Disenfranchised: the death of the centrist

I read an article the other day that shocked. Apparently the "Centrist Dad" has become an irrelevance. Brushed aside by the fast moving curents that sweep us all to the populist extremes - be they left, right, green, or whatever. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the nomenclature around political positions. if you are right leaning then you are now part of the far-right (there is no other kind of right - it seems). If your sympathies lie to the left you are likely thought of as a left-wing extremist (socialism as a term is clearly falls short and communism is a label still reserved for the fundamentally unhinged apparently). If you are neither then you might be a "Green" or perhaps (the only other safe haven) a "Liberal" which means that you are essentially kind, principled, but harmless. Most Governments more recently elected are tagged "extreme" (right) and/or "populist" (albeit all parties seek, by definition, to be popular, dont they?)

But what happened to the centrists? Well, it appears that they grew older (hence the unnecessarily gendered "dad" reference). With age comes great wisdom but also some inflexibility. The extremes have therefore decided that centrist dads are not only irrelevent but have been passed-by; by the speed and dynamism of modern day world and its politics. No one wants their brand of common sense, calmness, maturity and wisdom. The adjective "smug" is thrown into this mix to give effect to the damning disenfranchisement of Centrist Dad. This drags with it the barge of toxicity upon which Centrist Dads can float out to sea - never to be seen again.

What is a centrist dad? They are wise people who bring moderation and maturity to the party - often previously thought of as "the adults in the room" with inoffensive common sense that now leaves them woefully unequiped to survive in the world of today.

But most us us identify as centrist. Or do we?

Is this just the age-old battle between generations as the young discredit and undermine the previous generations. The oldies have had a field day decsribing the lazy, feckless, snowflake-like traits of Generation Z. So now we are seeing the fight-back where age and its associated wisdom - the boomers exclusive outpost - are slowly buried under a barrage of rocks from the emerging youth.

Well. it may be too late to stop the elders being discredited. Let's face it, we have seen this battle re-enacted between generations over time. but.....

Whatever happens lets not completely kill off the concept of common sense and wisdom because it will always prove to be the bridge that allows the extremes to meet in the middle.