Our Mission

The Atlantic Monthly (also known as The Atlantic) is an American literary/cultural magazine founded in Boston in 1857. Its creators were a group of writers that included Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., and James Russell Lowell (who would become its first editor).

From wikipedia.

The Atlantic Monthly's Declaration of Purpose, which was printed in its first issue, went like this: "In politics, The Atlantic Monthly will be the organ of no party or clique, but will honestly endeavor to be the exponent of what its conductors believe to be the American idea. It will deal frankly with persons and with parties, endeavoring always to keep in view that moral element which transcends all persons and parties, and which alone makes the basis of a true and lasting prosperity. It will not rank itself with any sect of anties: but with that body of men which is in favor of Freedom, National Progress, and Honor, whether public or private."

From The Atlantic.

Among the many notable names whose works have appeared in its pages are Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, and Martin Luther King, Jr. The Atlantic became known as a literary and intellectual magazine of the highest quality, creating a tradition that was once its most precious resource. And the magazine also became known as a part of America's left wing, which was arguably the natural result of the antagonism to established powers contained in its Declaration of Purpose.
However, in 1999 the magazine was sold to David Bradley and his National Journal Group. Seemingly more concerned with cashing in off the prestige of the imprint than maintaining its traditions, as owner Bradley has made many questionable changes, and articles based in ideologies which were once out of place in its pages have become more and more common. The most controversial move made by Bradley was to uproot the magazine from its home in Boston and transplant it to his base of operations in Washington, D.C. There are many theories as to why this move was made. Bradley claims it was to centralize his operations, while many, if not most, outside observers feel it was done to clean house. What's undeniable is that almost the entire editorial staff refused to make the move (as expected), and Bradley put in his own people.
Bradley's (mis)handling of The Atlantic is a terrible loss for many on the left, effectively costing us one of our most respected and effective platforms. Strong arguments can be made the magazine is no longer leftist, but now tends towards Clintonian centrism. The blogger, and contributor, Matt Yglesias perhaps best exemplifies this tension. Known as a liberal hawk, Yglesias initially supported the invasion of Iraq, only years later admitting his mistake in a very qualified fashion. There are many, including me, who feel Yglesias's main loyalty is to his career, and that the mistakes he admits to have not been educational for him. At the very least he is a sloppy writer, prone to typos and garbled sentences.
Yglesias is also prone to networking in what can only be called a careerist way, leading to the formation of what resembles nothing so much as a high school clique among him and a few other, primarily D.C. based, bloggers. This has led to the reason this blog exists.
One of Yglesias's friends is a blogger named Megan McArdle. Previously a blogger for The Economist, despite an educational background that does not include any focus on economics*, in August of 07 she began a blog for The Atlantic. In the month since McArdle has become a focus of intense criticism and mockery across the interwebs, both for the incongruity of a libertarian arguing for business rights for The Atlantic and, more importantly, for demonstrating an utter lack of basic professionalism. McArdle demonstrably fails to research or even proofread her postings, at one point agreeing to discuss a book she admitted she had not read a day before the discussion.
And so we come, finally, to this blog's Statement of Purpose.
Megan McArdle is neither qualified for nor competent at her job. She should be fired. She is a terrible journalist, who lectures others on the standards of the profession while repeatedly failing to inform herself on a topic before pontificating on it in a post. She is also lazy in her writing and editing, leaving her posts pockmarked with typos and garbled syntax. The Atlantic has (or had) a tradition of quality, of careful, considered, and brilliant use of language. McArdle, at times, does not appear to be writing in english.
Furthermore, a shallow libertarian such as McArdle has no place at The Atlantic. Her arguments are as sloppy as her writing and researching, and amount to a selfish declaration of her right to keep all her money away from poor people. Setting aside the question of whether libertarian views should have a place in The Atlantic at all, the quality, or lack thereof, of her work is simply insulting to the magazine's tradition of excellence, and to those libertarians who take the time to inform themselves and craft intelligent, considered arguments.
There simply is no reason for her to have the position she does, except that she knows the right people.
I have no illusions of this blog accomplishing anything, and the faux high minded tone of this initial post will not be repeated. McArdle quite simply sucks, and does not deserve considered response. She deserves to be mocked, and fired. Since the latter is beyond my abilities, I have to resort to being a jackass. Fortunately, I'm well trained in that field.

Also, maybe this will let Gavin relax a little about what she's doing to a magazine he loves, and get back to the proper targets for S,N! McArdle deserves all she gets, but maybe this will allow for those energies to end up in the proper forum.


* Update:

This is an overstatement, and a rookie mistake. She has no kind of degree in Economics.