The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

When debating, especially with far-right Republicans, I tend to resort to numbers, (consistent) studies, fact-checkers, and yes, even logic. I don't form an opinion simply based on things I heard from my parents growing up, what friends of mine believe, or what partisan sources constantly spout at me. In my view, my opinion is nothing without solid evidence to support it, and it's through a great deal of reading and research (and experience) I've come to form the opinions I have today. But, while I appreciate when someone on the polar opposite side of the political spectrum approaches me with numbers, appearing to have done some research themselves, just because a person uses numbers to support an argument doesn't mean those numbers are valid. Take Maryland Congressman Andy Harris, for instance. The Republican congressman recently attempted to block the Washington, D.C. marijuana decriminalization law by making some rather preposterous claims, saying African-American ...