Is Keeping Our Political Beliefs Private a Good Idea?
How many family members or friends could have changed their beliefs, votes, or party affiliation because of honest conversations we’ve been avoiding? Keeping our political beliefs private, and avoiding those conversations, sounds like a missed opportunity to me.
It’s so easy for people to live in their own insulated world where they watch the news show that already aligns with their views. They follow people on Twitter who echo their beliefs and avoid those who oppose them. When you then exclude personal conversations about politics, even among people who are in the same party, it keeps you blind to differing opinions and entrenched that your beliefs are the best ones.
We see what happens when a staunch republican realizes first-hand the positives of something like medical cannabis. They go from opposing it because it’s a “gateway drug” to seeing their own kids’ seizures reduce or chronic pain disappear. They become a supporter of medical cannabis because it touched their life.
By having conversations about how political actions have affected us personally, people are more open to seeing the flaws in their own logic. They’re open to changing their beliefs because you’re showing them the negative impact if they don’t. They aren’t going to come to this realization on their own. Sure, there’s a chance an outside source like CNN, MSNBC, or Fox can open someone’s eyes to something they previously pushed back against. But it’s much more likely someone will change their beliefs by talking with people they actually know and care about.
What are the Negatives to Being Open About Politics?
Mostly, just how people view you, so a lot of it is are you ok with people knowing what you stand for? I am. I am perfectly ok with people knowing I support policies that make sure everyone has access to healthcare. I’m ok if people know I support aggressive environmental legislation. I’m ok if my co-worker thinks I’m crazy for wanting a greater mix of socialism and capitalism so that people aren’t putting profits ahead of people.
Being open about my political beliefs has caused me to learn more about politics. It’s caused me to find out why I believe certain things. Mostly, those beliefs come from basic principles I hold. Human lives are more important than money. Elected officials are here to serve us and not their donors. We need to protect the powerless.
The people who are less likely to share their beliefs are those who are ok if people they don’t know suffer. There are a lot of people who try to avoid confronting the reality that they’re selfish. Although yes, there are also those who have no problem admitting they’re selfish. Being selfish goes beyond politics. It’s how people act on a day-to-day, and minute-to-minute basis. Much of what we believe in politically affects how we live our daily lives. That’s why talking politics isn’t just about who you vote for. It’s about how you and others live their lives. Having these conversations means you’re going to learn more about the people you surround yourself with, for better or for worse.
What are the Positives to Being Open About Politics?
This is the section I care most about. I truly believe the positives to being open about politics far outweigh the negatives. Picking up in the last sentence of the previous paragraph, you learn more about the people in your life. You start having deeper conversations with these people. I have yet to hear someone say they love small talk so much that it’s the only type of conversation they want to be part of. This is a gateway into talking about things that are considered “taboo” because we’re so afraid it’s going to change our relationship with someone.
Well that gateway leads us to the core beliefs we hold. What do we truly value, what should be the role of government, do our elected officials actually represent our views and our needs? We can talk about ideas like Universal Basic Income, are we doing enough to combat climate change, or should all public education be free and accessible. If you really want to talk about the weather, go ahead. I’m more interested in talking about things like reparations or the criminal justice system.
The beauty is that whether you’re talking with a republican or democrat, it’s unlikely you’re going to hold the same beliefs on every idea. That’s ok. It’s important we understand that disagreement is ok, and that we get comfortable with disagreement. Currently, that doesn’t seem to be the case with society, and that’s a large reason why we keep our political thoughts private.
Now, to my favorite reason as to why I think people need to be more open about their political beliefs.
It makes everyone more educated.
As a country, we are largely an uneducated electorate. We don’t pay attention when our party leader is in the White House. We act like the other side is crazy for hating our politicians while dismissing all their criticisms. Yes, some should be dismissed, but it’s crazy to think that our side is perfect and theirs is wrong about everything.
As a country, we’ve done a horrible job holding elected officials accountable. The actions of politicians is a complex issue that largely involves money, but it’s my belief that ignorance to our own party’s problems is equally destructive. Who is a politician more likely to listen to, a voter in their party or a voter in the opposing party? Why is it that democratic voters have been yelling at republicans to hold Trump accountable when we refuse to do the same with our own? Even if we get money out of politics, we still need to realize it’s our job to be an educated electorate and hold our own party accountable with our votes.
If we continue to treat politics as taboo at the office or the family Christmas dinner, then how can we expect anything to change?
