Opening-Week Open Thread

Currently, the blog format of this site is somewhat limited.  In the future, we hope to open up the site a great deal, and allow for all citizens to share their own essays, thoughts, and links.  We have a few other surprises around the corner, too.  Until then, however, we're going to post a weekly open thread, where everyone can feel free to add to the dialogue of the Republic.  If it's a topic that draws enough interest, we'll re-post it as a main article, to encourage further discussion. 

Comment away!