Good Faith

Good points on debating in good faith.

Whenever I get into a discussion of politics, an underlying presumption lies under my thoughts and arguments -- that the other party is just as interested as I am in a serious conversation, that they are serious about the matter at hand and will engage in principled arguments and honest debate.

And I am often proven wrong in that presumption, as the discussion will often degenerate into personal attacks, diversions, and other underhanded moves.

I haven't surrendered those beliefs of mine, as I find more often than not that there are more people who can disagree without being disagreeable, who aren't so much interested in victory at any cost as finding truth, who can admit error -- and graciously accept when others make that admission.

The core of that principle was crystallized in me in that debate about the John Doe thing, when Robin Roberts actually quoted the amendment. The relevant portion:

1) IN GENERAL.-Any person who, in good faith and based on objectively reasonable suspicion, makes, or causes to be made, a voluntary report of covered activity to an authorized official shall be immune from civil liability under Federal, State, and local law for such report.

This part is the part that is so often overlooked not only in the argument about the John Doe Amendment, but in so many other things.