The Overton Window

The Overton Window seems to have something to say, then. Lehman sums the argument up thus:

The Overton Window doesn't describe everything about how politics works, but it does describe one key thing: Politicians will not support whatever policy they choose whenever they choose; rather, they will only espouse policies that they believe do not hurt their electoral chances.

Against this, it might be argued that politics are about much more than policy change, and that the Window theory is therefore, by its focus on policy, too restricted, too narrow. Politics also involve – among other things – management of "events, dear boy, events", as Harold Macmillan once said, about competence, about doing what you say you will do, about high level philosophies and about ensuring that in doing the inevitable deals to get your program through, you don't offend too many people. And, the evidence outlined above suggests, politicians will NOT always (now) espouse only policies that they believe will hurt their electoral chances. They have multiple tricks up their sleeves to get away with imposing elite endorsed policies that would NEVER meet the approval of the punters, if they knew what was being proposed. Like mass immigration, to suggest but one example.

Writing in 2006, Mackinac Center scholar Nathan Russell stated:

Politicians are constrained by ideas, even if they have no interest in them personally. What they can accomplish … is framed by the set of ideas held by their constituents-the way people think. Politicians have the flexibility to make up their own minds, but negative consequences await the elected officeholder who strays too far.

True enough, but such a conclusion is a little underwhelming, and stating the obvious while missing much, such as the political leader's role in leading, not just following, debates. It also assumes much on the part of voters. The ideas of voters may well be ignorant, unthinking, only part-formed, or possibly they don't even have ideas and political preferences. It is a rational actor model, and the participants at all levels are often far from rational.

In summary, we all see ourselves as "centrist", sensible, not extreme. We appeal to the notion of the middle of the road, where we comfortably sit, not like "extremists". Both the political left and the right seek to claim the sensible centre as their own, thereby consigning their opponents to the political fringe. A place where you do not want to be. This is the endless play of politics. Appeal to the centre, and a claim to be centrist, are the basic rules of Politics 101.

The Corridor of Certainty, as cricket "bowlologist" Damian Fleming might say. Or an Overton Window of Opportunity, you might say. In the interests of both vigorous democratic debate and of "club sensible" push back against the insanities and evils of the age, we must all be self-consciously in the business of window expansion.