Radical Middle by Mark Satin

I need to correct an oversight. When I moved to this site last fall I neglected to bring in reviews of books I want to feature but had read some time ago. I heard from Mark Satin a little while ago and realized to my embarrassment that I did not have a review of his book on the site. I need to get that fixed right away.

Mark is one of the tireless fighters for the new politics of Radical Centrism (as I prefer to term it.) He maintains a site chock full of links and news, and publishes the Radical Middle newsletter. His book was released last year before the fall election but it is just as relevant today, perhaps even more so. Mark comes to centrism from just about the opposite direction that I do. 30 years ago Mark was an activist for SDS, and I was a teenager going door-to-door for Nixon's re-election. Funny how life works....

Most everyone promoting a "radical center" view these days has a slightly different take on what the term means. Mark's is a bit more specific than mine, focusing on a specific set of policy positions and principles that he believes are not well represented in the major parties (he's right about that!) I don't disagree with his principles nor, for the most part, the policies he supports, I just tend to think of centrism as a more open and accepting political tent. That said, Mark's four key values are good one's to rally around:

1. Maximize Choices for Everyone
2. Give Everyone a Fair Start
3. Maximize Human Potential
4. Help the Developing World

Somewhat in jest I have described this centrist approach as "Compassionate Libertarianism." Only somewhat in jest, however. There are ways to give people help and allow them to develop themselves, without taking over their lives.

Underneath the umbrella of these four ideas Mark makes a case for a number of centrist policies, including Universal Health Care, Law Reform, improving education by supporting great teachers, need-based affirmative action, and others. Thirty years after he was leading a rebellious "action faction", Mark is still an activist, but not a "player, not a rebel". The book is refreshing short on political philosophizing and long on real ideas, programs and organization you can support. He ends each chapter with a very useful section of references to other books, articles and website (something he does as well on his website). And he end the book with a call to action, something I need to do more myself, and listen to myself.

One of the most exciting thing about Radical Centrism in my book are the people you find yourself associating with. Mark is one of the more visible characters in this young movement but his enthusiasm, what he calls "idealism without illusions" is infectious and genuine. Go ahead and read this book and them pass it on to your friends.