Explain Your Extremists

No matter how controversial your political views are, there are always people on “your side” who hold a more extreme position than you do. How do you account for such people?

Top scenarios:

1. The extremists are actually right, but their proposals are “politically impossible.” It’s better to ask for half a loaf and get it than demand a totally unattainable whole loaf.

2. The extremists are actually right, but their proposals are politicallyunstable. Even if the extremists prevailed in the...