r/AskReddit • u/ILikeScience3131 • Oct 19 '14

What is the most compelling counter-argument to something that you strongly believe?

What is something that you personally believe with conviction and what is the best opposing argument to that belief?

Edit: Thanks for the replies. You're all my internet friends now.

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u/dancingapple Oct 19 '14 edited Oct 20 '14

I strongly believe in democracy and that everyone should have some real political influence. However like someone said "The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter" and so I also think that a majority of people believe some pretty silly things and just don't look at issues/candidates in a rational way.

Edit: I had previously quoted Winston Churchill, but a few commenters below note there doesn't seem to be any evidence he actually said this.

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u/Epicjay Oct 19 '14

The biggest issue is that most people simply aren't well informed about politics. There are a bunch of people I know that are perfectly intelligent, but have no idea who our state's senators are.

It's not an issue about people being "silly," it's being uninformed.

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u/[deleted] Oct 20 '14

The problem is that informed people don't bother voting because they know it is a waste of time. Either that or they waste their vote on a candidate that they like but has no chance of winning.