Why I Won’t Block My Work

A note on knowledge, access, and what Substack could be

I’ve been thinking a lot about Substack lately — and not just about what I write, but what it has become.

I came here because I saw Substack as a place to teach, and to learn. To explain what the big papers don’t have the time, space, or courage to explore.

• To connect dots.

• To slow things down.

• To make complex systems understandable.

I also believe authors should be paid. I’ve had paid subscriptions — mostly from friends and family, and a few people I didn’t know. That meant something to me. It felt like appreciation.

But now there are thousands of Substacks.

And the math no longer works. Unwealthy people cannot pay five, twenty, or fifty writers every month — especially when the topics are not entertainment but democracy, healthcare, courts, and survival. We are now seeing something I find deeply troubling: important information being deliberately blocked to drive subscriptions.

I enjoy reading people’s comments, and I often have something I’d like to add to the conversation, but voices go unheard when comments too are blocked to unpaid subscribers. It feels personal - more than blocked information.

Knowledge should not be held hostage, nor should our voices be prohibited - if a comment is inappropriate, the community of readers will take care of it…I’ve witnessed that many times!

When information that affects voting, rights, healthcare, or civic understanding is partially hidden behind paywalls, it doesn’t just become a business model — it becomes a gate.

And gates change who gets to know. I believe education should spread outward, not narrow inward. I believe withholding understanding erodes the very democracy we claim to defend.

So I am choosing something simple and clear:

• I will not block my posts.

• Not the hard ones.

• Not the researched ones.

• Not the explanation-heavy ones.

Because if someone needs this information, they should be able to reach it — whether they can afford it or not.

What I wish Substack could become

In a better system, a reader could subscribe by topic — “politics,” “healthcare,” “climate,” “history,” “humor,” “Art” etc. — and pay Substack a monthly or yearly fee. Substack itself could distribute those funds fairly to writers within that category.

That would allow:

• writers to be paid

• readers to stay informed

• and essential knowledge to remain open

A shared pool. A collective library. Not hundreds of locked doors - a commitment to readers.

I’m not against paid work. I’m against blocking access to what people need to understand the world they inhabit.

I see this space not as a product to sell, but as a conversation to share — a place where we sit together and unravel complexity. That has always been my intention.

If you choose to support this work, I’m grateful. Truly. But please know this:

• Whether you pay or not, you are welcome here.

• You will still receive the full posts.

• You will still be part of the conversation.

Because information should not depend on disposable income. And learning should never feel like a locked room.

This is my quiet philosophy:

• Knowledge should illuminate, not exclude.

• Curiosity should be shared, not rationed.

• And understanding should never be a luxury item.

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(And don’t get me started on private schools vs. public schools…)