i write for the "new york times" and "the atlantic" and do commentary on television and so forth. when i got involved in politics, i wasn't cynical about it. i'm still not. i don't think i'm naive about politics. i understand there's -- there are down side to it. and there are people who are involved in politics who are not embodiment of virtue and high mindedness. but that's true in every profession in life. i think that politics matters. i think politics is finally and fund mentally about justice. and human flush flourishing and the human good. it matters. most of the people i come across in politics, including the people i disagree with philosophically and in terms of party politics are generally good people. and most people get involved in my experience politics for the right reasons. some of it's mixed. motivations are mixed. personal ambitions are there. again, that's true in every profession. it's the nature of human condition. but most people that i know want to get in politics because they have some ideas that they care about, some causes they want to pursue. and my attit