Having an informed opinion is further complicated by the fact that there are always people with special interests. They try to alter the facts or change the way they're presented to make them sound more favorable to their position. We like the idea of having an open mind, but at some point you have to close the doors and settle on something you believe. You can't have an open mind forever. Faith ignores the evidence and takes a position regardless of the facts.
Opinion is a thing all by itself.
It doesn't matter what the opinion is. If we hear someone giving a political opinion, we're more apt to think what an idiot he is to have that opinion than we are opposed to the opinion itself. Lying in bed last night, I got to thinking of other subjects about which you could start an argument anywhere by stating your opinion about them. I'll list a few.