Adventures in Brilliant Lede-Writing, Vol. I

From Eric Alterman's column in the May 23 issue of The Nation:

If you agree with John Dewey (and Jürgen Habermas) that democracy depends on a series of institutional arrangements that enable the public to form its own values and judgments on a variety of questions--and I do--then you cannot ignore the importance of civility in allowing these institutions to function.

You had me at "Jürgen," Eric.