George W. Bush reminds us why democracy needs a free press. George W. Bush made a point that’s worth pausing on: power can be addictive, and even well-meaning leaders can be changed by it. That’s why he says an independent media is essential to democracy. A free press holds power to account. It protects citizens, exposes wrongdoing, and keeps those in charge from drifting too far from the truth. Without that kind of accountability, trust turns into blind faith—and history shows where that leads.