This week of all weeks, Jeremy Scahill's conversation with Daniel Jones is a gift for my democratic soul (and maybe yours too). Jones' work--probing and then describing the CIA's torture program--is a reminder of the decency, restraint and courage still possible in public service. He's bullied and his work discredited by many in government. But Jones persists in the belief that democracies must acknowledge and come to grips with mistakes, malfeasance and worse. In an understated way, he reminds us all of the hard work this system of governance requires of every one of us. And--with great sobriety--he reminds us that Republicans and Democrats alike have let us down. We have to do (and be) better.
The interview is about 95 minutes in length, and well worth it. Or, you can read the transcript here. It seems to me that all of our angst around corruption and the abuse of power is only remedied by this kind of public service, this kind of commitment to transparency, truth and correction. (See too the movie--"The Report"--which is just out!)
