Four rules for talking politics

The election that seemed to have started about the same time the Cubs won their last World Series is finally over, but that doesn't mean people are anywhere near done talking about it.

This is true for local races too. People still have lots to say after the ballots have been counted.

And this isn't a bad thing by any means. The results of almost any race only pleases about half of the voters, which means the other half may not be happy their candidate lost. The winning voters want to talk about it with fellow voters. The same is true with voters on the not-winning side. Voters from both sides want to talk with each other.

If races in this county and country did little more than anything else, they encouraged and opened up a line of dialogue between people of different beliefs and views.

So while you're still out there talking about who won and why that's good or bad, keep in mind a few rules when talking about politics.

1. Be respectful

Other than religion, there are very few things people feel more passionate about then their political views. Realize from the beginning people will get defensive if they feel you are attacking their beliefs.

2. Don't expect to change anyone's mind

You know what you believe, the person you're talking to knows what they believe. Accept that neither one of you is going to convince the other their beliefs are wrong.

The good thing about this country is we are free to believe whatever it is we want. We're also free to talk about those beliefs and talking about your beliefs with someone who feels different can cause you to see things from another perceptive, which can strengthen your own views or perhaps change yours.

These are both good things, but talking about your views with an opposing party member should feel like an open discussion, not a lecture or scolding.

One of my best buddies and I couldn't disagree more politically. We don't see each other very much because of where we both live, but when we're together, we get into heated discussions. So heated in fact that people have tried to pull us apart because they thought one of us was about to hit the other. We'd never let it go that far and we'd never let it effect our friendship. When we're done taking about it, we shrug our shoulders, know the other one feels the same way they did at the beginning of the conversation and go back to drinking our beer. But that doesn't mean we are wasting our time talking to each other. I've learned a lot about what the other party thinks from our conversations. I've also learned I disagree with a lot of them.

3. Pick your battles wisely

Just because you can talk about your beliefs with anyone anywhere, doesn't mean you should. There are a few people you should avoid doing so with.

Such as:

Idiots.

If someone wants to talk to me about the difference between our candidates' stances on health care, the war in Iraq, the economy or any of the other 1,000 things that matter, I'll listen. We can have that talk.

But if someone wants to try to tell me my candidate is the wrong person for the job based off of their sex, race, middle name, shoe size, preference of flavored jelly or something else trivial that should have no place in a discussion of American politics, I'm not going to have that talk. I'm not even going to waste my time trying to have an intelligent conversation with them. I'd advise you to do the same.

People who talk a lot, but don't say a lot.

Bill O'Reily is a great example of people like this. He is a great, great public speaker. He could no doubt convince you marbles and jacks should replace football and basketball as major college sports without offering a single logical fact as to why they should. But you know what? He'll look great doing it, you'll never get a word in and everyone watching will think you got a verbal smack down and his argument was better than yours.

People like this never present a solid case, they just look solid presenting it.

(Click here to see a high school kid show O'Riely up.)

4. Stick to the facts

This one goes along the lines of not arguing with an idiot, but it's the opposite. Don't be an idiot. If you wish to engage in serious conversations, do your homework first. Doing your own research will make you an informed voter and/or member of the public and you won't look stupid when someone calls you out repeating something you heard on Fox News.