A foolish way to debate politics

It’s statements like these – generalizations, personal attacks, misleading and misguided arguments – that now seem to decide arguments over politics. Take your political belief, back it with whatever shabby logic you choose, and you can make powerful, invincible conclusions like Fishel’s. Don’t worry about opposing arguments – your opponents just don’t understand.
Long gone are the days of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, who debated rationally and articulately for hours on end – and to an attentive audience. In the 21st century, there are attack ads on TV. You don’t have to leave your house, and you don’t even have to think. Thinking is too hard anyway.
It’s much easier to stereotype. For example, some people think the president and all Republicans are idiots. If you think that, I suggest you re-examine the thought process that led you to that conclusion.
My family got a Republican flyer in the mail that said, “Democrats want to give those jobs to 13 million illegal immigrants.� Do Democrats want to give illegal immigrants jobs, or is that a simplification of the Democratic view? Are just people who vote for a Republican damn fools, or are we all fools for listening to the illogic and personal attacks, which deceive us and lead us away from addressing the important issues clearly and rationally?
To decide whom to vote for, and which side of the debate is correct, requires thought, no matter how hard thinking might be. That means the candidates have to debate about the issues, whose position is right, and why. The “why� part is critical: I went to a debate last month between Phil Avillo, Derf Maitland and Todd Platts. When the candidates discussed Iraq, Platts simply stated his opinion, Maitland criticized the Bush administration, and Avillo put forth a rather unclear position. Who won the debate on that issue? That question can’t even be asked because the candidates didn’t debate. But that’s what they were supposed to do. Candidates have to do some real debating so the voters can decide who is right.
And the voters have to debate the issues, too. It doesn’t work to assume your views are invincible, and everyone else is a fool. That gets you nowhere. Open your mind, examine your political beliefs, and listen to arguments from both sides.
If you’re going to think about political issues, refrain from an irrational and stereotypical attitude. Such an attitude hurts people, fosters a bad mindset toward political issues and makes you look foolish.