For those just passing by, what does "moderates" mean? Those who are not radical?
In the context of the article, it refers to American centrists; they're notorious for lackluster, means-tested policy that is woefully inadequate for addressing society's problems when they're not actively making things worse.
MLK put it well:
I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
A good question. Moderate vs radical isn't a measure of willingness to do violence, rather the belief that society must be replaced vs reformed. Radicals think the system is not fixable or not worth fixing and should be replaced by a different system. Moderates believe that the system is good, but needs to be fixed.
Radical beliefs aren't necessarily scary or violent. It is where a lot of the crazies live though, so it isn't a good measure of good or bad. Switching to facism, monarchism, feudalism, socialism, or communism are all radical ideas. Trying to regulate/deregulate capitalism is a moderate position.
leftist-induced urban malaise
lol
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