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Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Don't be so obtuse. When we think that other markets are working poorly, the government regulates them.
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That is what socialists and economic morons do when they think markets are working poorly and usually with disastrous results. Farm subsidies screw the consumer by increasing food prices (which hits hardest on the people least able to afford it) and raises taxes. Airline Deregulation and telecom deregulation greatly decreased prices and improved service. The only time markets need to be regulated is when you have a monopoly situation. In other words, to increase competition. Otherwise trying to regulate the market does not help. That doesn't mean you shouldn't pass laws to protect public safety etc. but almost every time the government thnks it can improve a market it screws it up.
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Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop Why not this one? If reporting is a public good -- and the Framers of the Constitution clearly thought it was -- then why wouldn't it be appropriate for the government to encourage its production?
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Just because it is a public good doesn't mean that the government should interfere. I know the founders would agree with me on that. A government intervention into the press and media would be a huge waste of money and would probably make the system worse. Encourage production? Why? Because it works so well with Oranges? I may not like the type of news that the public is demanding, but that doesn't mean the government should step in and give them what I think they should have. I don't want you or any bureacrat deciding what news the American public needs.
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Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop Perhaps you're worried that the government will meddle with the news, bend it to its own purposes. I share the concern.
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Another problem and I can't think of one possible benefit.
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Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop But when this concern arises in other contexts -- think about how the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board or the director of the FBI serve -- there are ways to address it.
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The Central Bank and the FBI is where you need government involvement. When it comes to the press you don't need any government involvement. What are you suggesting, some quasi political apointee like the Federal Reserve Chairman or FBI director to "oversee" news distribution. A news Czar? You can't be serious.
The government has plenty of things that it has responsiblity for that it hasn't taken care of. Mainly eduction. We don't need to add another responsibility. Especially one where I don't see where the government could do any good.
