Just to be clear about the reason for my categorical refusal to engage with you on the substance of the matter. It is not that you come down on a different side of this particular issue than I do. I love disagreement, and I love people who disagree with me! It is rather that in your very first conversational move you imputed to me an intention I do not have: “simply to position [myself] as a true Progressive with a still-functioning conscience.”

Are you really so unaware of the reality of substantive, principled, meaningful disagreement that the only interpretation you can conjure of a viewpoint different from yours is that it must be motivated by some small-minded and anxious concern on the part of your interlocutor to “position” himself in the eyes of others? I don't care how I'm “positioned”; I just say what I sincerely believe. I may be wrong in what I believe -- that's an entirely different matter! But I am certain I am not wrong in refusing to enter into any culture-wars spiral involving the imputation of bad faith by either of the parties involved.

Now please, have a great day, a great life, and try either to interact with people online who share in a spirit similar to yours, i.e., who have the same idea of what we're even doing here in talking to one another. Or, if you're willing, think about what I've just explained to you and consider cultivating a spirit of conversational charity.

Of course even if you do that, I still have to point out that in no case does any online comment *deserve* a response -- not ever, not from anyone. We're all very busy, and in my work as a writer I tend to put most of my energy into the pieces themselves, and not into follow-up discussion.