Letter Found on the Body of Author Jose Franco By NYC Pickpocket

Dear Reader,
If you are reading this letter, then my body has been found, adorned in a Novo Nordisk t-shirt, a testament to my final protest. My cause of death is clear: fasting until a critical mass of Americans read my free e-book, "How To Get Better At Things You Don't Think You're Bad At By 2020," or until Oprah joins me in the fast, includes my book in her book club, and stops taking Ozempic.
This desperate act underscores a larger issue that plagues our society and the media landscape, epitomized by the paradoxes faced by newspapers like The Washington Post. These institutions, once hailed as the pinnacles of ethical journalism, now find themselves torn between the binary of profit-making and the nuanced pursuit of the highest form of reporting.

In the early days, newspapers thrived as sources of truth and integrity, often subsidized by visionaries like Warren Buffet and, more recently, Jeff Bezos. However, in the quest to transform these newspapers into profit centers, their core mission has been jeopardized. As Sally Buzbee’s resignation as executive editor of The Washington Post highlights, despite altruistic intentions, a critical mass of readers has failed to materialize, leading to significant financial losses and audience decline.

I recently remarked, "If I was trying to make a living from my writing, the end result would probably lead to my death from fasting for lack of money to buy food." This retreat isn't confined to the newspaper business. Our communication systems are only valuable when they engage a critical mass of users. We must educate more people to overcome their unconscious resistance to economic literacy. Critical thinking about economics, egoism, and altruism requires immense introspection, a challenge compounded by our lack of self-awareness.

The paradox extends beyond journalism into the broader realm of education and intellectual discourse. Harvard University's retreat into silence, choosing no longer to issue official statements of empathy, reflects a similar disconnection from the public discourse. This avoidance raises paradoxes of authority versus detachment, safety versus risk, and neutrality versus engagement. By avoiding public scrutiny and feedback, these institutions risk stagnation and irrelevance.

Consider the rise of the internet autodidact, individuals who take education into their own hands, utilizing online resources to continuously learn and adapt. This self-directed learning contrasts sharply with Harvard's detachment, showcasing the importance of engagement, feedback, and the willingness to address contemporary issues head-on.
Harvard's isolation and its immense endowment echo Thomas Piketty's theory of inequality in capitalism. When the rate of return on capital exceeds the rate of economic growth, inequality widens. Harvard's reluctance to engage in empathetic discourse exacerbates this imbalance, reflecting a preference for maintaining the status quo over leveraging its resources for societal betterment.

Similarly, The Washington Post's struggle under Mr. Lewis's new business strategy, formulated to address a $77 million loss and a 50% audience decline, reveals the harsh reality of the media's capitalism paradox. Despite philosophical integrity and altruistic intentions, profitability remains elusive. Marcus Aurelius's stoic writings beautifully encapsulate past and future philosophical musings, yet they, like my book and The Washington Post, remain defenseless against the present moment's market demands.

In the present, the lucrative market for Ozempic contrasts starkly with my free e-book's zero-profit nature. This stark disparity underscores how capitalist imperatives can undermine philosophical and ethical endeavors. As described in "The Creation of the Media," money's influence in the media sector distorts its fundamental purpose, creating a paradox where the pursuit of truth is often sacrificed at the altar of profitability.
As I lay down my life for this cause, let this letter be a call to action. Engage with critical thinking, challenge your biases, and strive for a deeper understanding of our economic choices. Only through conscious effort can we hope to create a more informed and equitable society.
Sincerely, Jose Franco

This letter captures the essence of the paradoxes faced by modern journalism, the economic challenges of maintaining ethical standards, and the personal sacrifices made by those committed to fostering critical thought and self-improvement. It is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle between profit and philosophy, both in the media industry and in individual endeavors.