Bush seeks to slash public broadcast funds

[UpInArms]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-02-07T122635Z_01_N07177849_RTRUKOC_0_US-BUSH.xml

WASHINGTON (Hollywood Reporter) - President George W. Bush took a swipe at Big Bird and his ilk Monday as he proposed slashing funds to public broadcasting by more than $150 million.

In the president's 2007 budget request, funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will be cut by $53.5 million in 2007 and $50 million more in 2008. Those cuts don't reflect others made in funding at the Education and Commerce departments and the elimination of specific programs for digital TV conversion and satellite delivery system. Public broadcasting officials estimate that the entire budget cuts run $157 million over the two-year period.

"Oscar the Grouch has been friendlier to the Sesame Street characters than President Bush, who has chosen to make huge cuts to children's television programming," said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass. "In a world of fast-and-furious television with ratings-driven content, the public broadcasting system represents the last stronghold of quality child-oriented programming -- we owe this to America's children."

The cuts in public broadcasting are part of an attempt by the White House to reduce the country's red ink as the administration seeks more money for the military and seeks to make Bush's first-term tax cuts permanent.

Attempts by conservative Republicans to cut CPB funds are nothing new. Many conservatives view the public broadcasting as a bastion of liberalism. While there have been attempts to make cuts, the service has wide support in Congress from Republicans and Democrats who like its dedication to public affairs and educational programming.

...more...

[Dunvegan]

1. There. Is. No. End. To. The. Economic. Apocalypse...

...Any. More.

Welcome to (as mopaul says) "You'reOnYourOwnIstan".

[Mithras61]

2. "If we can't make them spout...

the 'puke party line, we'll force them to broadcast on funding they have to find on their own!"

CPB and NPR have already moved quite far to the right in their "news" reporting. So far, in fact, that I had to abandon them as a reliable source of information. It's quite sad that they are being forced to this. CPB was supposed to be a public interest broadcaster, and the 'pukes have never liked them. The Repiglicans have never been really big on the truth. As Harry Truman said "I don't give 'em hell. I just tell the truth & they THINK it's hell!"

[Jayhawk Lib]

3. Why does the government

have to fund public broadcasting. It would seem to me if there was enough interest in PBS and NPR they would be self supporting. It seems most programs have corporate sponsors so why take tax money support it. If there are not enough viewers to support it maybe it should go away.

[Mithras61]

5. The point was that they would not be beholden...

to their corporate sponsors. The Repigs have been opposed to it from the start for that very reason. I, for one, would really like to have a truly neutral voice in the broadcast spectrum that doesn't just echo the line spouted by corporate interests. Having PBS & NPR rely on corporate sponsors forces them into the same mold as the corporate owned stations.

[Mikimouse]

6. It should continue to be tax supported because...

We, the people, benefit from it. Consoider it a service like any other. Moreover, it is still independent of the fascist corporations and I would like to see it stay that way, because it is quality programming. I think that this is simply a BS gesture on the part of the administration. Why am I not surprised.

[Jayhawk Lib]

10. Most people do not benefit from public broadcasting.

Let those who benefit from it pay for it. It is not independent. It leans in the direction of the party that is in power so they will get more taxpayer money.

[Tesha]

13. (Ain't Libertarians fun?) (NT)

[Mithras61]

16. Most people don't benefit from LOTS of things...

that gov't does. I don't benefit from Welfare/AFDC, or from every road paid for with my tax dollars, or from the billions spent in Iraq, or...

I don't benefit personally from MOST of what government does, but I still think most of them serve a good public interest, and think we ought to fund them even though I don't benefit personally from them.

[Jayhawk Lib]

51. Television is free for public viewing

with sponsors paying for air time. There is no more public interest being served by public broadcasting than the regular commercial radio and tv. What is really bothering me is public broadcasting is becoming more and more right leaning all the time and we on the left ore helping pay for it.

