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June 13, 2005
Republicans Act Like "Mean Kids" in Attempts to Stop Funding PBS Altogether
Not only are Republicans acting like drunks in managing money by running our government into bankruptcy - on trade and on domestic matters - now they are acting like spiteful kids by cutting funding to PBS. And how? By calling cutting $23.4 million for children's educational shows, such as "Sesame Street," "Clifford the Big Red Dog," and "Arthur."
As responsible parents and citizens who pay our taxes, my wife and I are absolutely outraged by this REPUG-LICAN proposal (I use that epithet because that's how conservatives are acting). Not only has PBS children's shows been wonderful educational opportunities for our son as he has been growing up, but PBS stations already have to raise money for a major chunk of their costs.
For those REPUGs who really believe that such cuts lead to better educational programming through privatization, just look around. How silly. Privatization creates lots of amusement and very little enlightenment. Why? Its bottom line is profit.
And so the REPUGs get even more repulsive as they are also proposing to zero out ALL FEDERAL MONEY to PBS within two years, a loss that would That loss would be about 15 percent of public broadcasting's total revenues. And let me emphasize again that this elimination of PBS has nothing to do with fiscal conservativism since we are running HUGE deficits both domestically and in trade, and are literally throwing billions of dollars at our military.
If you would like to call those in charge of this IRRESPONSIBLE & STUPID decision to cut children's progamming at PBS and phase out funding altogether to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, here's a list of two key members. Call them today:
Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA): (202) 225-5861
Vice-Chairman Ralph Regula (R-OH): (202) 225-3876
Posted by wjbailes at June 13, 2005 04:33 PM
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Comments
Why should the government be sponsoring television and radio in the first place?
Posted by: Nathan at June 13, 2005 07:36 PM
'Tis a good question.
Now, I am an occasional PBS watcher -- I like Frontline and other similar programs -- but it is my contention that a HUGE bulk of PBS programming would die without governmental help. The programming would die because viewers don't want it.
To take it a step further, having "elites" dictate the "value" of this programming as being the reason that it "needs" to stay on the air is downright insulting, and makes the formerly disinterested non-viewer now a downright hostile, reflexive non-viewer.
...especially when the "valuable programming" is often dismissive, ridiculing and hostile to their belief systems.
Unfortunately for PBS, we live in a free market. It is my contention that if PBS was to embrace the free market instead of rebellng against it, they would do much better for themselves -- and we wouldn't have to watch those (increasingly frequent, it seems) pledge drives that are but ONE MORE REASON not to watch PBS.
"Now, if you want us to continue bringing you quality progra..."
Click.
Frankly, I see much more quality programming on A&E, the History Channel and the Discovery Channel -- all evil, corporate TV networks -- in a given year than I EVER do on PBS.
Sesame Street? Through slightly more aggressive licensing of their already heavily licensed characters, they wouldn't even need PBS. You could argue that they'be been saving that network for years anyway... Them and Ken Burns.
Also, underwriting IS advertising.
Posted by: Bill at June 13, 2005 08:36 PM
One of my complaints about PBS is their lack of objectivity in news reporting. Jim Lehrer appears to do his best, but guys like Bill Moyers give it a bad name. As a public station, it ought to seek commentary that presents a good balance, and it doesn't appear that PBS does that. Personally, I think the government should get out of the business of funding television altogether. I shudder to think of state-run TV that would compare to China, Cuba, and pre-war Iraq that presents news as those in power want its people to see it.
Posted by: RobU at June 13, 2005 11:53 PM