A little thought about politics
One of the hardest things I've seen anyone do is to compassionately engage someone who's viewpoint they very much do not share. It takes a lot of effort to listen to and effectively engage with the other party. And you risk a lot in doing so.
To those of you who can do that on a regular basis, I am amazed and impressed. I wish I could do that more. I'd like to think it's the most effective way to get one's point across.