Changing Your Mind through Moderate Political Beliefs

In today’s polarized society, it can be too easy to separate the political consciousness of the United States into two seemingly irreconcilable sides. The news and programming we are subjected to and the messages that flood the timelines on social media can all contribute to a toxic narrative that seems impossible to untangle.

Moderate political beliefs can serve as a remedy to this sociopolitical ill. The foundation of political centrism is nested in the idea that two opposing sides will always have a sense of common ground with one another.

Since people are more likely to unite under their shared values, it is essential to view both sides to an argument and determine what people have in common. From there, it is more likely for opponents to learn ideas that are worthwhile to both camps and enact initiatives that work towards them.

How to Set the Ground for Productive Political Discourse

Living by moderate political beliefs requires an individual to be able to engage in self-reflection, exercise restraint, and have a willingness to listen. Considering that public policy should affect everyone in society, it isn’t enough for just one person to be moderate. There is a tacit understanding that all stakeholders should exercise a degree of self-control and self-critique.

Another belief that political moderates hold is the necessity to work towards a common goal. Enacting policies that only serve one group’s interest is just as harmful as not taking any action. To define common goals, it is necessary to examine the values of both liberal and conservative ideologies, and then determine which aspects of the two sides are worth keeping.

To be moderate is to focus on critical pathways to examining social and political issues. Having a willingness to learn and exercising restraint will prove far more effective in changing people’s minds than launching attack ads, smear pieces, and wholesale dismissals.