A very real problem for centrists is that the centre keeps moving.

How many years do we have to go back to when a "moderate" on racial issues was "someone who treated his slaves better than average".

In my lifetime there has been a remarkable shift on the race issue, so that a person whose basically "moderate" views were formed, say, thirty or forty years ago would have great difficulty in maintaining those views today - witness the current "friends/racists" thread. So who is the extremist and who is the moderate?

Similarly, it used to be possible to hold and voice what were perceived as "moderate" views on all the hot issues (including gypsies/travellers!) without some folkie stereotype jumping on your head. Yes, of course we have to move with the times, but who gets to decide how fast?

I agree with marty D, death (a moderate death) to all extremists!!

Cheers, Terry