John Hood

In the subsequent viewpoint, John Hood asserts that advertising is an essential and valuable element of a free society. Because ads convey crucial information about the price, quality, and availability of products, they save consumers time and energy. In addition, Hood argues, advertising images are responsible for part of the pleasure people take in making purchases. Hood is president of the John Locke Foundation, a think tank based in North Carolina, and the author of The Heroic Enterprise: Business and the Common Good.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What common criticisms of advertising does Hood mention?
2. How does advertising help alleviate the obvious dilemma that consumers face every day?
3. How does advertising help create meaning and enjoyment in people’s lives"

For the last few years—until 1998, at least—the...