You do make a good point with the fact that people who don't go out and actually try to verify information they receive from the media or any other source are very likely to end up supporting positions based on a bias.
More difficult still is the ability to allow oneself to actually expend the effort to research something that does not coincide with their perceptions. Most people simply seek affirmation, rather than validation. And it works the same on both ends of the spectrum.
Personally, I think that if someone is consistently supporting a broad ideal that can be packaged into a general concept, they are controlled by that and will never let it go.
However, those that are willing to challenge that which lies within such a boundary, regardless of the outcome of such scrutiny, will inevitably be better off as a people who can make decisions, rather than simply adhere to the status quo because it makes sense to their preconceptions.
Really, I think everyone should treat absolutely everything like a scientist treats the results of an experiment. The results should be what matters, not the hypothesis.
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