Rasmussen notes:
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering several ways to help the struggling newspaper industry, but Americans strongly reject several proposed taxes to keep privately-owned newspapers going.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 84% oppose a three percent (3%) tax on monthly cell phone bills to help newspapers and traditional journalism.
Similarly, 76% oppose a proposed five percent tax on the purchase of consumer electronic items such as computers, iPads and Kindles to help support newspapers and traditional journalism. Seventy-four percent (74%) oppose the proposal to tax web sites like the Drudge Report to help the newspapers they draw their headlines from.
Each of these ideas was suggested for consideration in a recent FTC report. (my emphasis)
You read that right. We are not dealing with mere hypothetical speculation here. Rather, the FTC has really been suggesting taxing consumer goods to subsidize a failing news medium. That is such a violation of constitutional and free market principles that it seems unthinkable that it could even be considered.
What's even more alarming is the rationale given by proponents. Many who propose subsidizing print media actually believe they are defending the free press by handing it public funding. Of course, that is deeply flawed thinking. Truly, government subsidization of print media will only serve to erode freedom of the press. Most importantly, it would erode the liberty of each individual forced to pay taxes for a service not enumerated under the U.S. Constitution.
Don't worry. A free press will not be absent in this country with the failure of print media. Correctly, "fifty-eight percent of Americans are confident that online and other news sources will make up the difference if many newspapers go out business." Indeed they will, and as a blogger, I am quite confident that these new sources of information will do just fine without government subsidies.
If print media lives or dies, the outcome should be based on merit- as decided by the voluntary choices of consumers. Print media definitely should not exist by the use of force (i.e. coercive, redistributive taxes). That is wrong anyway it reads.
Daryl Luna, Regular Columnist
Articles | Author's Page
