I have liberal friends. I can't help it. I grew up with them. Went to school with them. Formed bonds with them, before I had reasonable resources to buttress my conservative leanings. I have generally and (for the most part, quietly) let sleeping dogs lie. I wanted to maintain my friendships over being "right" (using both definitions). But lately, I tire of living this double life. It's not that I mind my friends thinking the way that they do, it's that they never seem to have any reasons to substantiate their opinions. At least none that withstand the light of intellectual discourse.
If we talk about abortion, I mention heartbeats and brain activity in the very early goings (7-12 weeks). All they do is rant about choice (or how that baby was doomed to a miserable life anyways). That's not an argument that counters mine... it's a mantra for an apostle.
If we talk about global warming, I mention several "dissenting" scientists and their science (CO2 levels follow heat rises not proceed them, sunspots, the current global cooling) or how global warming seems to line the pocket of a certain "alarmist" quite effectively, even though he's been wrong time and time again. Their response is "we only have 10 years to save the planet". That's not science, it's the voice of a people with a god-complex.
If we talk about taxes or economy I'll mention Coolidge, Kennedy, or Reagan and their tax cuts and the rebound their economies saw. I'll mention the Lost Decade of Japan. In return I get called a neo-con fascist. That's just poor taste (especially since most fascists were liberal in nature).
The list of subjects goes on and on. Evolution, health care, welfare, the validity of the US Constitution, on and on, round and round. And yet, it never seems like I am getting anywhere. My points of argument are always glossed over in favor of some feel-good emotional punch-line. I actually had one friend tell me that; even if I could PROVE that global warming was a hoax to pick his pocket, he wouldn't care.
What am I to do with that? How can I maintain friendship with a group of people that absolutely refuse to engage in honest debate? What is left to talk about if all conversation is some sort of mine field (...dont' go there, don't step on that toe...)? The weather only goes so far as a topic of conversation (and generally trends back to global warming anyways)!
What we need is real debate. No more of this "let's just agree to disagree"-B.S. Because what we're really saying when we say that is "I think you're an idiot and I don't want to waste anymore of my life talking to you." We need to accept the possibility that we could be wrong about a subject.
Indeed, we need to start reaccepting the premise that there is a right and a wrong. For example, two people on opposite sides of the global warming debate cannot both be right. Either the earth is warming and it's man's fault or not.
And before I start getting lambasted for being a close-minded fascist, I will qualify by saying these things are important and there is a right and wrong, because we're making policy that effects everybody. If you are forced to pay taxes, because of something that I have an opinion about, I cannot defend my opinion by simply saying "well, let's just agree to disagree".
Let's start working to change each other's minds. Let us work to engage in real and honest debate. A debate that has purpose and a clear victory of idea. Let's stop dancing around issues. Let's stop talking about "the weather" in all it's boring glory. Let's become better people through the true exchange of real idea even if that means letting some of our ideas be subject to real scrutiny and criticism.
Or we can just keep sniping each other from the fringes of real discourse and just agree to disagree.
