Congress Looks to Cut Funding for Public Broadcasting (NPR)

[Up2Late]

(I think they said $100 Million Dollars, 1/4 of it's annual budget.)

Congress Looks to Cut Funding for Public Broadcasting

Listen to this story at link above

by David Folkenflik

All Things Considered, June 10, 2005 · House Republicans have put funding for public broadcasting on the chopping block. They say their action isn't related to ideological concerns. The move comes at a time when public broadcasters are confronting allegations of liberal bias.

[GetTheRightVote]

1. The Repubs are making it all to obvious now, attacking NPR

:kick:

[AlCzervik]

2. the gop has been floating the cutting of NPS and PBS since Newt and his

merry band of pirates took over in 94', this isn't new but it does deem more aggressive.

[minnesotaDFLer]

3. i thought PBS was on their side now?

[AlCzervik]

5. well they're trying really hard but it's not over yet.

[Democrats_win]

4. Given the blowback of the military ops, we should cut the DOD 100%

and make more PBS shows so that the world will love us. We'll be safe AND free.

[UCLA Dem]

6. What about all the friggin' new with a conservative bias???

[phantom power]

7. Here's a link to a print version:

A House subcommittee voted yesterday to sharply reduce the federal government's financial support for public broadcasting, including eliminating taxpayer funds that help underwrite such popular children's educational programs as "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," "Arthur" and "Postcards From Buster."

In addition, the subcommittee acted to eliminate within two years all federal money for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- which passes federal funds to public broadcasters -- starting with a 25 percent reduction in CPB's budget for next year, from $400 million to $300 million.
http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/2005/...

Here's a site with some "take action" info:
http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/2005/...

[Up2Late]

9. Your links aren't working

(for me at least)

[phantom power]

11. weird, me either.

I wonder what happened.

[Coastie for Truth]

8. I'm getting close

<>

and a new, independent and the - the issues re: gay marriage, medical marijuana, and stem cell research are summed up in the last four paragraphs of

Consequently, the pursuit of an independent California may be the only alternative in providing a safe haven for people that want to protect their freedoms. The Christian conservative agenda wants to take those freedoms away and recreate a society in their own sanctified and sanitized image. When that begins to happen, even the moderates and non-religious conservatives will rebel.

The stark difference will be seen when the religious conservatives take over the FCC. If you or I are skipping across channels and we land on the 700 Club we exercise our right to watch or not watch. If the religious conservative skips through the channels and lands on something they think is objectionable, they DEMAND it be taken off the air. In a free society you can choose to watch or not watch. In a society dominated by cultural conservatives THEY are going to make choices for you. Just wait and see. The Christian equivalent of a “wardrobe malfunction” is a woman taking the bonnet off her head. Sorry, that may sound a little extreme, but my exaggeration really isn’t that far off the mark.

Recently someone chastised me for my "perceived" anti-Christian views and proceeded to pontificate about America being founded on Judeo-Christian values. Then when I went to his web profile I discovered that among his interests were porn, girls who can drink guys under the table and big booty b*tches—yeah, great examples of Judeo-Christian values. To top it off this guy’s idol was Andy Warhol—now there was a real Bible thumper! Good luck finding big booty b*tches when they make John Ashcroft the internet czar. So typical of religious hypocrisy. They preach morals and secretly watch Desperate Housewives.

Let me make this very clear—I am not anti-Christian. I believe that people of all faiths have the right to their personal beliefs and freedom of worship. Just don’t try to impose your faith on everyone else. (Classical Unitarian-Universalist view :))

When it comes right down to it, I don’t think a majority of Californians—liberal, moderate or conservative—want to live in a society dominated by people who see things through the lens of the Christian worldview. Californians won’t stand for it. It’s just a question of how long it will take for people in California to see the emerging handwriting on the wall.

Ultimately a straw will break this camel's back.

[4_Legs_Good]

10. This happens like every 20 minutes

At least once a year I get the e-mail: "OH NO NPR funding may get cut."

Fuck 'em I say. Cut it then those damned conservatives can STFU once and for all.

NPR receives only 16% of its funding from the federal government, and it is the only (with other public broadcasting services) broadcast service which is required (as I understand it) to be "balanced".

Cut the damned funding call it Interference Free Radio and I'll increase my donations 25%.

Nothing in the country even comes close to the quality of programming produced by NPR and NPR affiliates (along with PRI).

david

[99Pancakes]

12. Hooray!

I love NPR and am a regular donor to Valley Public Radio (VPR), an affiliate in the California Valley. I have them deduct a set amount from my checking account each month. Remember when McDonald's zillionaire Ray Croc died and left his fortune to his wife? She left a HUGE gift of 200 million to NPR when SHE died (2003). I think NPR will grumble if they lose 16% from the FEDs, but they are way good at fund raising.

[4_Legs_Good]

14. My station of choice (KCRW out of Santa Monica)

is simply incredible at fund raising. Granted they have a lot of help from business who donate premiums and fairly wealthy people in their range, but they do a great job at raising $, mostly, I think, because they do an insanely incredible job at producing quality programs, and their listeners know it.

Anyway, I actually really like the idea of publically funded media, but I don't cringe for NPR's future if those silly bastards cut the funding.

david

[99Pancakes]

16. Yep

We "pinko commie liberals" will keep our own afloat. Ha!

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

13. Conservatives & Repukes ARE JUST PLAIN EVIL and GIVEN TO FASCISM

At what point, do we just march on Washington and forcibly remove these criminal, fascist motherfuckers from power?

Sign me up for any coup de etat that reverses this trend toward tyranny.

JB

[99Pancakes]

15. I'll join you

I'm already marching in the streets of Los Angeles against that Bush lapdog Sch-WARTS-enegger! On Monday we see if he wages war with his (not so) special election he's planning to call. He's pissed off nurses, firefighters, policemen/women/correctional officers, teachers, the Screen Actors Guild (using non-union workers in his commercials), Hispanics (with his support of the minutemen beer belly brigade cruising the borders in their beat-up pick-ups)AND NOW, the cities and counties of California are thinking they can't afford Ahhnuld's initiatives either. Ha! He's on a suicide mission and we plan on helping him slash his wrists. In this very Blue State, we can't wait to kick his Girlie Boy Butt out of office!!!!

Then, I'll join you in a continuing march on the capitol!!

It's War!! :nuke:

(edited to fix a typo)

[Up2Late]

19. Sad to say, (and I'm not going to be specific or endorse this idea)...

...But, I'm thinking it's going to take the same tactic's that the Far RW took in the 1960's to stop the move toward Camelot.
(JFK,RFK,MLK,X) I'm NOT saying I endorse that type of action, but that might be "what it takes.":evilfrown:

[ckramer]

17. Why? is not NPR a republican radio station?

[damntexdem]

18. One of the few putlic institutions in which Americans put any trust.

Can't let NPR get away with that.

[neuvocat]

20. That's fine by me.

If NPR wants to have nothing but a bunch of stupid-ass pandering assholes on their stations then they deserved to get cut.

Hey NPR, how does it feel serving your masters, huh? Didn't you didn't realize that loyalty doesn't go both ways with the republicans yet?

[Charles19]

21. I won't watch MSM anymore, listen to NPR every day though

Really makes me upset repugs are doing this. They are trying to intimidate all people opposed to their empire. When are they going to learn the United States is about not being an empire, and that is what makes it great.