I agree, when there are at least two reasonable parties. That’s not the case right now. I’ll vote for sanity, decency, and human rights over the ideal of “balance” when there is no balance at all.

See: Overton window.

Right now, we have a few left-wing voices in a moderate party (Democrats), and a far-right party with a few center-right voices and a sold segment of total crazies (Republicans). No other party really shows up other than faintly for the office of President and doesn’t have a cohesive platform - and also, ballot access for 3rd parties is very limited.

So there is one party for reasonable policy. Primaries allow us to choose options within the party, and there are definitely options there. Consider Democratic primaries to be the “real” election, and then make turn out the in the general for the Democratic primary winner. For several elections.

Only then will the crazy in the Republican Party shrivel, and maybe segments of both current major parties spin off, if there’s structural support to make them viable, with ranked choice voting, ballot access changes, and other reforms. That scenario can happen if we get involved to make it happen - and sure as shit won’t if we don’t.