A Secret Think Tank Blogger Would Solve All Our Problems

Most of the time, I find much to agree with and little that's objectionable from Kevin Carey's blog posts over at The Quick And The Ed. Though sometimes a little too self-serious and lengthy for my tastes, he's usually a reasonable and reflective  antidote to all the predictable puffery we usually get from the think tank boys.   

Carey's post today about blogs and anonymity (Realism and Anonymity) doesn't go down so easily, however -- in large part because it seems like Carey is trying to make fine-grained distinctions that aren't particularly useful or consistent, and because he fails to acknowledge the self-interest that's involved in his arguments. 

It would be much more interesting for Carey to reflect on the questions that many have about the predetermined nature of think tank research findings, consider the the advocacy role played by his and other think tanks, and acknowledge that transparency and attribution questions surround politically-minded think tanks as much if not more so than  journalism.

Perhaps he -- or someone else inside the education policy complex -- could best (or only) address these delicate issues with -- yes -- a pseudonymous blogging identity that would allow complete candor.  I highly recommend it.