The Silent Majority’s Obligation to Protect Democracy from Extremism on The Left and on The Right 

In today’s America, a disturbing pattern is emerging that should concern every citizen who values stability and democratic norms, regardless of political leaning. While many of us in the middle ground try to avoid the exhausting political noise, history warns that our silence may be enabling a dangerous convergence of extremes.

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When Opposites Attract Chaos

A single extreme faction did not engineer the Weimar Republic’s collapse; it happened when radically opposed groups created such instability that democracy itself buckled. Both communists and fascists, despite their mutual hatred, effectively worked toward the same goal: undermining public faith in democratic institutions.

Today, we see alarming echoes of this pattern. Consider the former prime-time cable news host who abandoned traditional conservative principles for populist outrage, routinely questioning America’s alliances while promoting conspiracy theories that undermine public trust. His counterparts exist on the left like the congressional representative known for inflammatory rhetoric about Israel and America’s role in the world, who frames complex issues in absolutist terms.

The extremist figures seem opposed on the surface, but their methods share striking similarities:

• Both claim to speak for an ignored majority.
• Both frame opponents as existential threats.
• Both benefit from the attention economy of outrage.
• Neither offers practical solutions that could gain majority support.

The Convergence That Threatens Us All

What’s most concerning is how these opposed factions sometimes find common ground in their distrust of mainstream institutions. When a conspiracy-promoting congresswoman known for provocative statements finds agreement with progressive firebrands on questioning federal agencies, it reveals how extremism can converge from opposite directions.

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Why Your Voice Matters Now

The prestigious Schieffer Series at the Center for Strategic and International Studies repeatedly emphasizes that healthy democracies require engaged, reasonable citizens who participate in civic life. When moderate Americans check out of political discourse:

1. Extreme voices dominate the conversation.
2. Politicians cater to the loudest, not the majority.
3. Media amplifies division for profit.
4. The space for compromise disappears.

If we face another contested election or economic crisis, these converging extremes could unite against our democratic system itself, making today’s political dysfunction seem mild by comparison.

A Path Forward

As moderate Americans, we must:

• Actively support and participate in democratic institutions.
• Reward politicians who seek practical solutions over partisan point scoring.
• Engage with neighbors who may have different views but share common values.

The threats facing our democracy don’t wear just one political label. The journalist hosted lectures referenced earlier remind us that throughout history, democracy’s greatest danger comes when reasonable people surrender the center, allowing extremes to define our national conversation.

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Our silence isn’t neutrality, it’s permission.

The true silent majority must find its voice before those exploiting our divisions drown it out completely.

Emanuel C. Perlman

Founder and CEO of Destination Peace International