A comment in the last post asked this question and I wanted to share my answer.  The questions was...

I'm not sure what you think you are trying to accomplish here.

You speak of taking the time to document history from the comfort
of ivory towers, whilst Rome burns. How much time have you spent
on this so far? how is your cynicism being constructive?

 My answer was...

"As far as your questions I have one answer which is that I believe there is inherent value in the truth and so I seek it out. Plain and simple. Be it a truth I like or a truth I don't like."

That pretty much sums up this blog.  If you've ever wondered why I post the things I do, why I criticize, etc... that is basically it.  Note I'm not saying I always know what the truth is.  My posts are as much a request for critique as they are a sharing of my ideas.  But in the end that's what this blog is all about to me.