I Blog therefore...I'm Politically astute?

This is my first blog entry here at www.pnn.com and I admit, I'm a little excited about the prospects of a new forum.

I've blogged about not following the herd for a couple of years at my personal blog www.dontbealemming.com, which is primarily political in nature although I occasionally rant about other topics when something gets my dander up or a socially relevant event occurs.

But the topic on every politicos mind right now are the upcoming elections. Not just the Presidential election, although I think it would not be too presumptuous to say this is probably the most important one since I turned 18 just in time to...gasp...vote for Reagan.

So why did I choose the title for this blog entry?

Because, in the information rich society we live in today, with a multitude of 24 hour news channels, print media, and the interweb (per Tracy Jordan) most people are still satisified with...crap...for information. I guess that is why some people prefer to buy a small and expensive piece of Stilton cheese, yet others are perfectly satisified with Velveeta day in and day out. (On a side note, did anyone realize Velveeta is not kept in the refrierated section of a grocery store but just on the regular shelves? For a scary thought, look at the sell by date on this product the next time you're in the grocery store. I still love cheese dip made with this stuff, but I eat it with full knowledge that it is probably not the healthiest stuff I could be putting down my gullet.)

Now back on topic.

With just a few mouse clicks anyone can access a full spectrum of opinions on any political topic they choose so there really is no reason not to be well informed.

But if you are really brave, it's not just enough to be able to access that information. At some point you start wanting to comment, then, eventually to blog.

That's when the fact that the sword has two edges becomes clear.

When you put an idea out there be prepared to defend it, because there will always, ALWAYS, be somebody who disagrees with you. It may take a while, but eventually people are going to start reading your entries and comments and then expressing their contrarian opinions.

But that's all right.

Because once you get really blasted, by someone who knows what they are talking about, you learn to evaluate your positions a little more closely. I'm not talking about getting flamed when you post a semi-conservative remark on a liberal blog or a liberal remark on a conservative blog, I'm talking about when someone really and truly picks apart your premise with facts and statistics (real ones, not FOX ones).

But it makes you a better blogger and it makes you...wait for it...more politically astute because you learn to see and understand all sides of an issue.

Dissent is patriotic.

And enlightening.