The exercise in critical thinking is better focused on the activities of the police-state, especially considering the shortage of critical thinking.
And even better, the critical thinking would be focused on our business activities to produce the political products we want.
Otherwise we are consumed by the activities of others, not ourselves. Our discussion of them has the consequence of gossip and is not towards the conduct of our business.
We only do it, cuz we have no business to conduct, expecting instead, the media or the government to do it for us. We gave up the business of liberty long ago.