Facts About Minority Opinion vs. Majority Rule (2018)

>According to a May 2018 Gallup poll, 43% of Americans consider themselves “Independents” while 26% and 29% consider themselves Republicans and Democrats, respectively. Where does the illusion of extremism come from?

Right off the bat the author presents a fallacy. I never met an extremist who thought they're radical or in the wrong. I've never met a racist who admitted their racism. Someone's self perception can be the greatest ever, and still they can be dangerous to society. Whether they see themselves as Republican Democrat or Independent is completely irrelevant. Independent can be someone who supports Nazism, as an extreme example.

I can't supply a gallop poll but based on personal anecdotal evidence there are many people that would generally be viewed as moderates or part of the mainstream that nevertheless support very immoral and radical ideas. But again, they would of course disagree with that view, to them their opinions are perfectly normal and reasonable.