Persuasive rhetoric first arose as a subject of study, or "art," in the original Greek democracies, and for very good reason.  In a real democracy, you get things done by persuading people to join you in your position, so that they will vote with you, and your proposal will win the approval of the majority in the Assembly.  

The growing American attitude that attempts to persuade one's fellow citizens on political questions are somehow rude, aggressive, and an invasion of personal space, is an index of just how very far away from democracy we have grown, culturally.  

I would suggest, moreover, that the leap is finally very short from "I respect your opinion too much to try to change it" to "I won't bother trying to persuade you because I don't give a sh!t what you think."

#2 Example: "On helmets and seatbelts" I as a homosapien, beleive that we should have the right to decide whether to wear a helmet or seatbelts, after all "It is my body"
Just a thought on another b.s. law.

I think debating is good and necessary. It is the basis of democracy. But a debate should be a time when you state your opinion and listen to your oponents state theirs, then try to counter them. As long as it is like this, then everybody benefits.

What is bad is when debates turns into name calling and finger pointing. When people refuse to listen to the opinion of others. It is not possible to debate with extremists, their minds are made up and nothing you say will change that. Then debate really is useless.