7 Ways to Tell If You Are a Political Idiot

I love an intelligent debate, especially with someone who's viewpoint is completely at odds with mine, but I've come across far too many political idiots on all sides of every argument lately, and I have to let off a little steam. Here's a short list of how to tell if you (or someone else) is a political idiot:

1. Think about a political argument you feel very strongly about. Abortion, gun control, gay marriage, whatever. Is there at least one minor point where you can agree with someone of the opposite viewpoint? If not, you are an idiot. You place either your emotions or your preconceptions ahead of all evidence and/or logic.
   
2. Do you know who your city councilman/alderman/commissioner is? This person probably has more influence on the laws which govern your home, your schools, your roads, your job and your taxes than any other single person in government. This person is also probably one of your most accessible office-holders, since he/she probably personally reads his/her email and keeps an open office in your very own local city hall.
   
3. If you are a Democrat and never voted for a Republican, or vice-versa, you are an idiot. Nothing wrong with picking a side but you need to educate yourself on what's going on on both sides of the aisle and the time will eventually come when a moderate from the other side is going to represent you better than the radical on your own.
   
4. Have you ever compared anyone to Hitler, called them a Nazi or called something fascist? If so, you are an idiot. There's nothing wrong with using a few emotional words to emphasize your point, but you've slid right over the edge into demagoguery.
   
5. If you don't know what the difference between a Democracy and a Republic is, you are an idiot. As a corollary, if you think there is absolutely no reason for the US electoral college, you are an idiot. That's not to say you can't disagree with the electoral system, but you should do so because you want the US to shift towards a purely Democratic system rather than it's historically Republican one. (If you are confused about Democratic/Republican as political systems vs. political parties, you are also an idiot.)
   
6. If you have an opinion about global warming, population control, free trade, tax reform, nationalized healthcare, or just about any other political issue and have not considered the economic as well as social and environmental impacts of what you believe, you are an idiot. In fact, if you have never voted in favor of a person or policy which you personally found distasteful you probably are in this class of idiots.
   
7. If you think the US Constitution is the ultimate answer to all political questions, you are an idiot. It's a fine document which has stood up remarkably well for more than two centuries, but never forget that the bill of rights are amendments that very nearly didn't pass and that it took almost 100 years for it to be clarified enough to give blacks the right to vote and 150 for it to give women the right.