[Mithras61]

54. Yes, regular TV is free...

if you can stand the slant & commercials every 7 minutes. They (regular broadcasters) are using MY airwaves to sell B.S. to me and are failing in their contractual duty to serve the public interest. It isn't proof that CPB needs to be defunded when you say other stations do just fine. It's proof that we need to take away spectrum from the others. The MSM is a fundamental part of the entire problem as far as I'm concerned.

As to the CPB being increasingly right-leaning, it has been developing this slant ever since 1994 when the 'pukes took over Congress and began to slash their funding because they told too much of the truth. The fix is not to yank funding, but rather restore funding so that they don't have to neg corporations for money and can be back in the center again, and to reinstate the fairness doctrine so that ALL stations have to provide the services which they have contracted to provide but have increasingly failed to do since the Fairness Doctrine was abolished in (IIRC) 1987.

[dogfacedboy]

57. You can thank St. Ronnie of Reagan for that ! n/t

[MadHound]

18. You obviously have no clue about public broadcasting

NPR has a listenership of 20 million people, PBS has a viewership of 100 million people. Most broadcast journalists begin practicing their trade at a public station. And historically, NPR and PBS have been quite independent of whatever ideology that is in power. It is only with this current one that they've been forced to bend to the right. And a significant portion of their money comes directly from the people during their infamous subscription drives.

There is great value in having a broadcast outlet that isn't beholden to corporate America. Programs that should be broadcast, but wouldn't fly on commercial airwaves, get their hearing in public broadcasting. Aspiring students get a chance to show their stuff on public broadcast, whereas they wouldn't have a chance on a commercial station.

And while lately NPR and PBS have drifted right, they are still the best in depth news source in our country, bar none. And getting quality information out to Americans is an important job, one that the commercial stations have given short shrift to, as commercial newsrooms have had their budgets axed time and again.

I'm thankful everyday that there is public broadcasting. It is the only radio I listen to, and if was gone I would simply ditch radio altogether, for the rest of it is crap, crap and more crap.

[Lorien]

45. He/ she obviously has never benefited from it.

everyone else I know has.

[Jayhawk Lib]

48. If that is the case...

it should be very able to fund itself. What pisses me off is it is becoming more right leaning all the time. I hate that

[xxqqqzme]

21. and you know about 'most' people because.....?

you don't watch it? Tooooo bad cuz if you did or would you would have seen Bill Moyer's NOW report on the vulnerable New Orleans levees TWO years ago! you would have seen an even older NOW program on the corporatization of OUR water supply! you would have seen, early in the BCF administration, how the military was sucking up (and losing) tax payers money or how our National Parks are being drill and raped by the BCF. NONE of these topic will ever be covered by the CMC (corporate media clique).

Its a shame CPB doesn't meet your needs. You might actually learn something.

[Jayhawk Lib]

49. It should be perfectly able to fund itself...

It is becoming more right leaning all the time....

[Bridget Burke]

59. Why are you upset that PBS is "Right leaning"?

Is that really a problem for you?

[raccoon]

35. Hey, why not apply this to all roads? Make all roads toll roads.

"Let those who benefit from it pay for it." :sarcasm:

[Jayhawk Lib]

50. You may be sarcastic

but I really think more roads should be toll roads. Also gasoline taxes pay for roads. The more gas that you use the more goes for paying for the roads and bridges..

[raccoon]

55. Tolls are a regressive tax; same with gasoline taxes.

A person making the minimum wage has to pay the same toll as the CEO making the megabucks.

I could stomach a gasoline tax a little more than the tolls.

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this.

[magellan]

7. If they're not going to fund it

...then they can't simply divert the funds to pay for their wars. That's OUR money and by God, we should have a say in what they do with it!!

[Bridget Burke]

8. "The Government" does not support PBS.

Some funding comes directly from donors. Some comes from corporate sponsors--which is why we've got more "commercials." The "Government support" comes from taxes; that is, from us. But the rich are paying less & taxes are going to various wars--rather than to anything that will actually help us.

