Free Speech and Money...

I remember in law school, in more than one class, being presented with the concept of the "marketplace of ideas." Loosely interpreted, that concept analogizes the arena of speech to a marketplace, wherein the best ideas will battle the worst ones, like products, and win based on their value and quality. Sure, someone with a bad product, or idea, could use money to market it better and try to push it upon the buyers, but we're smart people, we'll figure it out eventually.

Unfortunately, I'm starting to feel like the good ideas are losing. They're drowned out by the Mainstream Media, which is significantly better funded than any other source of political or social discourse. The Mainstream Media repeats whatever money tells it to, and ignores good ideas from little places with no money, or with no profit to be gained. Our general level of education is too low, or people are in general, too willing to join in with the mob to scapegoat whomever is nearest for our troubles, rather than ignore the bad ideas and search for the good ones.