[The Great Yazoo]

This libertarian cant is usually an excuse for not thinking.

Yes. I was just thinking in light of all the video materials available at my public library, those people who tried to start a private videotape rental service, I believe they called it "Blockbuster," if I remember correctly, must have been unthinking libertarians subject to much cant. "Blockbuster" what fools! They should have just called it "Bust!"

[x]

Your argument makes more sense if you turn it upside down. Blockbuster made a big smash in the media and expanded when people weren't aware that quality video materials were available in libraries. So the question wasn't whether Blockbuster could succeed despite the powerful competition of public libraries, but whether libraries could provide a worthwhile video service as an alternative to outlets like Blockbuster.

And they have. Plenty of people subjected to all the advertising and hype for Blockbuster would be surprised and pleased to find that they can get a lot of the same stuff at public libraries for free. Not the very newest stuff, and not everything, but a lot, especially since you can get videos from other libraries through inter-library loan. If the public library were the only way to borrow videos people would certainly want a better alternative. But as an alternative to mass-market commercial services they do quite well and fill an important niche.

Now of course it's your taxes that pay for it, but in that case, isn't it wise to take advantage of what's available? Perhaps you'll find other things that aren't available at Blockbuster as well.