Aristotle said that virtue lies in the middle ground between two extremes, both of which are wrong—one of deficiency and the other of excess. This grasp of wisdom, from one of the most influential thinkers in world history, must be taken into account when we talk about the Latino community in the United States during these deeply polarized times.
A simple glance at recent political news leaves us with the impression of two extremes clashing in increasingly dire ways. On one hand, there is the rise of a nativist compulsion, pushing a narrative against all immigrants in the name of saving America—not only from crime, but also from the perceived loss of its culture. On the other hand, there is a passionate reaction embracing ideas like socialism, which openly contradict not only America’s cultural identity, but also the very way of life that has made this nation the most successful in human history.
This polarized reality poses a great danger to democracy. It makes it almost impossible for members of the two political parties to unite around key bipartisan initiatives for the common good. When everything is treated as a non-negotiable idea, there is no room for dialogue, plurality, or freedom.
These two extreme political worlds may be minorities in terms of numbers, but they are powerful enough to energize their bases and dramatically raise the political cost for moderate Republican and Democratic leaders, preventing them from acting solely on their sense of responsibility.
Why the latinos are the key to get over the polarization in the US?
In the middle ground between these worlds, we find two groups: those who identify as “independents” when asked about their political identity, and Latinos. These two groups—often overlapping—consistently fall between the answers of the two extremes in political polls. Let’s take a closer look.
When asked about their opinion of political leaders, Latinos tend to stay in the middle—between white and Black Americans—just as independents often fall between Republicans and Democrats. For example, 31% of Latinos have a favorable opinion of Donald Trump—17 percentage points lower than whites, but 14 points higher than Blacks. Similarly, when asked about Zohran Mamdani, the rising star from New York who identifies as a socialist, 28% of Latinos express an unfavorable opinion. 7 points lower than whites, but 9 points higher than Blacks.
Following the same pattern, when asked about key issues, Latinos consistently land in the middle of the scale. For instance, 32% of Latinos approve of how Donald Trump is handling immigration—21 points less than whites and 17 points more than Blacks. On the economy, 34% of Latinos rate Trump positively—10 points less than whites and 24 points more than Blacks. Even on foreign affairs, such as the war between Israel and Iran, Latinos remain in the middle. 32% approve of how Trump has handled the conflict—13 points less than whites and 21 points more than Blacks.
Right the middle
This consistency in occupying the middle position on nearly every key issue in today’s political agenda –even on emotionally charged topics like immigration-, reveals a great deal about the complex rationale behind the Latino community: one that seems to resist the polarized tendency to view reality through ideological or partisan lenses.
It is in the middle ground where moderate positions can meet and work together to solve pressing issues. Also, it is in the middle ground where honest and critical perspectives about leaders and policies can be expressed and debated with respect and openness. It is in the middle ground where thoughtful conversations exist, and prejudice has no place. And it is precisely in that middle ground where Latinos stand—as a community that upholds the core values of American society: a nation that welcomes immigrants, integrates them into its culture, respects the rule of law, cherishes freedom, and promotes capitalism as an imperfect, but ultimately the best, path toward economic and social progress.
The Latino Effect editorial team
