Local Man

Oh, what a powerful, physical, uplifting sense of relief.

I just bookmarked Whitehouse.gov. I'm thinking that what I get from the website might actually be interesting, relevant, useful and true. That's the first time I've even thought to visit the White House web site, much less decide to read it regularly. Amazing.

I've always been inspired by the idea of journalism as offering a polished mirror to society.

But if society is all messed up, what good does a mirror do? Where is the evidence that if people see that society is messed up, they will fix it?

I've always been inspired by the idea that journalism facilitates democratic conversation.

But if the conversation is harsh and fractious and divisive, isn't it more likely that journalism is going to fuel more of that kind of conversation, instead of setting a new tone?

Where will the impetus come for setting new standards for useful, tempered, civil conversation?

Then I see Obama today delivering his beautiful inaugural speech and I think: "This is where the impetus comes from. One guy doing it right."