[Damon is the program director at the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University. He's responding to Rick Karr's note at http://www.politechbot.com/p-02303.html -- if Rick cares to reply, I'll give him the last word. --Declan] --- From: "Damon Chetson" <dchetsonat_private> To: <declanat_private> Subject: RE: Replies to $18 billion agency from Wired's Platt, NPR's Karr Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 09:32:17 -0400 In-Reply-To: <5.0.2.1.0.20010725161923.02001b80at_private> Declan, I take issue with Mr. Karr's assumption that because reporting "ain't cheap", the government has to step in to do it. Karr assumes that the kind of programming on NPR cannot be provided for voluntarily in a free market - hence his statements about MSNBC and CNN. So, instead, he argues that all people should be forced to pay for programming via tax money that only a few people actually use. (Indeed, if more people used it, advertising would cover the cost in Karr's scenario). It's always interesting to hear people define the "public good" and then insist that people should be forced to supply it through tax money. Usually their conception of the "public good" includes all sorts of things they personally like and benefit from. In fact, all sorts of activities - from exercise to eating fruit to philosophizing about the role of government - contribute to the public good. Does that mean that government ought to provide them? I'm all for foundations supporting the arts, Mr. Karr's NPR, and, of course, my philosophizing about the role of government since that money is contributed voluntarily by people who care about those issues. I think we need to be skeptical of ANY attempt to use taxpayer dollars since at root tax money is the result of coercion. Finally, there's an interesting public choice question to consider here. Once started through government money, will this National Web Institute (or whatever) ever die? Not likely since once the institute is staffed and budgeted, it will take on a life of its own regardless of the continued importance of its mission. Best, Damon Chetson ** You can post this if you think it's worthwhile ** ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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