Save NPR and PBS

[dragonkeep]

I just got this in from Moveon.org. Please help preserve the last bastion of legitimate news organizations.

Subject: This time, it's for real: Save NPR and PBS

Hi,

You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it's actually true. (Really. Check the footnotes if you don't believe me.)

Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS:

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

A House panel has voted to eliminate all funding for NPR and PBS, starting with "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," and other commercial-free children's shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch.

The cuts would slash 25% of the federal funding this year—$100 million—and end funding altogether within two years. The loss could kill beloved children's shows like "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Arthur," and "Postcards from Buster." Rural stations and those serving low-income communities might not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate sponsorships.

If we can reach 250,000 signatures by the end of the week, we'll put Congress on notice.

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

Thanks!

P.S. Read the Washington Post report on the threat to NPR and PBS at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=745

[BlueJazz]

1. Christ!...I keep going out in the back yard late at night....

...holding my hands up in the air and hoping beyond all hope that someone/something will take me away from this "Nightmare on Republican Street"

[SmokingJacket]

2. Forgive me for my negative point of view, but...

if they get rid of PBS and NPR, I won't be crying. It'll piss a lot of people off and show people how truly horrible the Bushies are -- they killed Big Bird!

It would devastate the Repubs' already withering reputation. Bring it on! The sooner people turn against them, the better.

[BlueJazz]

3. I have to admit..A part of me agrees with what you say...

[Big Kahuna]

4. .....

I have heard many times (on NPR)that PBS and NPR receive a relatively small percentage of their budget from taxpayer funding. Maybe they should finally just tell the republicans to fuck off. I would be willing to donate a fair chunk of change to my local PBS and NPR station if that happened.

[babsbunny]

5. We can tell our local stations that we will no longer support

them through their auctions and pledge-athons if this is allowed to happen.