Over the past six years, I have used this space to address a variety of important problems in public policy and civic culture. Usually, I focus on political figures and governmental officials when writing about threats to the social fabric. Today, though, the danger I address is more general, involving the entire commonwealth -- as in the Commonwealth Club, which proudly describes itself as "the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum." The pride is more than warranted; this nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has sponsored an incredible cast of speakers in its 100 years of life, from presidents to activists to authors to tycoons. In just the first half of this week, the group hosted talks by combative and smarmy ex-Clinton adviser Sidney Blumenthal, legendary and controversial CBS producer George Crile, and biographer Robert Dallek, whose new book on JFK is winning rave reviews. For a century, the Commonwealth Club has been a focus for San Franciscans who care about current events and the life of the mind, and who enjoy experiencing their intelligentsia up close and personal. It has stood as a bedrock reminder that the notion of San Francisco simply does not involve... More >>>