I read a lot of liberal writing. Probably as much or more than I consume from the right. And though I agree with little of it, leftist literature is extremely valuable to me as a conservative.
Let me explain.
Thanks to the way social media works, conservative news outlets chase me day and night. You know those algorithms; they're designed to treat users as consumers. "Oh you clicked the 'like' button on that one post?" the algorithm says. "Then here's a boat load of similar stuff you should see."
That's why our Facebook experiences are so narrow in scope. Whenever I log in, all I usually see are pictures from the 20 friends I engage with most, a gazillion bits of right-leaning political commentary, ads for products I've recently online window-shopped, and stories about how the Cubs are finally going to win the World Series this year.
In addition to the way individually tailored information is shoved in our faces in the digital age, it's human instinct to gravitate to topics and viewpoints of our liking. People, after all, are biased creatures.
The upshot of these two factors is that it is ever-so-easy to live in an echo chamber where all present are of the same mind and differing perspectives are nearly nonexistent. This is especially the case when it comes to politics, and it's unhealthy for two primary reasons.
First (probably my less-compelling argument to coax echo chamber inhabitants from their lair), it's always worth understanding the minds of other human beings, regardless of how much we disagree with their thinking. Humanity is too rich, too massive and too complex to be reduced to two categories: people who think like me and everybody else.
Second, understanding liberal thought makes us stronger conservatives. Really, it does.
The natural reaction to a disagreeable idea or concept is to reject it - roll the eyes and move on to something appealing to our own tastes. Unfortunately for conservatism, many of us on the right never get past this response into any deeper study of modern American liberalism.
Question: Why do sports teams watch film of their opponents? To understand them more extensively and to recognize how to better prepare for them. Without that analysis, a team would lose its competitive edge and would likely run into a buzz saw on game day. Just ask Peyton Manning if he thinks it'd be a good idea to read only the Broncos playbook before kickoff.
And you know this passage from Proverbs: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
Too often conservatives think they're honing their political wit by consuming massive amounts of the same arguments or finding additional examples to reinforce their already hardened stances. In reality, though, they're simply dulling their own intellectual blades to the effectiveness of a butter knife.
Serious conservatives will seek out counterpoints - the sharper, the better. This is an uncomfortable proposition because it will push people to further analyze themselves and their own beliefs. Homework and introspection. Two unsavory suggestions, I know. But they're necessary in producing stronger conservatives.
It's easy to yell "Hillary stinks," but that's potato chip conservatism. It may be gratifying to say it, but there's not much substance to it.
Echo chambers make us lazy. They lull us into philosophical complacency, undervaluing the opposition while softening our appreciation for our own core tenants. So just say "no" to them. If you're stuck in one now, crawl out. It's not so hard. If reading this in print, you can start by scanning your eyes just a couple of inches to the left.
Come on, you can do it.
Contact David Allen Martin at davidallenmartin423@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @DMart423.