I don't really have to talked about the value of a free press. Instead I would like to talk about the problems when the press becomes a monopoly. Most people would agree that it is bad for a company to gain a monopoly. When that happens the company is able to manipulate the public to their advantage. We would also agree that it is bad when only a handful of companies control an industry. If the companies that control the industry work together to control the market then they in essence form an oligarchy over that industry. The oil companies are a good example of a few companies that manipulate the supply and delivery of fossil fuels to their advantage.

But what about a monopoly of ideas? Look at the countries where the government controls the press and you see censorship and oppression. A recent example of this is Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. Anyone who is involved in government knows how critical the media is. In America freedom of the press including television and the Internet are protected. But what happens if a few like minded people have a monopoly on the media? Obviously they would have a tremendous influence on what people believe.

Look at the main stream media today and you will see that is exactly what we have. An oligarchy of few controlling what you read, see, and hear. This has shifted the balance of power clearly in favor of liberal ideas. The explosion of conservative talk radio is an attempt by the market to create a counter balance to the overwhelming liberal bias in magazines, newspapers, and broadcast news.

In order for this country to have a truly free press, the monopoly of the news, media, entertainment complex must be broken up.

- Thomas Paine 2

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