re: Carl Sagan's Baloney Detection Kit
Excluding the middle is a fault that applies often to both sides. Collectivism creating prosperity is another excluded middle argument. Sometimes in the center some collectivism creates some wealth, for example public ownership of roads. Some form of public safety net helps people who are unlucky to fix their lives and the money comes back in future taxes they pay. Churches do the same thing when they help people.
The trick is working out what is the optimum balance.