Father Charles Coughlin from Detroit pioneered the idea of bypassing censorship in his political broadcasts by purchasing airtime. This innovative approach, which emerged in the twentieth century, parallels the way people began to buy goods like soap and gasoline, marking a significant shift in media and communication. Coughlin's method allowed for greater freedom of expression and was transformative for American society.

This development had an impact comparable to that of Henry Ford's revolution in the automobile industry, where cars became accessible to the masses rather than being limited to the wealthy. Both Coughlin’s approach to media and Ford’s pricing strategies reshaped American life and thought, democratizing access to ideas and products.