As a country and society we face a number of important issues. We can’t deal with them, cannot develop lasting solutions unless we do so based on facts, but the fact is we often try to do just that – ignore the facts or simply rely on misinformation and that is also how too many people develop opinions.
Here are the top topics where misinformation abounds:
- Social Security
- Medicare
- Health care costs
- Immigration, including illegal immigrants
- Guns
- Foreign aid spending
- Federal debt and deficits
- Inequality
In each case political parties and politicians mislead, even lie. Individuals accept non-truths because they reinforce their already developed prejudices.
Nobody stole the Social Security money, you did not pay for your benefits. Medicare is not socialized medicine and Part A is going broke. Health care costs are not related to insurance company profits or CEO pay. Immigration is vital to our economy, even illegal immigrants provide a net economic gain. Guns don’t protect people. Foreign aid is a tiny percentage of all spending. Deficits and debt do matter. Inequality does not cause poverty.
Your turn
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
Inequality does not cause poverty.
May be, but they are directly related. Not just talking about billionaires or celebrities. For whatever reason, there are millions who are paid more than their reasonable market value.*
AND THAT IS OK.
But bring back the 70+ percent marginal tax rates.
*And millions who are paid much less. It’s a phenomenon of the market. Redistribution is not socialism.
LikeLike
Richard. It appears as though you have everything resolved in your mind. I guess we can not anticipate debate or an exchange of ideas.
LikeLike
That is not an accurate reflection of my position. My point is only that to have a valid debate and exchange of ideas and to enact valid solutions, that must be based on facts. Those issues I listed are constantly mentioned on social media and by politicians with out regard to the facts. It’s really that simple.
LikeLike
Not everybody seeks the truth or will like to hear it.
LikeLike
Climate change is very real but is not an existential threat.
Tax cuts do not pay for themselves and in fact cause huge deficits.
Gerrymandering leads to extremist candidates and hyper polarization.
The majority of welfare recipients are rural white people.
Immigrants commit less crime and create more businesses than natives.
Stricter gun control laws lead to less gun deaths and mass shootings.
LikeLike
Yes, yes, and yes. Also guns for self defense is a statistical fallacy, Much more likely to injure or kill a friend or family member.
LikeLike
My bad, Richard already covered that. “Guns don’t protect people.”
I have had a fascination with guns. Owned dozens. But no more. This is ridiculous…
LikeLike
I agree with your comments on all your ballet points. However, Illegals MAY provide a net economic gain, but they DO NOT have the right to vote in our elections. The “Left” is pushing that agenda.
LikeLike
This is appalling. Which of the blue states are they allowed to vote in?
LikeLike
A few cities and towns around the U.S. are letting “noncitizens” vote in local elections, and more could follow. Washington, DC for one, Montpelier and Burlington in Vermont, since 2016 in San Francisco (I am appalled!), 11 towns in Maryland, and a Democratic state lawmaker in Connecticut has introduced a bill to allow noncitizens to vote in state elections. The push for (so-called) “noncitizen” voting rights has begun.
LikeLike
Well I didn’t know that. I suppose in that case non citizens should be exempted from all taxes though if they can’t vote. Fair is fair. No taxation without representation and all that.
LikeLike
I agree with you. Only legal resident citizens should have the right to vote. I own a home in another state than where I reside. I pay property taxes and have for 35 years, I can’t vote in state or local elections where decisions are made to affect my taxes and the value of my property.
LikeLike