Can I criticise a proposal from the party I usually support without defending the opposition?
Politics"Then why do you keep calling yourself one of us?" my father asked when I said I disliked a proposal from the party I usually support.
We were talking over dinner about a fictional plan to replace several public-service counters with one larger office and more online appointments. I like the idea of fewer repeat visits. I don't like that the proposal I've read leaves the smaller offices' opening arrangements unclear. My father thinks any hesitation will give opponents another talking point. My sister supports a different party and immediately said, "Finally, you've worked it out."
I hadn't worked out anything that broad. I was questioning one plan. Once they started treating it as a change of allegiance, I found myself defending details I wasn't convinced by, just to stop the conversation becoming a victory celebration.
Next Sunday I want to say what I actually think: there may be a useful reform here, but I want to understand what happens to people who need an in-person appointment. I don't have an alternative plan ready, and I don't want to pretend I do.
How can I keep that conversation on the proposal rather than my political identity? At what point is it reasonable to stop explaining if both sides keep assigning me a team?
The family and policy proposal are fictional.