Replying to Before you talk politics, read this

Sparknotes: Don't take politics so seriously.  it's not like you're professionally involved in politics or are an expert, and a lot of times there is no right or wrong answer, just different opinions.  also, people respect you a lot more if you stay calm and don't get hotheaded.

I only enjoy discussing politics with a few people.  I think any discussion between average americans who have no political experience would be a lot more fun if people kept these things in mind:

If you are reading this, you probably aren't a politician.  you are also probably not a:

political analyst
economist
bureaucrat
lawyer
expert

you, like me, are probably an inexperienced, middle-to-upper class white kid.  therefore, take a moment and think...maybe you don't know the best answer to everything!  I know I don't.  everyone tries so hard to have an opinion on anything.  its actually surprisingly refreshing to say "I don't know."  here I'll do it...

do you believe abortion is OK?  honestly...I don't know!  wow that felt good!  see I don't have to have an opinion on abortion, because I am not a political candidate running for a position where I might be able to change the law, or a nominee for judgeship or anyone that could affect abortion laws in any way shape or form.

or a flat tax vs graduated income tax...I don't know!  I'm not an economist!  I'd like to lean towards the graduated income tax, but since I barely pay taxes and am still in college, I would prefer to stay out of it.

that doesn't mean you can't feel passionate about certain issues.  but there are some things that we really shouldn't argue over if we don't know enough about them.  worst case scenario:

If you say you like obama or mccain, but can't name one real reason why, please refrain from arguing.  You lack of knowledge is incredibly apparent to anyone with even a smidgen of information on the issues, and you only create more hate.

and one more thing.  there's an economic theory called concentrated benefits vs. diffused costs.  lets say domino sugar donated 400k to various politicians right?  thats a lot of money.  then the politicians ensure that domino gets to be the only sugar company in america, and a bunch of latin american countries that would love to sell their sugar to americans for cheap get shut out.  we pay 12 cents a pound more for sugar consequently.  not a big deal, but domino makes millions from it.

thats how politics works.  so no matter how worked up you get about politics, remember that your candidates only represent you to a certain extent.  they will always be controlled by certain groups, and often times will not work in your best interest.  and they will do anything to get  elected.  including promising to cu t taxes when we have a huge debt.  obama's. clinton's, and mccain's fiscal plans all would increase the national debt substantially (mccain's by the most) but they will all deny the independent studies by experts that suggest this.

sorry for the long post, and thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this.  I think if everyone in America could understand this it would be a much better place.