Morpheus,
A few years ago I taught an ethics class at one of our local colleges. One of the tools I used to get the students to think was the 5 step ladder I have mentioned on this site. If the lurkers and posters would change from making decisions based on feelings, what they think, what little experience or anecdotal data and the one dimensional, confirmationally biased 'knowledge' they have obtained and strive to acquire a 360 knowledge and understanding of the world we live in and REQUIRE evidence before committing or making decisions, they would improve their lives.
Too many close their minds once they develop strong feelings about an issue, and they won't let the facts or the evidence change their minds. The only things they consider confirm their biases. Take Perry, for example. He routinely goes out and finds what he thinks is evidence to support his hate filled, right wing, jesus loving views. It is extremely unlikely that he ever researches counter augments. The problems with that are obvious, not to mention that he is preaching to people who have already considered his arguments and that data, and we have rejected it.