Walter is an excellent writer and my respect for him has soared based on his weekly conversations with Matt Taibbi. His recent Tweet:

I’ve done all I could this year, and perhaps more than I should have, to clarify the issues before us and characterize the nature of our moment. I didn’t do it for the money, and there hasn’t been any. In fact, I lost some. Happily. My personal American dream involved becoming a writer and an artist, see, and expressing myself as well as I knew how and as freely as I dared. This year, for the first time in my life, I saw that the opportunity to chase this dream was gravely, gravely threatened, not just for me but for the kids and young people who are much like I was once, an odd little kid who was trying to find his voice. To keep this great road of possibility open seemed to me the highest mission I could assign myself. I did. It’s been an adventure. And such a pleasure.

But now it’s time for words to turn to action. It’s time for us to protect what we hold dear. For me it is our right to speak, think, and create freely, without fear, or at least without fear from the authorities and the moneyed interests and powers that lie behind them.

I hope I’ve made a difference in this cause. I hope I’ve convinced some others to join me in it. And to act accordingly, democratically, as is our right and duty.