as the animaniacs used to say...

Good idea, bad idea...

Good idea: Holding officials accountable for their actions.
Bad idea: Deciding that if the government does something, it's wrong, but if someone you agree with does it, it totally rocks.

Good idea: Intelligent debate on the issues.
Bad idea: Deciding that if someone disagrees with you, they are therefore uninformed, backwoods hicks who (*patronizing sigh*) just don't get how the world works.

Good idea: Pushing for change where you think it is needed and being able to intelligently articulate and defend this change.
Bad idea: Rather than debate/compromise, assume those who challenge you are automatically agents of evil or hopelessly stupid. Extra points for misogyny and/or bigotry.

Good idea: Being tolerant of others and supporting freedom of expression.
Bad idea: Being tolerant of others and supporting freedom of expression except when people disagree with you or express themselves in ways you don't like (see: San Francisco).

and now for something completely different

The Old Testament as a text adventure.

Sample:

Greetings, Moses! You have escaped the clutches of Pharaoh!
>i
You have:
Robes
Staff
40000 Hebrew ex-slaves
>look
You are lost in the desert.
>N
You are lost in the desert.
>N
You are lost in the desert.
>N
You are lost in the desert.
>W
You are lost in the desert.
>S
You are lost in the desert.
>E
You are lost in the desert.
>W
You are lost in the desert.
>N
You are lost in the desert.
>E
You are lost in the desert.
...
>WTF GOD
God says, "Forty years, sucka."
>look
Hey, there's a mountain there!
>climb mountain
The view is spectacular. You can see where you came from, and all the lands you've claimed, and there, in the distance, is The Promised Land.
God says "Look but don't touch!"
You are dead.
Play again (Y/N)?

I wonder if Moses got eaten by a grue?

Also, Hamlet: The Text Adventure.