It is a struggle to get through the day without hearing not just opinions, but so many people defending having an opinion. Is there a course taught in how to form an opinion? How to plant the seed, nurture, it, and watch it grow to its rightful form? No, there isn’t. People acquire opinions like appetizers and a lot of opinions are dying on the vines due to lack of enriching truth. Most opinions are worthless, is my opinion. Follow these samples of real (paraphrased) conversations and  substitute “liberal” for conservative” and “Democrat” for Republican” in almost all these encounters. Worthless opinions are equal opportunity and DEI friendly. IMO.

“Legacy Media doesn’t tell the truth.” Question: “When was the last time you watched Lagacy Media?” The answer: “I don’t.”  See the reverse for Fox?

“There were no wars in Trump’s first term. He ended them all.”  Question: “Which ones?” Answer: “I don’t know.” You may not realize it but this question works for the Obama and Biden Years. Remember, Obama was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. Bonus question: Why?

“The Covid virus came from a Chinese lab and Fauci is to blame.” Question: Why? Answer: “Fauci’s NIH paid for the research.” This one is tricky and you need to do your own digging, but in a nutshell: The US and China (and others) have collaborated on virus research for many years and the NIH sent a grant to a Non-Profit US research group to participate/monitor work in the Wuhan, China lab. Trump cut that funding in April 2020, as well as The PREDICT Program funding in September 2019. Google the purpose of PREDICT and draw your own conclusions, and opinions.

“Democrats only want immigrants to win elections” and “ICE is only arresting and deporting the worst of the worst.” Why would anyone believe either? The immigration problem is over 100 years old and been lied about by both parties for all those years. So when you search for an opinion about immigration, don’t select either of these. Think of it a complex issue needing much research.

“The Russian Issue in 2016 to 2020 was a hoax” and it’s partner: “Russia helped elect Trump.” Both these get the Jeopardy buzzer. 2016 was NOT the first time Russia attempted to influence American Elections. The cumulative effect of their interference, and if it helped Trump, will never be truly known, but it was real. America does the same thing, when we can. For years. So it was a trusty but ineffective device for impeachment in 2016-2020, but it was not a hoax. And will never be a hoax. Russia, China, North Korea, Hungary would love to see Americans question and abandon our free elections. It would be a victory for those countries. It’s not an opinion, but a question: Why are we helping them with that effort? Opinion: Donald Trump started the Period of National Doubt (PND) with his 2015-2026 claims the election would be rigged. He did it as a smart politician who knew he was going to lose the election and needed a good reason to save his political prospects. Smart move, but selfish. He did lose the popular vote so he carried PND over to 2020 and 2024. A decided win for him was not enough to disprove a lie he’d told for years, so…

The last opinions about opinions took too long. Election denying is a strange sport we should all be leery of. Some election deniers have since been elected by the very systems they said were rigged. None of them refused to accept the win. In my opinion, that says it all about election deniers.

The befuddled and buried point is don’t accept other’s words when you form your opinions. It is OK not to have one until you’re ready. Really. One of the favorite questions we should ask our opinion disseminaters/influencers is “Why?’ and “What’s in it for you?”

And then take the time to listen.

This may seem to be a political posting, but it is more about common sense. Think about it. Please.