With the Presidential election coming up fast, it seems like everyday there is some talk about the candidates or just politics in general. While this is completely fine and normal, it is not something that I find myself getting involved with. There are many reason why I choose not to do so, but one stands alone as the biggest reason. While I do enjoy the art of argument, and will engage in discussion on really any topic, politics is different. Mainly because it is in no way a discussion.
Our society is so far set in its ways, especially in my generation that arguing about politics is basically the equivalent of arguing with your dog. You can say anything you want, but all that dog is thinking is "yeah sure, but seriously throw the ball, nobody cares what you think." They have one thing on their mind, and its the only thing they want to hear, otherwise they don't listen to you. While there are people out there who will actually listen to my arguments, and maybe even take it into consideration, they are few and far between.
It should be highly clear that this is the exact reason our government doesn't work efficiently in the first place. Nobody listens. It is simply their way or the highway, and if you don't agree then they shut down and any information given to them, relevant or not, goes in one ear and out the other.
People talk of how they are "unbiased" and how that is some sort of saintly thing. Being biased is not bad, it means you have an opinion. However being biased and not being willing to change that bias, that is where the danger arrives. Unfortunately this is why bias has a bad name, because when people speak of being biased, they simply mean that they are closed minded. Now of course there are two definitions to being close minded as well. The popular being someone who is not open to new ideas in society such as same sex marriage. However one can be open to that, while at the same time completely against an unwilling to hear the opposition in another matter.
Being opinionated isn't bad and, quite frankly, everyone is opinionated. That is just human nature. From the very first moment we hear about something, an opinion is formed. Latching on to the opinion and not leaving any room to change is where you lose me. Discussion is good, argument is good, so let it happen. Open your mind, don't be afraid to be proven wrong. That's the only way any problem is going to be fixed.
