2019 was the first full year for The Quintessential Centrist (TQC). We would like to thank all of our readers for playing an integral role in our growing platform, an online forum that incorporates ideas and values across the ideological spectrum.

TQC is a work in progress. We have certainly made mistakes and have done our best to remedy and learn from them. Your constructive criticism helps us better accomplish our objective: to offer readers ideas that blend news, analysis and viewpoints from the left, right, and center of the political and social gamut.

Over the course of 2019, we analyzed and opined on a broad array of topics related to politics, current events, culture, finance, technology, national security, health and wellness, international and domestic affairs, the arts, and more. In total, we penned 47 articles. What did we get right? Where did we come up short? Which articles elicited the most positive, negative, and impassioned responses etc.?

Whenever we received an approximately equal amount of critique from the left and right, our take was that we had fulfilled our objective of promoting the ideals and tenets of the center. We were extremely pleased with results of TQC’s Position On Gun Control. Many staunch conservatives accused us of being closeted liberals. An overwhelming number of liberals accused us of being a mouthpiece for the right. Hence, our piece on gun control was “on target.” Perhaps not so surprisingly, TQC’s Position On Abortion, proved catalytic for similar responses from both sides. This reassured us that we split the goalposts down the middle on that always controversial issue. We also received equally representative takeaways from Super Bowl LIII, Cash Bail Should Be Abolished, Fast Fashion Fails To Look In The Mirror, Planes, Trains & Emotional Support Animals, Touchy Subjects, and Religious Freedom vs Discrimination.

When we received one sided arguments in response to our writings, we questioned whether we could have been more balanced. This especially pertained to our most recent piece, Circumcision & Jewish Tradition, which encountered a particularly strong backlash. It was warranted. In hindsight, we did not do a sufficient job properly articulating the rebuttal(s) to our argument(s). Another example was our article on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). While we certainly stand by our underwhelming views of her, we could have done a better job highlighting her accomplishments.

In response to a select few articles - even though we took painstaking steps to ensure fairness - we opened our inbox to many, shall we say, colorful opinions. Where We Think Trump Is Right certainly qualified, as did TQC & Taxes, and Cruel & Unusual Treatment.

We sincerely hope that at least a few of TQC’s articles will spur people to examine their own biases, self–reflect and perhaps consider, or at least understand and appreciate, a view that is not commensurate with their own. We think it will make America a more tolerant, civil place.

Finally, we encourage our loyal readers to continue corresponding with us. Any questions, comments, declarations, or explanations, please let us know; what can we do to improve our product? We want to hear from you!

Our next article will be Sunday, January 11th, 2020. We would like to wish everybody a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Thank You.

Christopher Blackman,
Founder
The Quintessential Centrist