The free market is a wondrous thing. It allows suppliers of goods and services to compete for your business, and this competition usually puts downward pressure on prices. As this article illustrates, this phenomenon is as true for the newspaper industry as it is for any other:
The New York Times will stop charging for access to parts of its Web site, effective at midnight tonight. The move comes two years to the day after The Times began the subscription program, TimesSelect, which has charged $49.95 a year, or $7.95 a month, for online access to the work of its columnists and to the newspaper’s archives.
Their risible explanations notwithstanding, it could hardly be more obvious that NYT management made this decision as a direct result of Rupert Murdock’s recent purchase of the WSJ, and his stated intention to compete directly with the NYT for readers by eliminating its online fees. In other words, free market competition has saved money for readers of both papers.
Some of us would like to see the same market forces working for health care consumers. Unfortunately, the NYT and the politicians it supports are working diligently to prevent American patients from enjoying the lower costs that the free market brings to any industry where it is allowed to function unmolested by the heavy hand of government.
Ironic, is it not?
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Stop press - read all about it!
By David Catron
In an unprecedented move today, US healthcare was opened to newstand style competition. Out on the streets freesheets were distributed to attract new ‘readers’ who flocked through hospital doors to enjoy their First Amendment rights to hip replacements and cataract surgery. Sporting a gown resplendent with ads from McDonald’s, Wal-Mart and Ford, Doc Murdoch in New York said: “We’ll fix their circulation or bust.” Patient Dolly Parton said: ‘Just the bust please Doc.” Meanwhile in a clinic in Washington, Doc Woodward came up with life saving treatment – “Sorry it’s exclusive and we’re protecting our sources…”
Editor’s note: Sadly our intrepid reporter passed away with all the excitement, and his insurance didn’t reach as far as an obituary.
Posted 19 Sep 2007 at 4:02 pm ¶Post a Comment