The Pen is Mightier Than the Glock

Even if political trash talking played a role in the Tucson shootings, and I don't believe it did, we can't allow political discourse -- even the most vile and inflammatory -- to be held hostage to the possibility that any utterance, in retrospect, might be considered liable in cases of mindless violence.

To go down that road is to try to predict what phrase or image or posting, even the most innocuous, might set off a rampage from an unhinged person. Hell even from a hinged person! This whole debate has a chilling effect on free speech and press.

In his address in Tucson the president called for more civility, which is usually code for the disaffected to keep their mouth shut.

We live in a highly polarized society in which both sides fear for their vision of America. The fiscal and social policies advanced by the right cut deeply into the quality of national life and economic justice deemed essential by the left. And the sufficient government and regulated capitalism central to progressive thinking are anathema to conservatives' devotion to unfettered liberty.

It's not and never can be win-win. This isn't just partisan politics in which a few differences can be ironed out by compromise or sitting together at the State of the Union. It's basic survival. Of course words will be harsh and name calling brutal.

What's the alternative? Network censors? Internet blocks? Self-censorship?

Whatever atrocious delusions can be conjured up, they're going to be out there. What's better, trying to ignore or suppress them or give them expression and in so doing bleed-off the built-up rancor? When people hear their fears, frustrations and anger validated, even if irrational, they feel better. They think, "hey, someone understands me!"

Lone wolves, like suspected Arizona shooter Jared Loughner, don't go off the deep end because of some TV jerk's apocalyptic ranting. More likely they turn to violence because no authority figure is affirming the gibberish in their head. Maybe satellite radio needs to add a loony channel.

Decades ago sociologists predicted that, similar to mice, if you stick us into a small enough box, some are going to go bonkers. Our box is America 2000; too much uncertainty, insecurity, anxiety, instability, isolation. The vast majority adapt; some even thrive. The unbalanced become overwhelmed and resort to mayhem. Random carnage is the price of living in a free country.

The political atmosphere is indeed rancid but stifling the vitriol isn't going to make it any less so. It's just going to cloak the rage. Better to give the clash of ideas full expression. Let the pen do its work. Trust people to sort through the invective. They'll eventually get it right. This may be one of those moments.