“If there are two sides to every argument – or, more to the point, if there are people willing to take up two sides to every argument – they both must be right or, at least, equally valid.” (1)

So, on any particular subject or topic, there may be two or more opinions. Today I’d trust that no one (hmm) believes that the earth is flat (2); so, let’s rule that out as subject to opinion.

But let’s take a related question regarding the age of the earth. On the question of whether the earth is thousands or millions or billions of years old. It’s likely that I’ll find people, apparently educated and rational, that will contend that the earth is only thousands of years old, say 6000 years old or so. Really! They’ll write (and sell) books on the matter, proclaim their position extremely loudly, and cite their fellow believers as evidence and their deep faith as truth.

And the 4th (and 5th) Estate, in all their glory (with all too much time for so many full-time employees to fill broadcast minutes and pages while appearing to be unbiased and with marginal commitment to reality), will cover it all in an entertaining style, sure to keep everyone in business.

[1] Pierce, Charles P. (2009-05-29). Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free (p. 34). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

[2] But, not really, if you listen to the Flat Earth Society, eh.