Medium may have millions of writers, but it has no community. All of us are individuals chasing our own agenda, competing with others. In theory, publications could be communities on Medium. But each of them became a propaganda tube for this or that cause. Hermetically closed for the opposing views, they are simmering in their own sauce.

The variety of writers presenting all the possible points of view are the greatest asset of Medium; not explored yet. Frustrated with it, for some time, I had been thinking about opening a publication devoted to something that no one does anywhere in the American media - to discussions among writers of diverse views. Coincidentally, by the time of Ev’s announcement, I persuaded Jazmin Cortes to help me with my idea, and we started Virtual Agora, a publication on Medium devoted to Socratic style debates.

As immigration is now a hot political issue, we started with articles on this subject. We seek more. Also, socialism is now an ongoing controversy, and we have a polemic on it as well; and we look for more.

We realize that the very idea of opposing ideas clashing face to face in one place is very foreign in the American media today. The last time it was done thoughtfully, it was in Firing Line, which seized to exist before the youngest Medium writers were born.

In my completely not humble opinion, that lack of candid conversation on public matters is the sole cause of most of our political problems. Hence, Virtual Agora is not about publishing articles. It is about a tiny contribution of each writer to fixing our dysfunctional politics. Together we can do it. If we do it right, the publicity and money will come along. You are invited to be a part of the solution.