We, the Blogger of The Frozen North, find these Rules for Political Discourse in a Democracy to be self-evident:

1. That dissent is not disloyalty, nor even treason .

2. That perfectly reasonable people may disagree on matters of substance.

3. That compromise is often the route to workable solutions.

4. That it is the responsibility of all citizens to become informed about differing opinions.

5. That no person should ever be afraid to voice an opinion, however misguided that opinion may seem.

6. That no idea is inherently dangerous, and bad ideas are best countered with good ones.

7. That government does not serve the people, nor people the government: government is the embodiment of the collective will of those who choose to speak up.

8. That it is the responsibility of citizens to question each other and their leaders.

9. That respect and a spirit of cooperation are necessary for a functional democracy.

10. That transparent government and an involved populace ensure honest, responsive leadership.