I mean, based upon their behaviour in the last decade, I am very dubious about the extent to which the average centrist meaningfully believes in democracy, beyond a very shallow, superficial definition, let alone in “gentleness”.

It’s not the list of beliefs that’s the issue here, is it

At root: I do not think it is vastly more complex than “America is right no matter what, Third Way Thatcherism cannot be improved upon and e.g. Wes Streeting must never, ever lose his job, and absolutely anything that helps to prop up this entirely natural order is justified”.

How would we explain e.g. the proscription of Palestine Action as a literal terrorist group, akin to Al Qaeda or ISIS, unless it is me that is correct about this and that guy who is wrong?

It is IMO absolutely fair to say that “centrism”, in terms of its actual effect upon the world, is all about people who matter retaining as much authority as possible over people who do not, and exercising that power in an increasingly violent, authoritarian and self-interested manner.

it means they would have to stop doing that and in turn stop making immense amounts of money from doing that.

and they don't wanna! they're living it up pretty nicely making us all fight each other for scraps.

Well if I see someone wearing this badge I'm going to march straight up to them and give my report on which toilets need cleaning and suggest that they get their brush and bucket to work.

What I wish for 2026 is for all of them to actually buy and wear these proudly

and if I did believe in just getting rid of shitty people who have done awful things I'd start with half of our political class including former prime minister Boris Johnson who killed thousands of our relatives while drinking wine with his mates at parties every other week.