Not long ago I wrote about a general lack of civility in society these days.

Everybody seems more testy.

Movies are more violent and sexually graphic. We have driveby shootings, shock jocks and random acts of violence.

These things were unheard of 20 years ago.

But recently it dawned on me that there is one thing in society that has become more civil over the years.

That is your daily newspaper.

I am not sure why - maybe it's because of the litigious nature of today's America - but the newspaper is a shell of its former self when it comes to being nasty.

We just don't do it anymore.

In the old days, like the '30s, '40s and '50s, a newspaper could be pretty harsh in its editorial stance on an issue.

Now newspapers try to be polite while making a point. I am guilty of it.

I try not to step too hard on too many toes. There have been lots of times when I really wanted to let loose and rip into someone or some issue, but I didn't.

Newspaper editors weren't like that in the past. They let loose. Routinely.

Newspaper editors today, I think, are trying to be politically correct. They want to appear enlightened. It would be gauche to say anything too caustic about anyone or anything.

So we don't get many of those colorful fire-and-brimstone editorials anymore.

And frankly, I don't think our readers would put up with it. They seem to be hypocrites. They flock to the movie theaters to watch the latest greatest gore fest.

But let us run one photo with a patch of blood on the pavement and the phone rings off the hook.

Movies won't sell unless they are laced with a little gratuitous sex.

But we get calls about the occasional lingerie ad we run.

I like the old newspapers better.

Here's a reprint of an editorial that ran in the Chicago Tribune in April 1931.

William Hale Thompson was defeated Tuesday after a campaign which he alone made disgraceful. The election was an ejection, a dirty job, but Chicago has washed itself and put on clean clothes.

Thompson recognized the Tribune as his chief enemy. The Tribune was glad to earn that opinion. It certainly tried to do so. It has taken the fight to him on every occasion during the long and depraved course of his administration. It is unpleasant business to eject a skunk, but someone has to do it.

For Chicago, Thompson has meant filth, corruption, obscenity, idiocy and bankruptcy. He has given the city an international reputation for moronic buffoonery, barbaric crime, triumphant hoodlumism, unchecked graft and a dejected citizenship. He nearly ruined the property and completely destroyed the pride of the city. He made Chicago a byword for the collapse of American civilization. In his attempt to continue this he excelled himself as a liar and defamer of character. He's out.

He is not only out, but dishonored. He is deserted by his friends. He is permanently marked by the evidences of his character and conduct. His health is impaired by his ways of life and he leaves office and goes from the city the most discredited man who ever held place in it.

Now that's an editorial. You just don't see editorials like that anymore.

Could you imagine a big newspaper coming out with an editorial like that about the Clinton administration?

I mean, look at all the heat Dan Burton took for that one lousy "scumbag" comment.

Not to worry. I don't have any plans to turn the Times-Union into a scandal sheet.

I just think it's funny that as the world around us degenerates into deviance, we newspapers wouldn't say poop if our mouths were full of it.

*****

Speaking of the Clinton administration, I thought it might be a good time to put forth a Ken Starr scorecard.

He's taking all this heat from Democrats about his Whitewater investigation. How much he spent, how long it's taking, blah, blah, blah.

Of course the investigation would have been wrapped up long ago if people would cooperate. But they don't. They stonewall, they delay, they file motions for delays and they appeal when the motions are denied.

But anyway, I thought a quick rundown of the results of the investigation so far would be in order.

So here's a list of those convicted and their crimes.

David Hale, conspiracy, false statements; Eugene Fitzhugh, bribery; Robert Palmer, conspiracy; Webster Hubbell, fraud; Neil Ainley, fraud; Chris Wade, fraud; Stephen Smith, conspiracy; Larry Kuca, conspiracy; James McDougal, fraud; Susan McDougal, fraud; William Marks, fraud; Jim Guy Tucker, fraud; and John Haley, fraud.

Currently under indictment are Webster Hubbel on tax evasion charges and Susan McDougal on obstruction and contempt charges.

Please note that none of this is related to the Monica Lewinsky nonsense or the Democratic National Committee fund-raising fiasco.

My guess is there will be more indictments and convictions.

I guess it goes to show just how vast that vast right wing conspiracy really is. [[In-content Ad]]