The lifeblood of any writer's ambitions is to burn through the static of today's frenzied communications channels-- and get somebody, anybody, to read their words. Today, we have an unparalled opportunity to attract readers from the United States Government... with the help of a "truth squad" of fellow citizens assisting the effort.

This potential boom in readership comes courtesy of Macon Phillips, director of New Media for the Obama Administration, who asked on an official White House blog for members of the reading public to forward "questionable claims" --specifically, on the issue of health reform, but one presumes not limited thereto-- to the administration.

"There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation," said Phillips.

"Since we can't keep track of all of them here at the White House, we're asking for your help," Phillips posted. "If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov."

Of course, there are always the spoilsports in the crowd --already, some are asking irritating questions such as "Would it have been a good idea for George Bush to ask people to report persons who made 'questionable claims' about his plans and policies?" Or, "To what use will the government put the information on sites or writers who are 'reported'?"

Such concerns are, of course, wholly unwarranted-- especially for writers, who know that any publicity that brings even one more reader is... well, good publicity.

Sadly, given the proliferation of 'fishy' material being generated for public consumption --including, of course, this blog entry-- I predict that the pipeline will again soon be jammed... and we'll all be back hoping to be discovered by an Oprah producer.

--Earl Merkel

 (EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Merkel has asked for this piece to be reported to flag@whitehouse.gov , in the unlikely event that anyone may indeed happen upon it in the wilds of Red Room. Informers will be credited in his next book, tentatively entitled 'Journals From An American Gulag.')