Why, Tom, of course the Vermonters begin to refer to all Texans, with the possible exceptions of Sam Houston, Gene Autry and Carol Burnett, as terrorists, maniacs, hateful child-murderers, extremists, and adherents to a philosophy (Texism) that not only does not discourage, but actually nourishes and rewards crimes against non-Texans, known as "humanity", a club to which the Texans no longer belong. Vermonters begin to remark that the only thing that makes the Texans worth tolerating is their strategic oil reserves... and wouldn't it be fun to drop a neutron bomb on them all, leaving their strategic assets intact without all those pesky loonies in their odd headgear cluttering up the place...

Moderate Texans would find it very difficult to launch an argument critical of any Texan behavior in the face of such an onslaught. However much they might abhor the behavior of their fellow citizens, to side with the people demonizing the whole state because of the actions of a small minority would be very difficult to do. It would imply a level of self-hatred that would probably get them labelled as godless liberals and disloyal crypto-Vermonters.

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The thing about moderates is, their responses to extremism are, well, moderate. They live quiet lives, not aggravated by a grand obsession. They recognize the value of ordinary virtues like generosity and perseverence. They make good neighbors and have limited imaginations when it comes to seeing evil in the people around them, until it conks them on their collective noggins. Moderates will act, after they figure out what's wrong, and then who to team up with, and then what to do. But it takes a while. Their response is measured and lacks the passion of extremism because, in their hearts, they're moderates.

Regards--
Mary Anne