If You Can't See Both Sides, You're Part of the Problem

America’s political battlefield is full of warriors who think they’re saving the country, but in reality, they’re just digging the trenches deeper. If you can’t acknowledge the truth in your opponent’s argument, you’re not a fighter for justice, you’re just another soldier in a never-ending war of extremes.

The hard truth? Most Americans are not truly far-left or far-right. They’re moderates in partisan armor, pretending loyalty to a side because the middle ground feels invisible in today’s political theater. I’m one of them. Conservatives call me a liberal; liberals call me a conservative. That tells me I’m doing something right.

Let’s take one lightning-rod issue—immigration—and see what happens when you strip away the partisan uniforms.

Immigration

Far-right view: Shut the gates. We don’t want migrants—especially not illegal ones.

Far-left view: Tear down the gates. Borders are a relic, and anyone who comes should be welcomed with open arms.

Centrist view: We need borders that work—and that means enforcing them so illegal entry isn’t an option. At the same time, America benefits from immigration, so legal quotas should be expanded to meet economic and demographic needs. For illegal immigrants who have otherwise lived as law-abiding residents, we should create a clear, earned pathway to citizenship. But none of that works if the border is left open.

Most People Are Centrists in Partisan Clothing

If you follow the noise, you’d think America is split into two irreconcilable tribes. But in reality, fewer than 30% of Americans are truly far-left, and fewer than 30% are truly far-right. The rest—more than 40%—are centrists who pick a side out of fear that the other extreme will win.

And here’s the catch: our primary elections all but guarantee we’ll get extreme candidates. On the left, you need to be a Trump-hating liberal to survive. On the right, a Trump-loving conservative. There’s no prize for being the adult in the room.

The Partisan Roller Coaster

Every election swings the pendulum to an extreme.

Biden leaned toward open borders; Trump toward strict crackdowns and mass deportations. Each side claimed they were “fixing” the other’s failures. Centrists agree we must expel violent criminals, expand legal immigration, and create a fair process for otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants—but they reject both open-border neglect and blanket deportations that ignore context.

If a centrist were in charge, we’d have predictable, balanced policy: secure borders, more legal pathways, and an earned route to citizenship for those already here who prove they belong.

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Debate

Debate can be constructive, leading to the best solutions, or destructive, leading to an extreme winner and loser.

• Constructive debate: You actually listen. You acknowledge valid points, even when they come from “the other side.” You use those points to arrive at the BEST solution.

• Destructive debate: You ignore the other side, twist their words, call them names, and focus on winning the argument rather than solving the problem.

If you’ve mastered constructive debate, you’re already walking the centrist path.

Extremes Still Matter

The far-right and far-left have their place. They push boundaries, test assumptions, and force us to confront uncomfortable truths. In some cases, positions that seem extreme may yield more truth once a constructive debate has taken place. In most cases, extremes serve us well if we are willing to use their ideas as raw material for workable, middle-ground solutions.

What You Can Do

Engage in political discussions. But engage like a grown-up.

Hold your beliefs firmly, but recognize that the person across from you isn’t evil; they just see the world differently. Assume good intent unless you have hard evidence otherwise.

Most people are self-interested; that’s human nature. It’s only toxic when it tramples the rights of others.

Strive for constructive debate:

• Listen to understand, not just to reply.

• Accept ideas that ring true, even if they come from “the other side.”

• Seek solutions that work for most people, not just your tribe.

• Drop the insults. Drop the triggers.

• Let logic lead, not outrage.

Because if you can’t see both sides, you’re not fixing the problem, you’re feeding it.