Does it matter what we think?

The last couple days this has become the political question in the forefront of my mind.  It hit me out of left field, so to speak.  Does it even matter what we think?

I’ve come to the conclusion that the answer is a resounding “NO!”

What’s your opinion on on abortion?  What’s your opinion on gender issues?  What’s your opinion on health care?  What’s your opinion on Donald Trump?  What’s your… you get the idea.

Whatever your opinion is on any issue, it just doesn’t matter.

If you’re on the extreme of either the left or the right you’re flat-out wrong half the time.  If you’re in the center, like me, you run the risk of either being wrong all the time or right all the time.  Both in fact and that there’s always someone there to tell you.

Have you ever changed another person’s opinion?  Ok, that’s a little unfair.  But, have you ever come to a compromise?  Have you ever come away from a discussion feeling that you both have a deeper appreciation for the issue?  Probably not in recent years, I’m sure.  Now be honest, do you secretly think less of otherwise fine people simply because they hold different political opinions than you on your pet issues?

You think you’re debating, but you’re really not.  You’re just speaking to empty air.  If you’re on the left the people on the right will ignore what you said as if you never said anything and keep babbling on as they’ve been doing, even if you’re technically correct.  And if you’re on the right the left will call you names and mock you and your Neanderthal thinking and talk behind your back in their little cliques as if you aren’t participating in the conversation, even if you’ve made a good point.

And that brings us to our next item:  Why is everybody so loathe to acknowledge a fair point?  This may be hard to fathom for some, but pretty much all the issues have pros AND cons, fair points on each side.  It is not a sign of weakness, nor are you conceding anything, in acknowledging a good point.  You’re just being a fair person having a discussion.  There are many issues where the other side had some good points, but the side I chose has more to outweigh them overall.  It’s not a big deal.

So, no, it doesn’t matter what you think.  Nobody’s listening anyway.