Perhaps Leftists In Congress Will Soon Make It Illegal To Not Charge As Much As The Traffic Will Bear

Opinion Journal has a good profile of Jim Buckmaster, frugal CEO of Craigslist, which is single-handedly destroying the newspaper business model, while declining to collect maybe $500M in potential profits, all while providing a very valuable service to its users for free, without bombarding them with annoying ads. Naturally, the leftists in Congress are bound to eventually find this to be a total outrage (pro: on the face of it, Craigslist is a leftist's dream, for all the reasons given. con: it is hurting leftist propaganda organs).

Here's what one of the reader responses had to say:

Look Out for the Newspaper Lobby
James Henry - Lanesville, Ind.

I believe Mr. Buckmaster can expect some attempt to legislate him out of business. I know, I know, he is violating none of the myriad laws that may apply to his activities. But careers, the existence of a still-powerful industry, and multiple millions of dollars are at stake. This industry will not go quietly into the night. Even Mr. Carney displayed nervousness at the prospect of continued sapping of newspaper revenues.

Consider what a politician, facing the prospect of no more free political support from the front page and editorial page, might produce in committee in the late hours when Congress is in haste to adjourn.

The ground could be cut out from under Mr. Buckmaster in a heartbeat. Consider what a punitive federal tax on his business activities would produce. There would be no sympathy for his plight expressed on the front pages of his competitors. Even The Wall Street Journal might swallow its philosophical support in preference to the bottom line. It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out.