I donate to my PBS station; I can afford to do so. Those without cable can get PBS--yes, there are still those who can't/won't pay for cable. Good documentary, artistic & children's programming is becoming rarer on "basic cable." Again, I have digital cable--but not everyone wants to pay extra.

The Republicans have been wanting PBS to go away for some time now.

[mindem]

11. In the same respect

none of my tax dollars should be going to * "faith based initiatives". If there is enough support they should be able to function on their own without tax payer dollars.

[Jayhawk Lib]

14. Agreed....NT

[UpInArms]

31. that is a completely different issue - that one entails "separation of

church and state" -

This is to keep at least one citizen funded (through taxes) news organization alive that is not dominated by corporate sponsorship. The rules are quite clear that this is not to be a political football - they cannot make a R or D dominated board of directors (depending on the party in the WH).

You seem to be missing some vital information here.

[mindem]

33. I'm not missing any information at all.

The right is great at picking and choosing where tax dollars go. Their dislike of public broadcasting is as much about their attempts to re-shape society and eliminate anything other than their "view" as anything else. Public Broadcasting doesn't fit into their vision of America.

[UpInArms]

37. you're correct - my error - somehow I read your post to say that

you would prefer to fund public broadcasting over "faith based" iniatives - that was not what you said.

Please accept my apology.

:blush:

[oneighty]

19. If people that

use air travel cannot pay for the airports then they should not fly.

And if they cannot pay for the highways they should not drive.

And if the cannot pay for the military than they should not live.

Like it or not we need each other. We are a social society.

One for all and all for one.

180

[UpInArms]

30. so do you have "corporate support"?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2091080&mesg_id=2091143

[KoKo]

43. Bill Moyers in an interview said the Repugs pretty much shut down his

efforts when he worked for PBS and went after NOW accusing him of not having enough Repugs on. He went through his list of guests and showed how he gave equal time to both but he thinks he was canned from doing any more work there because of the Crime Family.

I know there's not the QUALITY PROGRAMMING there was there at one time. And, some of the funders are Right Wing Foundations pushing their views. "CastleRock" being one of their funders and Exxon Mobil and others doing their bit for the Corporations.

[Lorien]

46. Moyers attacked both right and left

for their crimes against democracy, the environment, worker's rights, etc. He's always fought against fascism-and he's pounded quite a few DLCers in the process.

[Lorien]

47. For the same reason they fund public schools; for the betterment of

society. PBS gives everyone an opportunity to view something on the PUBLIC'S air waves that doesn't come with countless brainwashing commercials every seven minutes. The public does fund a huge amount of public broadcasting-but grassroots efforts will never be able to compete with megacorporations, and children deserve programming that gives them a head start on their education without making them scream for sugar snaps.

EVERYONE I know watches and/or listens to PBS at least several times a week. Of course, I prefer to spend my time with those that are intellectually curious, not someone who will only get excited about who won last night's "American idol".

[GalleryGod]

4. Just Loot the Company Store.......

There is no end...and the Sheeple just sit and watch:puke: :argh:

[warrens]

9. This budget is DOA

The Repukes are running scared. They're going to have to defend cuts in Medicaid, college loans, PBS, etc. etc. while trying to make tax cuts for the ultra-rich permanent and defending huge increases in military spending that don't even include the cost of Iraq. I don't know whether I hope the Dems filibuster the final vote (which will probably be put off til after the election anyway) or just let the Repukes choke on it.

[RufusEarl]

12. Agreed the Re-pubs can't vote for this budget

they have to try and get re-elected. I hope thats the case, PBS is one thing but basic food to the poor is something else. I keep hopping that the Re-pubs will let Bu$h swing, over the NSA but not much movement on the Dem's side yet.

