Well, we were all born into a political system based on the whims of politicians and bureaucrats...and not people like engineers who respect strong data.
Which is why I personally put more trust in the irrationality of markets and business over the irrationality of elected lawyers who gain power via rhetoric (and not production).
Nah. The most depressing part for me is: challenging people's flawed beliefs reinforces those flawed beliefs. Creationism, Iraq had WMDs, anthropocentric climate change, etc.
I used to believe that if only we all just talked things out, we'd come to an agreement. No more.
Now I focus on better organizing. Rallying the troops.