10 Good Books From the Decade

Farrell is a keeper. Honest, willing to work, a solid reader and writer, provocative. It's no wonder his opinions are hard to disagree with.

Would that we could say the same for the brutish bunch of opinionators we usually see in print or hear on air. I mean the ones who haven't read nearly enough to venture one opinion let alone the daily dose. How obvious it is what they've failed to read when they say global warming's "a scam," that America has "the best health care system in the world," that Mexico is part of our drugs problem rather than us part of theirs, that terrorists are "evil" because they won't stand toe-to-toe with our military might and"fight like men," that it's "class envy" and not an unfair system that drives some to question the winner-take-all nature of our rewards system, and so on.

Farrell, it should be added, has the common sense to do research before opining. There's no saying "It's just common sense" as a way of covering up for a lack of research. And there's no "Hang up the phone, you jerk!" as bullying coverup for unwillingness to debate ideas. Maybe most important, Farrell doesn't rely on partisan "think" tanks for his information and/or evidence, instead preferring the broad realm of independent thought as his source for ideas and opinions.

Keep reading and researching, Farrell. And every once in a while, venture a guess as to the books or articles the opinion-makers I've targeted haven't read. Call it your patriotic duty when you do.

Ron W. Smith of UT 3:36PM December 30, 2009