In the late 18th century, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of letters advocating for ratification of the new U.S. Constitution (the one we now live under). Today known as “The Federalist Papers,” they began their lives as letters to the editor or flyers. The great men who wrote them later served in many high offices of the government they helped to form, up to and including the Presidency.
But when they wrote “The Federalist,” they did it anonymously. The letters were published under the pen name “Publius.”
They were detailed, they were philosophical, they were precise. The articles which appeared under the name Publius made academic, evidence-based, literate arguments. They survive today as one of the great classics of political theory.
Anonymity once served to elevate the American political debate from the mundane to the sublime.
Today, anonymous bloggers and commenters are known mostly for name-calling and profanity.
Whatever has changed about our culture, that turned anonymity from a grace to a curse, is something that we should try to change back.