I am using Python version 2.3.4, pydoc version 1.86.8.1 
on WinXP SP2.

pydoc's visiblename() method indicates "Private names 
are hidden, but special names are displayed". However, 
visiblename's private name qualifier seems to be 
(name.startswith('_')) while Python's private name 
qualifier is something more along the lines of 
((name.startswith('__') and ((name[-1] != '_') or ((name[-1] 
== '_') and (name[-2] != '_')))).

Having said that, it would be useful if a command line 
switch enabled documentation for private names. This 
would be helpful in a development environment...