One of the reasons I cut back on blogging is that in the blogosphere the ratio of dreck to truly thoughtful pieces is not encouraging. The blog format encourages, it seems, short pieces that overly simplify arguments and do not reward prolonged consideration of well-reasoned thought. Readers want it short, unsubtle and the more angry the better. Just take a look at the typical post in the South Dakota blogosphere. The blogosphere is to thought what pro-wrestling is to Shakespeare.
That's why we should take the time to read those pieces that come along that are thoughtful and well reasoned. Give Charles Kessler's piece on Barack Obama a read. You may agree, you may not. But Kessler is smart and he shows it.
I'd encourage going to Patrick Deenen's site every day, but here is a typical example of Deneen's iconoclastic thought. Deneen consistently rewards the time we put into understanding his thought.
One reason to read these pieces. Barack Obama is going to win in a couple weeks. Democrats will sweep Congress. That is almost a given. Now let's start thinking about how we will govern. Kessler and Deneen help us in that direction.
Oh, and while you are at it, read my colleague Art Marmorstein's thoughtful piece in the abortion initiative. It gets past the stale abortion rhetoric to give a new perspective on the abortion culture.
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