The Centrist Manifesto

By: Charles Wheelan

Narrated by: Charles Wheelan

Length: 3 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

A vision - and detailed road map to power - for a new party that will champion America’s rational center.

From debt ceiling standoffs to single-digit Congress approval ratings, America’s political system has never been more polarized - or paralyzed - than it is today. As best-selling author and public policy expert Charles Wheelan writes, now is the time for a pragmatic Centrist party that will identify and embrace the best Democratic and Republican ideals, moving us forward on the most urgent issues for our nation.

Wheelan - who not only lectures on public policy but practices it as well (he ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2009) - brings even more than his usual wit and clarity of vision to The Centrist Manifesto. He outlines a realistic ground game that could net at least five Centrist senators from New England, the Midwest, and elsewhere. With the power to deny a red or blue Senate majority, committed Centrists could take the first step toward giving voice and power to America’s largest, and most rational, voting bloc: the center.

©2013 Charles Wheelan (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Count me in!

An extremely important message, well delivered, that I've shared with three other Kansas and Missouri voters. Charles Wheelan has captured credible answers to gun rights and contraception, and harnessed the extreme sides of political discourse in The Centrist Manifesto. ~ Adrienne from Kansas

Centrism - taking the best of both sides of politics

This book is great! I’m not big into politics and the only reason I started reading this book was because I’ve loved the other books by Charles Wheelan.

I love that the main premise behind these ideas is compromise - taking the best of each party and throwing out the stuff on the extremes. It’s cutting out the rhetoric and thinking about policies logically and sensibly.

One great solution

Everyone should sign up and we will end the current madness. To all those who don't vote because they think it doesn't matter, a few extra votes is all it will take. Get off your duff.

Must read for all rational americans

Any additional comments?

This book perfectly embodies what I have long thought about politics. I often joke that I am a member of the "logic" party, but now this author has created an actual party that supports the non-extremist views of the majority of Americans. If you consider yourself moderate, and have trouble identifying with either the republican or democrat extremists I highly recommend that you read this book as you just may find that you are in fact a centrist.

Enlightening

A fresh perspective providing an alternative solutiin to the ever widening two party political division in America.

Logical mess.

This author repeats axioms assumed to be true in early 2014 as if no one has learned anything since the 80s and 90s. He makes no efforts to defend most of his assertions, simply reciting them to support his positions.

He shows a lack of understanding of our political system and American history. Because of this, he advocates for another third party likely bound to be uncompetitive and that would drain centrists from both parties. Crucially, he does not advocate for any electoral reforms that would be useful in making US politics more competitive or more small-d democratic.

He says that the future of America is "socially liberal and economically conservative" in 2014. This book is virtually irrelevant to the world of 2021 and the aspirations of working-class citizens everywhere.

Thought I Held Centrist Views

I thought I held Centrist views. But based on Charles Wheelan's connotation of what a Centrist is, I am definitely nowhere near. On the other hand, this manifesto should be labeled "Economist". I am not sure when he wrote it, but as of 07/30/19, it is certainly outdated. Wheelen glosses over the more troubling issues in this nation, and downright disregards ailments that have been plaguing the US for hundreds of years. On second thought, it is no wonder this party cannot get off the ground. It would work only if everything was on equal footing from the start.