Why is research paying for access to its own work?

Scientific research should be public, free, interlinked and searchable.

It can be done with democracy and a sound financial model.

How do we put an end to the ownership of scientific research?

If we used Willinsky's recommended financial model for academic institutions whereby the money that is used for subscriptions is diverted to innovating a way to collaboratively and globally open access to research , including open forums in which to discuss open access issues within the context of the research, we could put an end to the ownership of scientific research (Willinsky, 2002).

How democracy can help

If we employed democracy to its full potential using the principles of reciprocity, publicity and accountability as tools for living with fundamental disagreements, we could be ready to cultivate critical reasoning abilities, thereby eliminating the need for journal articles to be reviewed and prepared for public consumption (de Tocqueville, 1969).