Re: "Entry level pricing" as social policy v2

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
Date: October 2, 2009 10:58:16 PM EDT
To: Bob Frankston <Bob19-0501 () bobf frankston com>
Cc: "'Joshua Tinnin'" <krinklyfig () gmail com>,  
bob2-39 () bobf frankston com, dave () farber net, lauren () vortex com
Subject: Re: [IP] Re: "Entry level pricing" as social policy v2

Bob Frankston wrote:
> If we have to pay merely to communicate then we aren't serious about  
> the right
> <http://frankston.com/?n=RightToBeConnected>  to communicate - we  
> mustn't
> set a price per word.

Last I checked, we're serious about free speech in this country, but  
megaphones and poster board and blank paper still cost money. So do  
books, newspapers, and magazines (and their writers, who typically get  
paid because their editors have set a price per word).

Maybe you're making a rhetorical point for effect, but let's not fall  
into the trap of agreeing that I have a right to coerce you through  
taxation to pay for my Internet connection. Especially when the  
introductory Verizon price is something like $18 a month, I'm not too  
worried about The Sacred Right To Communicate being lost -- if it  
costs as much as a single takeout meal at your average Thai restaurant.

-Declan





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