We pay too much attention to "bad news." This includes government programs that aren't implemented as well as they might be, inability of politicians to agree on even basic facts, and outrageous things said or done by extremists on either end of the political spectrum.

We don't talk enough about "good news." This includes programs that accomplish what they were designed to do and politicians who do what they said they would. It includes positive things that are happening despite the efforts of some people to hold back the tide. And it includes signs of hope for the future.

This concentration on the negative has destructive consequences. If people think that all government programs are wasteful failures (as too many of my neighbors do), they lose hope that we can ever accomplish anything to improve life for all of us. If they believe all politicians are crooks and liars, they'll vote for the ones who tell lies that justify the voter's prejudice and self-interest. That's why I'm against negative political advertising.

In this blog, I'll try to focus on good news. Looking back, some of my previous posts have been about bad news. It's an easy trap to fall into ("can you believe the latest thing ____ said?"). But it's not helpful. There are lots of other places you can go if you want to get angry -- Fox News, MSNBC, Daily Kos, and many others. I can't do it as well as they do, so I'll try to be a positive voice.

Let me know what you think of this. Good idea? Crazy? Feel free to contribute your own good news stories.