Listen to the public debate on most any issue and you would conclude there are only two sides, the left and the right, but a new study released by Public Policy Polling indicates that moderates are growing both in number and influence in our state.

The study defined four age groups: 18-29, 30-45, 46-65, and over 65. Conservatives outnumber liberals in each of the age groups but the data confirms that younger people consider themselves more liberal and the older people get the more conservative they become. Those of the moderate persuasion actually outnumber either liberals or conservatives in the 18-45 age range, falling only five percentage points behind conservatives in the 46-65 group and trailing by ten points in the over 65 group.

You can hear the liberal or conservative positions advanced on the 24-hour news channels, the Internet, print, or over-the-air broadcasts of radio or television, but we seldom hear from those in the moderate middle. Some mistakenly believe that moderates have no opinions. They do, often as strong as either liberals or conservatives, but their positions don’t follow the predictable patterns often found on the extremes. There is no political party or dominant spokesperson articulating the moderate stance. Moderates tend to voice their opinions at the ballot box or with their feet or pocketbooks and seldom realize how powerful they are in making conclusions.

For example, let’s attempt to determine the moderate position on the current budget debate going on in the North Carolina legislature. Moderates would tell lawmakers that they do not support draconian cuts to our state budget, especially where it affects children in classrooms and human services for those unable to help themselves. They would just as quickly say they are convinced there is waste, inefficiency and duplication in government, and also plenty of programs being funded that might not be our highest priority in this recession. Moderates emphatically do not believe our leaders have done a sufficient job of identifying and cutting government. If they did become convinced that a good job had been done in reducing government they would support tax increases if needed, but they would insist these increases not benefit one income segment or particular special interest over others.

Overall the moderate endorses some liberal and some conservative viewpoints, often coming to different conclusions than either. These same approaches would be taken on positions like health care reform, bullying, public education and other of today’s hot-button issues.

Lawmakers and leaders would be well advised to shut out the noise from the left and right, while discarding the pressure from interest groups and lobbyists and listen carefully to the moderate voice. If they fail to do so they will likely hear it loud and clear come election time.

Moderates rule….even if they don’t know it.