When GLS calls me a "fan of his show", he's just trying to get my goat. But, no kidding, there is some truth to the statement. I am fanatic about the possibilities a web blog has to create greater participation in local government. The GLS blog site could offer citizens of our community an avenue to communicate that otherwise did not exist. Unfortunately, GLS turns this avenue into more like a dark alley which degenerates and diverts its traffic.
Consider these words by E. J. Dionne:
"Americans hate politics as it is now practiced because we have lost all sense of the public good. Politics has stopped being a deliberative process through which people resolved disputes, found remedies, and moved forward."
Public good. Resolve disputes. Move forward. Believing the GLS show is about these democratic principles is like believing the Jerry Springer show is about healing relationships. Gary is the host/agitator: his commentors are the audience chanting, "Fight. Fight. Fight." GLS is not the place to solve our community issues just as the Jerry Springer show is not the place for emotional therapy.
In an "informational age" with increasing mediums of access to actively participate in government, it is no wonder the public has become more apathetic or desensitized to vitriolic speech. Fan of the show? For What It's Worth; only when it starts to focus not on tearing apart our fellow man, but on building our community.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
