Why Blaming One Political Party for Evil Is Dangerous
Brian Sankarsingh thinks about elections on the day Trinidad and Canada goes to the polls
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As adults, you and I should know better. Evil doesn’t belong to a single group, political party, race, or religion. Yet here we are, stuck in a childish habit: pinning all good to one side and all evil to the other.
You’ve seen it. You’ve maybe done it yourself. You hear people say things like, "Our side stands for democracy. Their side stands for hate." Or, "We care about the people. They only care about the rich." That kind of response is not only false—it’s dangerous.
Each party, each movement, each institution is made up of human beings. Human beings are complicated. They have a capacity for both kindness and cruelty. No party is immune. No side has a monopoly on virtue.
It feels good to believe that your side is pure. It feels righteous. It simplifies a complex world into something your mind can handle quickly. Good guys, bad guys. Heroes, villains. It’s the old Hollywood trope with a history rooted in our very ancient past.
But the reality is not simple. Both major political parties, and most smaller ones, contain a mix of intentions. Some people want to help others. Some want to help themselves. Some are doing both at the same time. Some have noble goals but cause harm anyway.
The percentages of “good” and “bad” people don't differ much between groups. Maybe one side seems better at certain times or in certain places. But over time and across history, the averages even out.
If you step back and look honestly, you’ll see:
Both sides have had people who inspired greatness and people who abused power.
Both sides have protected human rights at times and trampled them at others.
Both sides have fought for peace and dragged nations into wars.
This is not a flaw in politics. It's a feature of human nature.
When you believe that your side is pure and the other side is evil, you open a dangerous door. That belief can lead you to justify almost anything. After all, if the other side is evil, then stopping them by any means necessary becomes a moral duty.
This is how societies slide toward fascism.
Fascism thrives on the idea that the nation must be “cleansed” of enemies. Not political opponents. Enemies. Traitors. Subversives. Vermin. Once your opponents become monsters in your mind, treating them like monsters feels right.
You might say to yourself, "Well, that would never happen here." But it starts with small steps. Silencing opposing views becomes acceptable after all “your side” has a monopoly of good and truth. Anything to the contrary, logically, must be bad and untrue. Then you punish people for who they support and vote for. They are blind to “your truth” and unwilling to learn or compromise and therefore must be bad. Government power gets used not to govern, but to crush the opposition – any opposition!
You may think you're defending democracy. In fact, you're eroding it.
Democracy depends on the idea that everyone deserves a voice, even the people you strongly disagree with. Once you abandon that principle, democracy becomes a shell. Elections still happen, but they’re a formality. Power shifts only between people acceptable to those already in control.
You have a choice every time you talk about politics. You can feed the myth that your side is good and the other side is evil. Or you can recognize the humanity of people you disagree with. It’s harder to see your opponents as full, complex people. It’s easier to flatten them into villains. But harder is better here. When you recognize that people across the political divide also love their families, work hard, struggle, and hope for a better life, you protect democracy. You keep yourself free. You also guard against being manipulated.
Politicians often gain power by telling you that you’re on the “good team” fighting the “bad team.” When you accept that framing, you’re easier to control. You stop questioning your own side’s mistakes. You accept abuses of power because you think they’re necessary to fight the "greater evil." You lose your critical mind—and with it, your freedom.
So how do you ensure this does not happen to you? Start by practicing curiosity. When you hear something awful about the other side, ask yourself if it's the full story or is somone manipulating the narrative. Listen to people you disagree with—not to argue, but to understand. This ensures that you see all aspects of the argument and prevents you from being caught in a narrative vacuum and echo chamber. Call out bad behavior on your own side, not just the other. Believe me it exists on both sides! Focus on principles, not personalities. Defend free speech, fair elections, and equal rights no matter who is in power.
None of this means you have to be neutral about everything. You can and should have strong opinions. But hold those opinions with humility. Recognize that you could be wrong. Recognize that others might have reasons, even if you think they’re mistaken. History shows that when societies fall into the "good us vs. evil them" trap, bad things follow. It’s not always a dictator rising to power. Sometimes it’s a slow corrosion: a little more censorship here, a little more political violence there, a little less trust everywhere. By the time people wake up, it’s often too late. That’s why it matters what you believe now. It matters how you talk about politics today, not just when things get worse.
You’re not powerless. You have enormous influence in small ways—conversations with friends, posts you share, opinions you express. You can either make things better or worse.
You don’t have to pretend all sides are equally right. But you must recognize that good and evil cross all political boundaries. It is imperative that you stay awake to the humanity in everyone. Keep your mind open, your principles firm, and your heart wary of easy answers. Because when you fight monsters, the real danger is becoming one yourself.
Bio: BRIAN SANKARSINGH is a two-time award-winning poet and author. He is a Trinidadian-born Canadian immigrant who has published several books of poetry on a wide range of social and historical themes including racism, colonialism, and enslavement. Sankarsingh artfully blends prose and poetry into his storytelling creating an eclectic mix with both genres. This unique approach is sure to provide something for everyone.
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