I propose a redefinition of the word "moderate"

[boolean]

From now on, anybody who dares call themselves a moderate must agree to the following:

1) You are against unilateral war of any kind. The only exceptions being a military operation backed fully by the U.N., such as the Gulf War, or a clear, and direct hostile attack by a sovereign state against the United States.

2) You support the funding of education and health care, even if it means raising taxes and/or cutting military spending to do so. You support a universal, publicly run health care system, accessible to all regardless of race, religion, sex, or economic status.

3) You agree that gay and lesbian couples have a fundamental right to be treated equally. This includes any and all government entitlements given to heterosexual couples, including the word "marriage", adoption, tax breaks, etc.

4) You support the separation of church and state. You accept the fact that people have a right to believe in whatever they want, but that those beliefs should not influence decisions made by policy makers in all branches of government, on all issues, including: Abortion, stem cell research, contraception, sex education, evolution education, definition of marriage, censorship. You accept that official government policy should be based on a) science, b) logic, c) realism, d) compromise.

5) You support and demand reform on elections. You demand a paper trail. You denounce district gerrymandering, you call for immediate investigations of all election fraud perpetrated by any political party. You demand an end to all election fraud tactics including push polling, disenfranchisement, voter intimidation.

6) You support and demand reform on campaign financing. You demand an end to corporate donations and lobbying efforts. You call for a system where political candidates are financed by the people.

7) You demand government funding and investment in alternative, clean energy sources. You demand government subsidizing of industry that supports clean alternatives. You recognize that while pollution is sometimes a necessary evil, that doesn't mean the government should not be encouraging a reduction of it.

ON EDIT:
I don't think you guys are getting the point here. This is about redefining the word. You know how the GOP have labeled most of these things "far left"? That's how they've been manipulating the people through the media. If we call these things "moderate", we take away that power. The very fact that a lot of you feel that these things are not moderate is evidence that the vast propaganda machine that is the right wing media has worked even on you.

[TheVirginian]

1. Why don't we call that person a "boolean", and let other people decide

What beliefs they have.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Not that I disagree with any of it personally,

but that's not exactly a "moderate" list there.

[boolean]

3. That's why it's being redefined

It IS a moderate list because that's what "moderate" ought to mean.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Maybe for you.

I'm sure a right-leaning person might make a list a lot differently from yours, yet it would still be pretty moderate.

[boolean]

6. That's the point

Do you want the RW to define it, like they have been for the past 20 years? They have successfully manipulated the language, and your opinion here proves it. You don't think this list is moderate because your definition has been created by the GOP. It's time for us to start defining these terms.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. I don't think they do define it.

In fact, I don't think anyone really defines it. The defintion of a moderate is someone that will oftentimes stray from their party on different issues. I don't think anyone has ever had a set list of what makes someone a moderate.

So, if you want to redefine it, you'd have to do so by pushing the main party further to the left.

[tulip]

5. what's your point?

I'm a left leaning moderate and I believe in all those things & always have.

Personally I am offended that you'd make up a list and require people sign it. Isn't that a Bushie thing? Sign a letter pledging alligance to him.

Nothing personal but it's kind of creepy.

[joeprogressive]

8. Sorry, but that's a progressive and your list is how the mainstream

of America feels right now.

[joeprogressive]

9. Many moderates do not want Universal Health Care and although

they are for some equal treatment, many do not want to let gays get married. Just my observation of the pretty vague definition called "moderate"