[superconnected]

15. They've done it before.

[OKthatsIT]

17. GOOD! KICK THEM ALL OUT OF PBS....NOW!

We dont need them...We can do just fine without the WH CROOKS.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[oneighty]

22. Oh Boy!

Welcome to DU.

I think.

180

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mithras61]

24. Looks like you were right!

:D

[Dunvegan]

25. Commie Pinko *what*heads?

Well...so we have a new poster over here in the Bread and Circus' corner...someone that's looking forward to "All-Nazi March Music and All-Blood Sports Channel," eh?

I'm looking forward to the "False Christians vs. Real Lions Channel" myself.

[stepnw1f]

26. Nazis Hate Education

It makes them think, and people with a lack of education rely too heavily on emotion. Hence the idiotic name calling by ditto-dumb dumbs.

Poor brainwashed fools. Being stupid isn't cool at all, didn't your propaganda crack dealer tell you yet? Ahhh... that's because you are no benefit to the nazis pulling your strings.

[Dunvegan]

27. It's true...just saw someone on a Right Wing board slamming a Left Winger.

...by snorting, "bet ya gonna go watch masterpiece theartre now, hun?"

What is it with this "When I hear 'culture' I release the safety catch on my Browning!" thinking, anyway?

At what point did culture become hated by the middle class?

Oh...right...back in 1942.

[Mithras61]

28. As far as I know...

it was always thus. Remember the "intellectual" purges of Stalin & Lenin? Anyone who can think clearly is a threat to entrenched and non-responsive power.

[stepnw1f]

29. People Who Are Educated Can See Through the Rhetoric

These people can't... so they attack us out of pure jealousy and resentment. Both unjustifiable reasons for lashing out against education. But understandable as far as ignorance is concerned.

[Wordie]

32. Here's a link to moveon's petition to save public broadcasting:

http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?t=1

[GoddessOfGuinness]

38. Thank you!

[yorkiemommie1]

40. thanks for the link

i signed and also demanded reinstatement of Fairness Doctrine.

[umass1993]

34. One word, FRONTLINE

Frontline has been the ONLY news show that has done a quality job reporting on current events. It is the best news show on TV, bar none. I imagine Ted Koppel could only watch it and be green with jealousy.

No doubt, the powers that be would like to see it gone.

[Ilsa]

42. Ding ding ding. Best answer yet.

If everyone in the US had to watch Frontline, they'd never vote for one of the Bush cronies ever again. Truth isn't a workable deal with this administration.

[wordpix]

56. totally agree and think Frontline's latest on Iraq contracts put repukes

over the edge

[CBHagman]

36. So typical.

I seem to recall that when this administration came in, they weren't as overtly hostile to cultural spending. Now that the surplus is gone and we're in hock to the Chinese, anything goes.

Oh, but this won't affect Dick Cheney's tax cut. :grr:

[winston61]

39. got to pay for those new weapons systems

don't you realize the presdent's at war? what's wrong with you? without a nation of dumbasses, how can we crooks stay in office? Maybe we really do have the government we deserve.

[Ilsa]

41. I donated to my local NPR station cuz they said they are adding Fresh Air

if they can get enough funding, and they have a huge contributor that wants it also.

[KamaAina]

44. "A, B, C, D, E, F, G..."

"sorry, that's all the alphabet we can afford." :(

[HuffleClaw]

52. of course

public broadcasting has probably been of the prime sources of TRUTH about their evil machinations and war plans, so naturally they'd have to be 'dealt with'.

[wordpix2]

53. * doesn't like Frontline's expose of KBR and other private contractors

[triguy46]

58. Not much to lose in OK

They show Lawrence Welk reruns twice a week, conservative business shows fridays, sundays, reruns of old variety shows. They bury anything controversial to late night with the exception of Frontline. I see it in this case as a local issue, rather than national. Its run like a private retirement fund for ex-private sector types who do not want to rock the boat. Also 2 ten day fundraising campaigns per year, featuring Riverdance Marathons, (keep them happy feet tapppin').