71. Has commercialism become too widespread, particularly in schools, churches, and + G4 ?8 r: T0 \. e
other places which traditionally have been safe havens from commercialism? If so, does
- W3 s" k9 F/ |2 a# e- Zthe government have a responsibility to curb the problem? The answer to both questions, " b0 I$ H- ?; S1 B
in my view, is no. , O& P( r" \1 F$ Q
There is no evidence that commercialism is creeping into our churches.
4 R# }$ e* l+ sAdmittedly, some commercial activity is present in our schools. Food service is * j% J! h8 ^8 t% {
increasing outsourced to fast-food chains; a plethora of goods and services is sold in
7 Y U9 L9 S6 b `+ I# m) Pcollege bookstores and advertised in their school newspapers; and students serve as 5 C( l0 P1 k8 ]1 c8 [! `# P& l
walking billboards for the companies whose logos appear on clothing. However, this
4 M# X" d% G Tkind of commercialism does not interfere with school activities; to the contrary, in the
0 E6 M: ?. G: |0 B- Q1 ~& x5 I9 ufirst two cases they contribute to the efficient functioning of the organization. 1 B3 e; J- A2 X
Outsourcing food service, for example, is a cost-cutting measure which provides
3 x( |) p# I* r: k: q3 O) t; Oadditional funding for teaching materials, facilities, and teacher salaries.2 S0 r6 q4 V2 E3 c* N! m
I do agree that, in general, commercialism is becoming more widespread, and that , K9 U2 i2 ?& ?( d# U v
one of the byproducts may be a decline in the quality of our culture. Electronic
) Y7 {2 } a% {- a# Mbillboards now serve as backdrops for televised sporting events, and Web sites must sell 9 U3 N* Z. G$ L( O4 k6 G% `
advertising space to justify maintenance costs. Does this mean that government should
2 A0 H" W/ a4 q8 E7 l- lstep in and ban the sale of products in certain venues? No. This would require that ; m* _5 D( b6 b2 r
government make ad hoc, and possibly arbitrary, decisions as to which products may be
% U3 |' F8 w5 asold or advertised at which places and events. These are value judgments that are best ) J( e! ?- L. O$ B P' V
left to individual schools, churches, and other organizations. Moreover, the expense of - Y9 _ V2 g4 C. g6 f, F! |
enforcing the regulations may well outweigh the cultural benefits, if any.
; g5 n# p3 B, k! n" O4 F In sum, while commercialism is undeniably becoming more widespread, it is / G. |5 t- c& o* Y
minimally intrusive and works to the net benefit of society. As a matter of public policy, 4 V7 k# }& y( x3 y5 A; k) m6 |
therefore, government should not attempt to regulate the extent of commercialism. |