Apparently I have some goodwill to build

[Archaea]

the problem with much public discourse the true lack of anybody to question their own positions.

First, many persons don't even understand the process of thinking, argumentation.

Arguments are developed by the adding or subtracting of premises into conclusions.

If anybody reviewed most statements here, most people here simply make declaratory statements and believe they actually constructed an argument.

Second, people too often simply cite news articles which draw the conclusions which they draw. Snipe does this. Mike Waters does this. Despite the intelligence of these two posters, I've never seen either get into the nitty gritty of the subject matters. There's a reason, in order to properly analyze, time and space necessitate short cuts, sometimes to rely upon others to do their thinking. All forms of thought in part rely upon the developments of others. As Newton is purported to have said, "If I've seen further than other men, it is because I have stood upon the shoulders of giants." I.e., he did not have to reinvent the wheel, but simply refined it.

Third, it is still important to challenge core thoughts to understand refined principles, e.g., start with faith, if we want to understand the celestial kingdom.

So Rocky, what others are pointing out, is you often make conclusory statements, when simple baby steps might be more impressive.

I doubt I have much credibility, but I'm usually not attacked vociferously despite my eclectic, sometimes conservative views.

Nobody here has a perfect thought process, and politics rarely involves "truth", but rather relative pragmatics depending upon perspectives.

Example. What devices are important to protect against terroism? From the perspective of an FBI agent, any means which improves his performance is a help. From a lawyer's perspective who's seen abuses in the field of liberties, another perspective is in order. To the senior lady in Queens, yet another and finally for an Arab, Muslim American a radically different perspective. There is NO one political truth about any issue. Only a consensus of minority views.

Good luck. Two cents.