John makes a very good point on the responsiveness of market decision-makers who stand to lose money by offending people. Here’s another radio example. WCPE, which broadcasts out of Wake Forest, is a classical music station that receives no government subsidies. Now, most “public radio” stations have stopped broadcasting classical music, but back when they did, it was not uncommon to tune in and find some hideously unlistenable “avant garde” piece on. Programming directors could indulge their own preferences without having to worry about annoying listeners like me. I’m not sure how many of those directors actually liked the avant garde stuff; my guess is that mostly they felt an obligation to be “diverse.” I’ve been a WCPE listener for years now and have never heard anything that was truly unpleasant to listen to.
Free market competition (which applies just as much to non-profit enterprises as those that are in business for profit) is a powerful force for consumer sovereignty. And that’s why socialism is always inferior — it takes away the reward for being right and penalty for being wrong.
