I'm in total agreement with this reply. Regarding the silence of the centrists it is due to fear of being labeled with a pejorative that will be difficult to sh

I'm in total agreement with this reply. Regarding the silence of the centrists it is due to fear of being labeled with a pejorative that will be difficult to shake, even if it's within a small community and not widely publicized. That kind of ostracization, even if only in your neighborhood/town/city/workplace, can have a significant negative effect on your life, and the lives of your loved ones. For example, if you vocalize even mild support of some sort of immigration restrictions you are branded a racist, regardless of whether your reasoning for your support is logically sound or whether your implementation approach is measured or thoughtful. The result is that the extremism rampant today has a chilling effect on the voices of what I believe is the vast majority of people. Where that may lead is something that could be quite scary.