You Can't Have It Both Ways

In the Saturday December 1st editions of The Star-Ledger columnist Mark DiIonno makes a compelling argument as to why anonymous postings are bad for free speech. He argues that if what you say is worth saying then you should put your name to it. He gives great historical examples of where famous New Jersey residents have lost their liberty or their life standing behind what they said.

He brings the topic up because of the current rage about a person making postings in a Manalapan forum. The person has some inside information and is putting a slant onto it in the forums. Manalapan wants to know the person's identity.

DiIonno goes on to point out that the Declaration of Independence was a form of free speech but the people who supported it put their names in bold print for all to see. He finishes by explaining that free speech is not free.

So I thought about it and believed he made some valid points. Only one problem. Every Sunday The Star-Ledger publishes a column called the Auditor which covers all the behind the scenes Trenton gossip without attributing it to any one author. That just flies in the face of everything DiIonno said. IT IS CALLED HYPOCRISY.