Precisely. Bad actors desire complexity because it leads to indifference. The “good” side therefore needs to fight that complexity with simplicity and empathy.
“Unions can be corrupt” or “You don’t need unions to get your voice heard” is the kind of rhetoric that leads to disinterest in unions over the years.
> Bad actors desire complexity because it leads to indifference.
This is an extremely dangerous idea without being counterbalanced by fact that reality is often complex and good actors want to be honest about it.
Bad actors desire confusion is closer to being accurate. But bad actors also often oversimplify to rouse people to some politically beneficial but ultimately harmful action.
It can go both ways. Bad actors can simplify because it leads to indifference, by way of generalizations. "black" = "bad", "illegal immigrant" = "gang member". It's how racism works.
> The “good” side therefore needs to fight that complexity with simplicity and empathy.
Empathy, yes. Simplicity doesn't normally lead to empathy; complexity does.
I read that left-wing people are consistently found to be much more able to process conflicting ideas than right-wing people are.
40 years of experience has taught me that absolutely no one is less able to process conflicting ideas than left wing people are, and it's not close.
Political extremes will be extreme. Centrists can hold both.
AFAIK this generally isn't true. About the centrists, I mean. Most self-identified centrists are just moderate right-wingers.
I think "unions are always good" is worse than "unions can be corrupt or good, here's how to push for good"