Why do we comment in political columns?  It may be necessary.  Democracy depends on well framed usually moderate arguments that sway people rather than extreme arguments that insult intellect and isolate ideas.

A fine tipped right wing refutation of an unconvincing left wing assumption makes this interesting. It is worth wading through all the trolling and insults for those gems. Similarly, a left wing contrast on the effects of greed temper the right wing stomp to success so encourages social behaviour.

Comments in newspapers and on websites like this allow arguments to be refuted and no blood spilt.

Example of democratic discovery.