It seems that over the past couple months or so, I started having and engaging in more political discussions (on account of the presidential election). When you’re in that space, it feels like you need to have an opinion on every little thing. Geopolitics, taxes, financial policy, etc. How important is it to educate myself and ask questions? Do you feel that pressure to have an opinion on everything?
edit: I don’t think this question is about politics, but if it is, I can delete this.
That’s a good question. I’d say be aware what you’re ignorant about. Most people are ignorant. They have strong opinions about one conflict in the Middle East while they simultaneously ignore ongoing genocides in Africa. And my question is, does it help anyone if we argue with relatives or on the internet? I’d say it’s alright to say I don’t take sides, it’s a shitty situation but not my field of expertise, so I don’t have an opinion.
It’s rarely a bad thing to be informed about things. And you always need information/education to make good decisions. Especially as a citizen in a democracy, it’s your duty to elect your leaders, so you better have some idea about who’s going to ruin the country and who’s going to make it better. But that doesn’t mean you have to know everything. And it also doesn’t mean you need to blast your opinion out there.
And it’s okay to be tired of US politics. Due to current circumstances. However, it shouldn’t be that way. We learn about history and politics (in school) for a good reason. We’re a part of the world and a part of what’s going on.