On The Virtues Of Anonymous -- But Civil, And Free -- Expression Of Ideas... Some 240 Years' Worth

I've written a fair bit about the virtues of Alexander Hamilton's thoughts, of late.

And it bears renewed mention, that almost all of his debates -- especially about immigration, with Thomas Jefferson, in particular -- were conducted in newspapers of general circulation, under various pseudonyms.

In fact, almost all of the Federalist Papers were originally printed under the name Publius. [In that sense, this medium of exchange is not so terribly different than the sort that was employed by the founders. Minus the Ju Ju Beats, of course.]

So it is that most of the central ideas that became our system of ordered liberty, and checks and balances -- were penned anonymously -- and debated in that same way, at first. As a protection from. . . yes, a tyrant. That is food for thought, as to the continuing value of anonymous public discourse, in times where a new leader may well challenge many of the core constitutional values this nation has held for going on 240 years.

So I will remain... faithfully supportive¹ of anonymous public discourse -- where the idea stands, or falls, of its own merit -- and matters more than the name attached to it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

^{1. Having said all of that, the act of doxing someone who wishes to remain anonymous is. . . quite literally. . . beyond the pale -- of civil, humane behavior.}

नमस्ते