Media Groups Aims to Stop ‘Bailout’ of Journalism

Earlier this summer, two government agencies considered proposals that would lead to more government involvement in the media. The Federal Communications Commission looked into "net neutrality" proposals while the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) put forth a list of potential policy recommendations to support the "reinvention" of journalism.

This "reinvention" includes ideas like creating a journalism equivalent of AmeriCorps, giving tax credits to news organizations, handing out "news vouchers" to citizens, increasing funding for public radio and television and increasing postal subsidies for newspapers. This would be paid for in part by a new tax on electronics...

How about we get someone in Congress to propose a TAX!

A TAX on NEWSPRINT!

Whereas the production of newspapers causes trees to be cut down, hauled by polluting trucks to polluting paper mills, and hauled from paper mills to publishers and

Whereas the production of newspapers requires toxic ink and solvents and energy wasting machinery and

Whereas the distribution of newspapers requires the use of dirty internal combustion engines and

Whereas a large portion of every landfill is used for discarded newspapers,

Therefore:

Be it resolved that a Newsprint tax, of $1,000.00 per pound, be charged to EVERY newspaper with a daily subscription, within the United States!
________________________________________
We should get some Republican to propose THIS as an amendment to any “cap and trade” or “carbon tax” proposal that comes up!
Maybe we can make it like “Cap and Trade” and use the revenue generated, from this tax on dirty dinosaur newspapers, to subsidize a tax credit for home computers and digital devices?
Or, we could use the money to subsidize talk radio! Well, those guys really don’t need any help!

I came up with this idea more than 3 years ago, IIRC.

Gosh, they libs took it SERIOUSLY, but in reverse?

Back in 2008 -- and even before -- Republicans ought to have said, "Free Enterprise means no bailouts. The power of government cannot be used to force taxpayers to pay for the mistakes of rich businessmen. If the Fat Cats drive their enterprise into the ground, then they must fail. Free Enterprise means that there is always someone who will come along and pickup the pieces."

But almost no one said that. People panicked. Properly formulated, the statement puts Democrats on the side of the rich Wall St Bankers and other disreputable people. Think of th eopportunity that was lost. It was a morally right position, and a politically astute position too. But the RINOs didn't take advantage of it.

And now we seem to live in a world of endless bailouts.

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