> one where people are treated like consumers This. I lived through the days where politicians, journalists, etc referred to what was "good for the public".

> one where people are treated like consumers This. I lived through the days where politicians, journalists, etc referred to what was "good for the public". I felt the shift to "good for the consumer" as it kicked in and took over, and I hated it both then and now - the change was deliberate and the outcome predictable.