LETTERS THAT DO NOT
GET PUBLISHED

Re: The Denver Post’s Perspective, 2-15-09, “Newspapers: The press will survive …”

Of all the foolish ways to try to preserve America’s freedom of the press, Mark Eddy’s government bailout proposal is the worst. The only fair way is to let the marketplace decide.

He uses the popular Thomas Jefferson quote of preferring newspapers to government (1787), but fails to note that Jefferson came to loathe the press, e.g.: “As for what is not true, you will always find abundance in the newspapers,” 1806; “Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper,” 1807, and “Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper,” 1819.

But, of course, we journalists do not want the public to hear about that.

Eddy says, and I agree, “We need newspapers in every community.” He should go out and buy a small-town newspaper operation where he can help preserve freedom of the press the voluntary way. If people appreciate the contents of his publication, they will subscribe; advertisers will notice, and he is likely to succeed. If they do not like it, he will fail – as he should.

Starting out flat broke, I was there for 50 years –- without a bailout, and somehow I managed.
P.