In a recent Sutherland Institute Congressional Series event, Sen. Mike Lee discussed the current shortage of homes in America and how that economic reality is keeping many American families from achieving the homeownership that, for many, is a key element of the American Dream. Lee noted that Congress’s Joint Economic Committee, on which he serves, estimated the size of the American housing shortage to be 20 million homes.

Then he asked: “How exactly did we get here in so short a period of time? How did this shortage become so much more acute, as it has, over the last two, two-and-a-half years?” In other words, he asked about the context of the policy problem.

“Context” is an interesting word. Google “context definition” and you get a noun that means “the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.” When we learn the context of a political or policy issue rather than only using it to attack another person or group for political gain, we are educating ourselves on an issue.

Gaining a better understanding of an issue by learning its context is crucial to crafting the principled public policies that generate sound, sustainable solutions.

Emphasizing the importance of context in how we think and talk about political and policy issues sends the message that becoming educated on issues is worth the effort. Prioritizing context in our understanding of political and policy issues also leads to better leaders and helps inoculate citizens against political manipulation.

As Sutherland Institute President Rick Larsen pointed out last year:

Despite the high value we place on education, we have allowed an atrophy to occur. We have ignored the gradual reduction of history and civics and accepted the erosion of content and context — and consequently, truth that enables leadership. This lack of accurate information leaves current and future generations unacceptably vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation.

Learning the context of political and policy issues provides concrete benefits to you and those you care about – it is not just something that helps you feel more confident regarding an issue. As we become better informed on issues by learning their context, we gain a greater ability to recognize and resist – and help our family, friends and neighbors recognize and resist – efforts by partisans, ideologues and foreign actors to manipulate our votes, donations and social media activity through disinformation.

No one likes to be manipulated. In the chaotic landscape of rampant disinformation and attempted manipulation made possible by the partisan division stoked by culture war crusaders, opportunistic political fundraisers and ideological extremists, seeking context on issues is one of the sure ways to reliably and consistently protect ourselves. So when the next political or policy controversy hits the news, take the time to learn the context and discover the added peace and freedom that comes from grounding yourself in what is true.