What is the most palpable difference between a dictatorship and a free society? Unlike any dictatorship, a free society has a free press. Tyrants like a free press about as much as hermits like crowds.
Step one in becoming a dictator? Abolish the free press.
Here, then, is some bad news: Without meaning to do so, we vote against the existence of a free press in our city or town if we fail to support our local newspaper.
Given all the free news that abounds on the Internet, it is tempting to save money by not subscribing to one's local paper. But is the free news on the Internet a sufficient substitute for a good local newspaper?
Speaking only for myself, the answer to that question is no. Without at all suggesting its infallibility, I do put more trust in the printed word than in that on the Internet or even that on television. Why? The very fact of having to put one's words on paper is an inherent (though of course imperfect) check against careless factfinding and sloppy thinking.
For those of us who live in Tulsa, our good (actually very good) local newspaper is the Tulsa World. Pat and I have been reading it daily ever since we moved to Tulsa over 45 years ago.
Bottom line: Wherever you live, don't be a news freeloader. Support, or continue to support, your local paper.