I would counter though, by saying the vast majority of people are not agents of any kind of evil, on purpose at least, and are simply misled.

Yeah, I definitely think this is right, and for the vast majority of people/conversations this is all great advice and the mindset you should start a discussion with. But if/when the other person shows they’re not going to be reasoned with, it’s time to stop talking and either start looking for enough allies that you no longer need the unreasonable person’s votes/support or looking for ways to make the unreasonable person’s life difficult to the point where they want to compromise with you to make whatever you’re doing stop (I’m not saying to break any laws, I’m thinking litigation, investigations, leaking information to journalists, organizing press conferences and protests etc., things like that).