radical Middle]". ''Utne Reader'', issue no. 125, pp. 80–85. Contains brief interviews with 10 radical centrists including Halstead, Satin, [[Tom Atlee]], [[Laura Rockefeller Chasin|Laura Chasin]], [[Joseph F. McCormick]], and [[Joel Rogers]]. Retrieved 3 February 2013.</ref>
* Such thinking cannot be divorced from the world as it is, or from tempered understandings of human nature. A mixture of idealism and realism is needed.<ref>Satin (2004), pp. 5–6.</ref> "Idealism without realism is impotent", says John Avlon. "Realism without idealism is empty".<ref name=Avlon />

=== Analysis ===
* North America and Western Europe have entered an [[Information Age]] [[Digital economy|economy]], with new possibilities that are barely being tapped.<ref>Halstead and Lind (2001), pp. 13, 56–58, and 64.</ref><ref>Satin (2004), pp. 14–17.</ref>
* In this new age, a plurality of people is neither liberal nor conservative, but independent<ref>Avlon (2004), pp. 1 and 13.</ref> and looking to move in a more appropriate direction.<ref>Miller (2003), p. 52.</ref>
* Nevertheless, the major political parties are committed to ideas developed in, and for, a different era; and are unwilling or unable to realistically address the future.<ref>Avlon (2004), p. 19.</ref><ref name="Lind 2001 pp. 223">Halstead and Lind (2001), pp. 223–24.</ref>
* Most people in the Information Age want to maximize the amount of choice they have in their lives.<ref>Halstead and Lind (2001), p. 19.</ref><ref name=Ivor>Satin (2004), pp. 6–8.</ref>
* In addition, people are insisting that they be given a fair opportunity to succeed in the new world they are entering.<ref name=Ivor /><ref>Miller (2003), Chap. 4.</ref>

=== General policies ===

* An overriding commitment to [[Balanced budget|fiscal responsibility]],<ref name=John /> even if it entails [[Means test|means-testing]] of social programs.<ref>Halstead and Lind (2001), p. 78.</ref><ref>Miller (2003), p. 207.</ref>
* An overriding commitment to reforming [[State school|public education]], whether by equalizing spending on [[school district]]s,<ref>Halstead and Lind (2001), p. 154.</ref> offering [[school choice]],<ref>Miller (2003), Chap. 7.</ref> hiring better teachers,<ref>Miller (2003), Chap. 6.</ref> or empowering the [[Head teacher|principals]] and teachers we have now.<ref>Satin (2004), Chap. 7.</ref>
* A commitment to [[Market economy|market-based]] solutions in health care, energy, the environment, etc., so long as the solutions are carefully regulated by government to serve the [[Common good|public good]].<ref>Avlon (2004), pp. 15 and 26–43 (on Theodore Roosevelt).</ref><ref>Halstead and Lind (2001), p. 14.</ref> The policy goal, says Matthew Miller, is to "harness market forces for public purposes".<ref name=Miller />
* A commitment to provide jobs for everyone willing to work, whether by subsidizing jobs in the private sector<ref>Miller (2003), Chap. 8.</ref> or by creating jobs in the public sector.<ref>Satin (2004), pp. 92–93.</ref>
* A commitment to need-based rather than race-based [[affirmative action]];<ref>Halstead and Lind (2001), pp. 170–76.</ref><ref>Satin (2004), Chap. 8.</ref> more generally, a commitment to race-neutral ideals.<ref>Avlon (2004), pp. 257–76 (on Senator Edward W. Brooke).</ref>
* A commitment to participate in institutions and processes of [[global governance]]; and be of genuine assistance to people in the [[Developing country|developing nations]].<ref name=Ted /><ref>Satin (2004), Chaps. 13–15.</ref>

=== Strategy ===
* A new political majority can be built, whether it be seen to consist largely of Avlon's political independents,<ref>Avlon (2004), pp. 10–13.</ref> Satin's "caring persons",<ref>Satin (2004), pp. 17–18.</ref> Miller's balanced and pragmatic individuals,<ref name=Matthew /> or Halstead and Lind's triad of disaffected voters, enlightened business leaders, and young people.<ref>Halstead and Lind (2004), pp. 214–23.</ref>
* National political leadership is important; local and nonprofit activism is not enough.<ref>Avlon (2004), p. 18.</ref><ref>Miller (2003), p. 230, and Postscript.</ref>
* Political process reform is also important – for example, implementing [[Instant-runoff voting|rank-order voting]] in elections and providing free media time to candidates.<ref>Halstead and Lind (2001), pp. 109–28.</ref><ref>Satin (2004), pp. 198–202.</ref>
* A radical centrist party should be created, assuming one of the major parties cannot simply be won over by radical centrist thinkers and activists.<ref name="Lind 2001 pp. 223"/>{{#tag:ref|Matthew Miller added an "Afterword" to the paperback edition of his book favoring formation of a "transformational third party" by the year 2010, if the two major parties remained stuck in their ways.<ref>Miller, Matthew (2003a). ''The Two Percent Solution: Fixing America's Problems in Ways Liberals and Conservatives Can Love''. Public Affairs / Perseus Books Group. Paperback edition, pp. 263–88. {{ISBN|978-1-58648-289-3}}.</ref>|group="nb"}}
* In the meantime, particular [[Independent (politician)|independent]], major-party or [[Third party (politics)|third-party]] candidacies should be supported.<ref name="Avlon 2004, Part 4"/><ref>Satin (2004), Chap. 18.</ref>