"people with an interest in the truth often read news and opinion from different points of view and arrive at their own conclusions thru analysis and thought rather than parroting the party line."

In theory, yes. In practice, it doesn't always work out. It's too easy for someone to be a parrot than a free-thinker. Thinking takes too much effort for some.

Doug isn't a parrot just because he disagrees with you. I believe he thinks about his opinions first.