Political talk has been in full fury over the last few days, with everyone abuzz over Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain's controversial pick for vice president.

And it's likely to stay hot right up to the November general election. The next several months should be a time for all us lowly plebeians to flex our political muscles and make our voices heard. Political dialogue is crucial to the health of our democracy, so we should embrace, rather than shun, the conversations and debates we share with friends and loved ones.

In this divided climate, however, our political dialogue often either dwindles down to hushed misgivings or enters a realm of brazen vitriol; both do us all a disservice. There are ways to discuss politics without the conversation dissolving into petty, mean-spirited bickering.

The first step for good political conversation is to be informed.

When we discuss politics without actually knowing what we're talking about, we run the risk of irritating people and possibly even misinforming others.

Entire campaigns of misinformation exist, and they don't need our help to spread falsehood and hyperbole! Don't rely on just one news source -- question all of them. Be voracious in your pursuit of political knowledge.

Armed with current information on politics, the potential for hurt feelings or "making a scene" is why many people accept the rule that political discussion is taboo in social settings. But political discourse is how we enrich one another and gain a deeper understanding of issues.

The key is to discuss politics with civility and respect for all involved. No matter how passionately you disagree, it's important to keep the debate closer to smiles than to yelling and tears. How can you maintain civility? Don't raise your voice. Don't interrupt. Don't be arrogant. And don't get personal, either.

If you're discussing the election with your children to encourage an interest in politics, eschew condescension. Otherwise, they'll probably never want to discuss politics again, and might not ever make a strong effort to gain political knowledge.

The final reason to be well-behaved?

You usually win. Nobody likes to witness someone decompensate over politics.

"Polite" and "politics" share so many consecutive letters, yet the two remain far too divergent in all other respects.

Talk politics as often as possible in the next few months, but do so with civility and respect.