Yes, the middle would be inbetween the two, and is decided by the populace. You are absolutely right on that.
But I guess I don't want to let go of the fact that the center has been moved, through purposeful, ideological work, to the right. Take the more historical view and the middle doesn't just jump out from nowhere. Public opinion, even as measured through simple questions, is largely poked and prodded along the way by sophisticated PR campaigns. In the conservative movement, this PR project is well funded and has established a curriculum of ideological projects over the last 25 or 30 years. The Left has been unsuccessful, for a variety of reasons, in building a clear ideological project.
More media literacy programs would allow people to understand how they are being persuaded, and perhaps facilitate more freedom in formulating opinions that are outside the two tightly bound boxes.
That book CONSTRUCTING PUBLIC OPINION is a very good one. By Justin Lewis, formerly of UMass and now working in the UK.
-pu
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((1993 245 Classic, 94K)) ((1992 244, 106K)) ((1987 245, 271K - RIP)) San Diego
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