"I seem to smell the stench of appeasement in the air."
-Margaret Thatcher
Centrism never would have gotten rid of slavery in America. They tried compromises, and they didn't work.
Centrism would not have won World War Two.
Centrism would not have extended the franchise to all adult Americans.
Centrism would not have founded Christianity.
Centrism would not have built America.
Centrism is an inability to lead and inspire.
Phew. Feel better now.
-Rex
Being a centrist, doesn't mean you are a centrist on every issue. It means on some things you lean to the right, and others you lean to the left.
I don't recall Margaret Thatcher doing anything to outlaw abortion in the UK.
Depends on how you define the sides.
Slavery: Well, it's not as if Lincoln (who was a moderate despite what the Southerons thought) moved to abolish slavery at first; the Southern states turned on him, forcing his hand. He detested slavery, but he didn't move first to kill slavery. So centrism didn't necessarily fail on that issue.
WWII: Uh, wasn't FDR a liberal? Then doesn't that mean liberals won the war? Or perhaps you'd prefer thinking of him as a centrist?
Extending the franchise: Just who extended the franchise? Lots of reformers over many different periods. It was hard to define centrists for those cases. However, take women's suffrage for example. Who's more centrist, Emma Goldman or Jane Addams?
Christianity: How do political terms like "centrist" even come into play when describing the Son of God and the Apostles? Though you do have to admit that Jesus was quite temperate to the unbelievers, at least until they made a mockery of His house of worship.
Building America: What are you referring to, exactly?
Centrism just means that you look at the real-world from time to time and get your mind out of ideological biases and idealistic fantasies, and *gasp* be willing to work with those who share different views, ocassionally.