I draw a parallel between what goes on here at Free Republic, and the “Invisible Hand” of capitalism.
The “Invisible Hand” of capitalism sets prices for things via supply and demand, and the information fed into that invisible hand that makes it work comes from millions of people voting with their dollars, so that the right product and amount of that product gets where it is most needed. (Contrast that with a Soviet style planned economy where a small number of “important” people decide how much of something to make and where it will be sent to, resulting in warehouses full of unused goods, while people who need goods don’t get them.
The analogy I make to this “invisible hand” for Free Republic is this: Instead of a small group of “important” people deciding what is news and how current events are interpreted and communicated, we have the “invisible hand” of thousands of Freepers who participate in the analysis of news, and help each other to see things clearly outside the body of “news” shown by the “professionals”.
The difference is that on FR, we can discuss these things openly and with a enormous spectrums of opinions. And make no mistake, opinions on FR run the entire gamut from irrational and lame-brained, to thoughtful and brilliant.
But here, you have to defend your views. If you have an opinion, you can air it with a few restrictions. And if you are wrong, you will be called out on it and asked to support your position. Sure, there is a lot of peer pressure, and just nasty ad hominem attack, but there is also rational discussion.
Even better, here on FR we have a wide and far ranging store of knowledge provided by Freepers from all walks of life, many of those areas of expertise are brought to bear on an issue.
There was a Freeper who no longer posts, who had worked for 45 years (IIRC, but I cannot remember his name...I sure miss him. Very gentlemanly guy) in the energy sector, and knew a great deal. He wasn’t a bag of hot air or a faker, he knew his stuff and was an expert. Anytime something energy related showed up, many of us would wait to hear his opinion. And we have people who have experience and direct knowledge of matters relating to medicine, the military, aviation, politics, energy, media, art, music, you name it.
Our reasoned opinions on FR, when we can achieve them, are provided by the “invisible hand” of the expertise of many Freepers who can contribute to a discussion or issue and we all have a better view of reality because of it. We get to reach our views on their merits.
We don’t need a bunch of stinking journalists who live inside their own echo chamber.
Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, Mark Steyn and others have referenced FR over the years; many of them are members or lurkers. All use FR as a source.
The demise of Dan Rather and the Dipsy Twits Dixie Chicks are even better examples of direct reporting with real consequences.
Thank you for the thoughtful response. (post 30)