I understand and respect the need for newspapers, online or offline, to make money. After all, how would they pay for reporters, newspaper deliverers, server space, editors, and everything else that goes into generating content. So I’m not surprised or offended that Madison.com has put up a paywall. Some people were, not sure why, it’s their website after all.

All that being said, I can’t imagine ever paying any money to the pay wall for fear that it would go to the right-wing Wisconsin State Journal editorial board. Aside from not wanting to sponsor a right-wing megaphone, there are also things like the below (which the Daily Tissue points out Wait, they’re charging for the editorials???):

Friday, Type 5 hilarity. “Cooperation key to denting debt“ is the usual, monthly, inexpert bungling on the subject of federal debt:

Taxing the rich — the Democrats’ favorite talking point — won’t solve the problem. Neither will staunch Republican opposition to any and all increases in revenue.

Um, actually, taxing the rich would go a very long way toward “solving the problem”, whereas Republican opposition to taxes prevents “solving the problem”. Does anybody edit these things before they get published?

Hahaha, how’s that for fair and balanced?

Now, there are a lot of cool people writing interesting things at Madison.com and I wish them nothing but the best. However, there is no way I’d pay for that. Maybe others will.

*I do think that their paywall is implemented well, in a technical sense, and will probably work to push up print subscription numbers too.