You're being downvoted, probably for being abrasive, but I agree with your overall point.

When I was younger and more naive, this > "the debate (not controversy) should be about which steps are most efficient") i

is what I thought (american) politics meant. When people talked about things being political or arguments related thereto, this is what I imagined happening.

Then I grew older and saw it was mostly people whining about gays getting married or who was allowed to have an abortion or what activities minorities were allowed to participate in.

Very depressing, frankly.