Considering that the business model for free online newspapers is unsustainable, and paper news is dying out, that implies that eventually all newspapers will be behind a pay wall. If, as you say, the only way for a news paper to thrive behind a pay wall is to offer very high quality unique content, that would imply that in the future all newspapers will offer high quality unique content. That sounds pretty nice.
Paid does not automatically mean "quality". Look at the TV programming - how often do you hear yourself say "yes, this program is worth my money"?
Russ,
I believe the education must be subsidized. How else parents working for a minimum wage could afford to pay for their children's education? No way. Are their children stupider? No, at least when they were born. But with age, they fall further and further behind. To become a smart person, someone must invest in you. And some parents simply can't, although they want to. That's the role of the government. They should be building a nation of creators, not consumers. Call me socialist if you wish, but I'd rather be among equals, than sitting on an island in a sea of ignorance.
Don't get stuck with the $10 number. This is an investment in the nation building. Of course the price will be much higher, and the government will cover most of the research and even the production cost; of course, with taxpayers money. But I will say this -- I would rather pay $1000 more in taxes which the government invests in education and development, than in wars. There is nothing wrong with subsidizing the education, and every country in the world should do it, if it cares about its future.
Slashdot Mirror
Considering that the business model for free online newspapers is unsustainable, and paper news is dying out, that implies that eventually all newspapers will be behind a pay wall. If, as you say, the only way for a news paper to thrive behind a pay wall is to offer very high quality unique content, that would imply that in the future all newspapers will offer high quality unique content. That sounds pretty nice.
Paid does not automatically mean "quality". Look at the TV programming - how often do you hear yourself say "yes, this program is worth my money"?
Russ, I believe the education must be subsidized. How else parents working for a minimum wage could afford to pay for their children's education? No way. Are their children stupider? No, at least when they were born. But with age, they fall further and further behind. To become a smart person, someone must invest in you. And some parents simply can't, although they want to. That's the role of the government. They should be building a nation of creators, not consumers. Call me socialist if you wish, but I'd rather be among equals, than sitting on an island in a sea of ignorance.
Don't get stuck with the $10 number. This is an investment in the nation building. Of course the price will be much higher, and the government will cover most of the research and even the production cost; of course, with taxpayers money. But I will say this -- I would rather pay $1000 more in taxes which the government invests in education and development, than in wars. There is nothing wrong with subsidizing the education, and every country in the world should do it, if it cares about its future.