George tried to warn us. There is nothing new under the sun. Everyone should read his farewell address. Easy to find online.
Independent thinkers are willing to listen to what people "on the other side" have to say and don't dismiss a commentator or writer because he's "liberal" or accept what some talking head says just because they use "conservative" catch phrases. We don't learn unless our presuppositions are challenged. Get outside the box, look at things from an independent perspective. Remember the left vs right paradigm is a false one. It's the state vs. the people. Tyranny vs. Liberty.