“Of course, inherent in this approach is that they must be afraid their own views cannot compete in the marketplace of ideas. Otherwise, why try to suppress the other? Why not just present your argument instead of freezing out your opponent by threatening his advertisers, via a database, no less?”
The “marketplace of ideas” approach is based on the notion that citizens are capable of evaluating competing ideas and deciding for themselves which idea is the best.
The “suppress all views except my own” approach is based on the notion that citizens are sheep, incapable of thinking for themselves, and will believe whatever they are told. Hence, the only way to prevent them from being brainwashed by your political opponents is to silence those opponents, ensuring that the only view that the people hear is yours.
This is why the Left is so enraged by the very existence of Fox News. It isn’t enough for them (the Left) to control most of the news outlets in the world; the Left must control them all. Otherwise, there is still a chance that people will hear a contrary view and be seduced by it. That cannot be allowed.
