“An opinion that has been widely held is no evidence whatever
that it is not utterly absurd.”
An
opinion is a judgment, subject to change, depending upon interpretation of
evidence. A fact is verifiable and beyond argument. In recent years, people across
the ideological spectrum have turned to opinion oriented cable channels and the
internet over “straight news.” This and other factors like “confirmation bias”
have resulted in distorted beliefs and behaviors.
In 2018, a Pew
Research Center survey sought to determine the public’s ability to distinguish
between five factual and five opinion statements. The study explored whether
the public sees distinctions between news that is based upon objective evidence
and news that is not. The results showed little better than random guessing on
the part of the participants.
The survey
concluded that those who place high levels of trust in the objective news media
are better able than those that berate the media to accurately identify
news-related statements as factual or opinion. Almost forty percent who trusted
the objective media, correctly identified all five factual statements, compared
with eighteen percent of those who have not much or no trust in the media. The
public’s level of interest in current events showed little difference in
distinguishing fact from opinion.
It will come as
no surprise that another Pew Research report found that “ideological silos” are
now common on both the left and right. People with down-the-line ideological
positions – especially conservatives – are more likely to proclaim that most of
their close friends share their political views. The report also determined that many Republicans and Democrats have
growing contempt for the opposing political party.
A recent
overnight trip to Somerset County, Pennsylvania gave me the opportunity to
observe the above Pew Report findings in real time. Somerset County leans
heavily Republican. Many voters continue to support Donald Trump. Newly minted “Trump 2024” signs have replaced
the roadside “Trump Pence” signs.
Somerset County
is rural, white and Protestant with few recent immigrants. Family farms populate the landscape and have
long provided the backbone of the local economy. Unlike the neighboring
counties to the west, there is no Marcellus Shale deposit to invigorate the
economy through fracking. When dairy
farms go out of business, so do the local feed stores and other enterprises
dependent on farming.
In the county
seat of Somerset and the other scattered towns, public housing is common for
the sizable low-income population. Many older residents struggle to survive on
social security. This year, the cost of heating oil is a major concern. The
Somerset County public school system is below standard. Teacher’s salaries are
low, making it difficult to attract qualified educators to work in Somerset.
The findings of
the Pew Report are confirmed in Somerset County. Few residents appear to trust
the objective media to provide accurate information. However, discussing
politics is a prevalent pastime. The conversations are replete with negative “opinions”
of Democrats in general and President Biden in particular. These judgments are
treated as “fact.” Many invalid opinions are discussed in the living rooms,
grocery stores, bank lobbies, phone conversations and on social media until
they transition into accepted facts as solid as cement. Some examples follow:
President Biden has
committed treason by not closing the southern border to keep the American
people safe from crime and drugs. The facts are that Trump left Biden with a patchwork of border
deterrent policies, some with dubious legal underpinnings.
Solving
the nation’s immigration crisis will involve addressing the root causes with a
broad legislative solution. Republicans in Congress have refused to discuss
comprehensive legislation.
President Biden has
intentionally cut back the supply of oil by embracing green energy policies to
force up gasoline prices. In fact, Biden made
a plea for increased production and refining, while also announcing the planned
December release of 15 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve. Domestic producers are maximizing profits rather than spending money
to open drill rigs to produce more oil and gas.
Democrats have printed
trillions of dollars without increasing the supply of goods thereby increasing
inflation. Blaming inflation exclusively on Democratic spending proposals ignores
the trillions of dollars in pandemic spending supported by Republicans and
approved by then-President Donald Trump. Moreover, supply chain issues and the
Ukraine conflict have been major contributors to worldwide inflation.
Democrats have decreased
police budgets resulting in more crime on the streets. The facts show that cities did not
substantively cut
their 2021/22 police spending as part of defunding initiatives. Instead, cities
moved funds to create alternative departments to answer 911 calls involving
mental health and other non-violent crimes. As gun violence increased in 2022,
Democratic mayors across America sought additional police funding.
President Biden is
providing billions in aid to Ukraine while permitting elderly Somerset County
residents to freeze in their homes. Foreign policy experts from both political
parties agree that aiding
Ukraine is one of the best investments the U.S. has undertaken in decades to protect
the liberal democratic system. Regarding assistance to low income Americans, Republicans
have rejected Democratic efforts to provide support.
Why does it
matter whether an utterance is labeled opinion or fact? As I learned from my
sojourn to Somerset County, it is possible to have a rational discussion
concerning an opinion. However, an erroneous fact shared by the community is
beyond reproach. Better to keep silent, return home and write a commentary.
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