[pllbnk]

I sometimes get a feeling of jealous admiration for people who can so eloquently put down in writing their opinions about things that are happening in the world and can clearly choose sides with their seemingly irresistible arguments. If I wanted to write my opinion about something publicly, I am afraid I could be attacked with counter-arguments and would not be able to properly respond to most of them on the spot. Then I need to retreat and think them through. This renders me unable to express my opinion because of this uncomfortable situation. I don't think it's a big loss though because I can still do it in my private circle.

Sometimes this inability to distinguish facts from fiction, hearing seemingly rational arguments from two opposite sides and trying to choose one side causes such mental fatigue that I simply want to go with my gut and ignore the other side completely. Then again, one day I learn that what I believed to be right before, I believe to be wrong now.

I am genuinely interested, do you have any ideological or political leaning? How do you then know that they are correct and you are not being lied to?

[analog31]

I'm a terrible debater. Perhaps like you, I steer clear of debates and think about things slowly on my own. I do have an ideological leaning, but I try to keep it separate from parties, so it's not a "they," and I can weigh one against the other.

One thing I can do is take stock of things in between election cycles, and ask myself if I regret my previous voting patterns or not. So far I haven't ever felt a reason to switch sides. This includes both primary and secondary elections -- local and national. So far I have never regretted my votes in secondary elections, but in practical terms, partisan gerrymandering renders my vote irrelevant. I have changed how I think about primary candidates, over the years.

I listen to my kids. They are quite smart and critical minded, plus they have more at stake than I do. I'm willing to support their interests. I once took my daughter to a protest march because she was too young to go by herself, and I was worried about her safety.