by Paul Jacob

I have only the faintest glimmer of how Google.com makes money. (I think it has something to do with ads.) But the business reports tell us that Google's sales just came in at $2.46 billion, up 77 percent from the previous year. After discounting "traffic acquisition costs" (whatever they are), revenue for last year was $1.68 billion.

And here I am, using Google for free. I've contributed nothing to its effort . . . unless curious well- and ill-wishers looking my name up on the search engine counts.

I couldn't be happier. I get a great service. And Google makes money . . . off of other people.

So, when I hear someone complaining about big, greedy companies, I shake my head. There are a number of companies I get free goods off of all the time. And, unlike the government, they don't come knocking on my door demanding payment just because I get some benefit.

They ask nicely, if they do come a-knockin'.

If Google were a government service, I'd be called a "free rider." My very existence would be something of a scandal to political philosophers and economists. If Google were the government, they'd tell me that's why I have to pay increasing taxes every year, just because I get some benefit off the search engine.

Thankfully, in the world of business, things are more fluid. I get a freely provided benefit and no one pretends I'm in hock for life.

Common Sense is published by Americans for Limited Government. Their website can be visited at www.limitedgov.org.