Alchian on the Right and “cost” of Free Speech

A right of free speech is not an “economically free” right. It uses scarce resources. “Free speech” means the right to communicate with your own resources to other willing listeners—without political intervention about what you say. I can’t force you to hear or read my “speech” any more than I can force you to give me your wealth. I can’t take property of others to communicate, nor can I regard the attention of other people as “free” to me. I must use my own, or rented, resources to communicate, and then only to willing persons. Both these critical features, (1) use of one’s owned or rented resources by the speaker and (2) a willing listener, are often ignored. (FROM: ALERT! FREE SPEECH IS NOT “FREE RESOURCES”)