Another demand for your money to be spent upon their wishes

There is one part of this which significantly irritates:

‘Priceless’ Brontë manuscripts could be lost to private buyer, warn experts

Historic holdings including handwritten poems by Emily Brontë are set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s, but MPs are being urged to save them for the public

“Priceless” means without a price. Going to auction is a means of establishing the price. Thus even if the collection is currently priceless it’s not going to be for very long, is it - the auction itself being the solution.

The other things wrong with the demand - that government buy it - are worse than irritating of course. The manuscripts have been in private ownership for a century now so their changing hands doesn’t mean their being lost to anyone at all let alone the public. That’s just an excuse. Certain culture mavens wish to be able to control the access to the books without actually having to pay for that power themselves. Thus the demand that the state do it.

Effectively, 65 million people are being instructed to pay for the desires of half a cozen bibliophiles. This is a less than compelling argument.

The correct answer is obvious - you want them then you pay for them. Can’t afford them? Then far from being priceless the amount you’re willing to offer isn’t enough, is it? You’re just trying to use the power of the state to get them on the cheap.