The unnecessary use of the word would is one of my pet peeves.  I would disagree. I would argue… I would say…

This irritating verbal tic is incredibly common, especially among TV pundits. It sounds like they’re setting conditions.  Under some undefined set of circumstances they would agree, but we’re not quite there yet.  It seems people use it to soften statements, as if tossing would into the sentence makes the opinion less objectionable.  Most likely, people hear others saying it and mimic the habit. 

Let’s de-clutter our language, cut out the dead would.