Ezra Klein's new book, Why We're Polarized, effectively turns people's political presumptions on their heads. He challenges our thinking in ways that are provocative as well as researched. In doing so, he has ripped open conventional thought in ways that are exceedingly uncomfortable.One of his key assertions is that modern voters are more linked by what they hate that what they like. That connection has always been around, but now it has transcended the usual gathering themes of equality, human rights and social inclusion. It's so bad, that people have reached the point of no return. No argument or research finding can force many modern voters to literally change their minds. In an age of change and alienation, rage rises to the surface, even among normally placid citizens.You can spot this anywhere. The focus on what we are against has trumped everything else. Energized observers who previously could only vent through Letters to the Editor or writing politicians directly, now have an open lane for their anger through numerous social media possibilities. It has multiplied individual and public angst exponentially and introduced into political and community life a vexation that simply can't be controlled – public discourse without guardrails.And this is where we have to be careful, since a vengeful politics has the potential to undermine even the good things we have built over the decades.It's becoming increasingly clear that the true “hot button” issue in modern democracy has become immigration. A mere three decades ago, we were talking about its importance to our domestic economies and civic diversity. Now it has become a threat and populations around the world are in the process of rebelling against it.The rising wave of populism opened the floodgates of animosity at the same time it spoke of democratic revolution and the power of the individual. Much of this was understandable and, at times, legitimate, but it contained a Trojan horse that eventually unleashed a form of racism frowned upon only a short while ago. It infused traditional and social media, institutions, corporatism, religion and communities in a fashion that hat no interest in democracy but driving over everything in its path. Suddenly, values such as social justice, gender equality, alleviation of poverty and healing the planet were replaced by a kind of sloganeering that labeled such things as leftist (socialism) or Centrist (liberalism).Yes, it's easiest to spot in America, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia and other places where totalitarianism has free reign, but it has unleashed powerful forces in France, Britain, Norway, Germany, and, yes, Canada. “Immigration” is rapidly on its way to becoming a dirty word and gaining increasing force every day.Ground Zero for all the anti-immigrant ire has become politics. Parties that would never have been caught dead welcoming such bigotry now attempt to manage its presence at the party's fringes. Why? Because pent-up anger is a powerful political motivator and, handled correctly, could perhaps launch the party to power. In most developed nations this has become all too common. Forces that care little for democracy nevertheless use its historic legitimacy to channel their lack of tolerance.Nothing has unleashed this consuming drive for dominance more than immigration. Many across the globe came to believe that we were overcoming racism, championing human rights and creating a unified humanity. That language is still around but rings increasingly hollow. We are discovering that in all that time we felt history was progressing that there was a dark undercurrent of opposition that resented what they regarded as progressive dogma and bided their time to strike back. Their opportunity came as waves of refugees and quotas of immigrants moved around the globe. Racist forces suddenly saw their opportunity to create some havoc and they latched on to traditional political parties, pushing them ever farther to the right. In only a short time, politics and political talk became toxic and divisive. Party faithful moved ever closer to despising their opponents and, in the process, shared values among the parties were eclipsed by enmity.What were politicians and their leaders to do? They wanted power and the proven way to achieve that was to press for change. But this time that change isn't about accepting refugees but confining them in their camps of origin. It's about the call to limit immigration on the grounds of jobs being lost or different and seemingly threatening cultures challenging our institutions. One can be against progressivism without being racist, but the lines are becoming more blurred.The result is a growing tendency within politics towards the extreme. As researcher Jennifer Richeson noted:“Political conversation will be driven by politicians looking for an edge, by political pundits looking for ratings, by outrageous stories going viral on social media, by cultural controversies. It will absorb even figures who might prefer not to talk much about race.”While we say we are looking for a better kind of politics throughout the West, what we are getting instead is racism by another name. Those millions of voters who resent the progressive experimentation of the last decades would rarely come out publicly and tell people of other colour to “go home,” but they can instead vote for right-wing forces and who voice racist messages for them. It's a deal with the devil that could eventually undo established democracy itself.Fortunately, Canada has been one of the few nations still struggling for the democratic theme. But the push to the extremes is now in our midst, and instead of caving in to the pressure, our politics needs to come together to push back against the darkness of the past.Glen Pearson was a career professional firefighter and is a former Member of Parliament from southwestern Ontario. He and his wife adopted three children from South Sudan and reside in London, Ontario. He has been the co-director of the London Food Bank for 32 years. He writes regularly for the London Free Press and also shares his views on a blog entitled “The Parallel Parliament“. Follow him on twitter @GlenPearson.