When did we become a country that punishes the good and rewards the bad? I know this is hyperbole but sometimes I think this isn't far from the truth. I do not like to see people suffer and I do believe that we need some basic social safety net. I just not understand why those who have been responsible must bear the burden.

Today's New York Times:

As the Treasury Department prepares a $40 billion program to help delinquent homeowners avoid foreclosure, it confronts a difficult challenge: not making the plan too tempting to people like Todd Lawrence.

“Why am I being punished for having bought a house I could afford?” he asked. “I am beginning to think I would have rocks in my head if I keep paying my mortgage.”

But the benefits of a bailout for his neighbors seem ephemeral to the 45-year-old Mr. Lawrence, especially because he figures the cost of helping them will come, one way or another, out of his pocket as a taxpayer. “I’m basically financing my own financial destruction,” he said.

Yesterday I picked up a copy of Good magazine. I had heard a little about Good but didn't know much. I am pretty inclined to like any publication that sets out to celebrate and educate about doing good.

Unfortunately my hopeful thoughts came to an end after reading the insipid election edition. The cover story lists 1,565 reasons to vote in this year's election. However, had Good decided to be more honest, they would have entitled the article "Reasons to Vote for Obama".

Let me first state that while I do not support Obama, neither do I support McCain. The Republicans have been a disaster over the past 8 years. However, I find it rather disingenuous for this magazine to devote an election edition to giving reasons to vote for one candidate.

Don't believe me? Here is a pretty representative sampling of some of the reasons to vote:

Recently during my time in NYC, I had the pleasure to meet and interview renowned harpist and Avery Fisher Career Grant winner, Bridget Kibbey. I had seen Bridget perform at last year's Fringe Atlanta and was blown away by her music.

In this interview, Bridget and I discuss why modern music matters to the average person, the balance between emotion and intellect in music, and how her music contributes to culture making.

Close Shmose [Jonah Goldberg]

I trust Stan entirely that Obama and Ayers were in fact close. But look: even if they weren't that close it would hardly mean Ayers is insignificant. Anyone who understands politics understands that who a president listens to is relevant. Who will the commander-in-chief let in the room? From what direction will he take advice? Who is on his "team" and who isn't? What's a reasonable argument and what isn't?

Even if Obama personally disliked Ayers and disagreed with his politics in meaningful ways, Obama still found Ayers to be someone worth listening to and working with. Ditto Jeremiah Wright. They were in his tent, not outside it. Ayers and Wright may be more extreme than Obama. Indeed, they surely are. But there is very little evidence in the record that Obama's ideological compass doesn't point in their direction. I don't think Americans should be single issue voters on the Ayers stuff. But I think it is absurd to argue — as the NY Times implicitly does — that this is all meaningless because Obama and Ayers were allegedly less than soulmates.

Again imagine a similar relationship between McCain and an abortion clinic bomber and the Times running a story a month before the election reassuring that it's no big deal because McCain and Mr. Planned Parenthood Bomber weren't "close."

Jonah, like many conservative commentators, seems to have lost his critical thinking abilities during this election because of his intense emotionally charged desire to beat Obama at all costs. He can't separate what he wishes to be from what is. I think what is most disturbing about this trend is that pundits and journalists on both sides have inserted themselves into influencing this election in a more explicit way than ever before. We know that media has always had tremendous influence in this regards but never have they been so obvious about it.