Since the early 1990’s, there have been sources of news other than the three major networks, the New York Times, and National Public Radio. First there was the rebirth of AM radio, then the internet, then FOX news. These additional news outlets have had an impact on American politics. The forged papers regarding George W. Bush’s National Guard service that CBS put forth would have been accepted by the American public if the blog LIttle Green Footballs had not pointed out that the font used in the documents did not exist at the time the documents were supposedly created. The ‘blue dress’ that was revealed on the Drudge Report during the Clinton Administration impacted the view people had of President Clinton. Alternative news sources are now an acceptable way for people to investigate a story on their own and draw their own conclusions. That fact is not always appreciated by some of the people in power. There is an expression “when you tax something, there will be less of it.” Keep that in mind as you read the following.
Yesterday’s Washington Times reported that the Federal Trade Commission is investigating the idea of taxing internet websites. Aside from the fact that this will limit the free distribution of news, it is another example of the government stealing money from the people who earn it. The government makes no contribution to internet websites, the people who author them do the work. Why in the world should the government make money from them?
The article states:
“In other words, government policy would encourage a tax on websites like the Drudge Report, a must-read source for the news links of the day, so that the agency can redistribute the funds collected to various newspapers.”
Loosely translated, that means taking money from the websites that are profitable (advertisements, etc.–just for the record, this website is not profitable!) and giving to businesses that are not profitable, thus overriding free enterprise. If newspapers were more balanced in their reporting, I believe they would be more successful. The alternative media has arisen out of need–that is why it is successful. The taxing of internet news is dangerous to our freedom as well as to our pocketbooks.