The roles of Lycon, Anytus, and Meletus are played by academia, mainstream media, advocacy groups, and our political leaders

Apology is Plato's account of the trial of Socrates in 399 BC.

Our political leaders, academia, advocacy groups and mainstream media seem to be playing the shameful roles of Lycon, Anytus, and Meletus, the orators who brought baseless charges against Socrates.  He was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens by trading in the market place of ideas with the currency of free speech.  The role of Socrates as the falsely accused is played by the citizens of our nation.  

The Apology of Socrates begins with Socrates addressing the jury of perhaps 500 Athenian men to ask if they have been persuaded by the Orators Lycon, Anytus, and Meletus, who have accused Socrates of corrupting the young people of the city and impiety against the pantheon of Athens. The first sentence of his speech establishes the theme of the dialogue — that philosophy begins with an admission of ignorance. Socrates later clarifies that point of philosophy when he says that whatever wisdom he possesses comes from knowing that he knows nothing (23b, 29b).

In the course of the trial, Socrates imitates, parodies, and corrects the Orators, his accusers, and asks the jury to judge him by the truth of his statements, not by his oratorical skill (cf. Lysias XIX 1,2,3; Isaeus X 1; Isocrates XV 79; Aeschines II 24). Socrates says he will not use sophisticated language — carefully arranged ornate words and phrases — but will speak using the common idiom of the Greek language. Socrates says that he will speak in the manner he has used in the agora and at the money tables which he states is his native tongue and the fashion of his country. Although offered the opportunity to appease the prejudices of the jury, with a minimal concession to the charges of corruption and impiety, Socrates does not yield his integrity to avoid the penalty of death. The jury condemns Socrates to death.

We are all in an always evolving state of some degree of ignorance, a condition resolved by free speech in the market place of ideas which leads to persuasion and consent.  A process apparently abhorrent to political leaders, academia, advocacy groups and mainstream media.