by: David Boardman | Seattle Times executive editor

It is a truism of American life that you get what you pay for. The notion is that quality is usually commensurate with cost. Even China, not a traditional bastion of capitalism, has its own version: “Yi fen qian, yi fen huo,” meaning, “One cent gives you one cent’s worth.”

These days, that foundation of our economic system is making its way into the world of news. Since The New York Times began charging for full access to its website two years ago, more than 400 daily newspapers across the country — including most in this state — now have digital subscriptions. Full, unrestricted access to their websites is no longer free.