Talking Bout Politics

Lately I've had a great many interactions in which someone will say something about how Governor Snyder wants to take money away from schools, almost always accompanied by an expression of disgust with the governor and the fact that he is speaking at U-M's commencement. I find this awkward, because, well, I support the governor. The state has no money, and it has to make cuts, unfortunately. I guarantee that he doesn't want to cut education, but that the state also can't spend money it doesn't have. And in an economically depressed state, raising taxes on "the rich" or on "big business" just isn't a good policy. The problem is the tax base--everything we have that could be taxed--rather than tax levels. Until the economy here comes back, we're going to have to do more with less, educationally. I think our teachers are good enough to do that.

But...what is the best thing to do in that situation? Do I engage that in conversation and express my disagreement in a polite, respectful way? Or do I just ignore--at as I have largely been doing--smile, and move on? Among other teachers, I've learned just to smile and move on. What about my brothers and sisters in church? I don't think less of anyone who disagrees with me politically, but I sometimes get the feeling that others think less of me when they hear about my opinions. Well, that or become personally offended...