Save NPR & PBS (again)

[914GT]

Good riddance.

[legion]

Originally posted by procon
Public broadcasting would lose nearly a quarter of its federal funding this year. Even worse, all funding would be eliminated in two years--threatening one of the last remaining sources of watchdog journalism.

You've got to be kidding. Every journalist in the country has it out for the current administration. NPR, PBS, or not. All of them also give the dems a free pass.

Let NPR and PBS die...along with Amtrak, farm subsidies...all subsidies for that matter. Cut the post office loose too.

[Moneyguy1]

That's the answer. Eliminate all services that are currently government funded. Toss out the baby with the bathwater!!

Man, the myopic and simplistic solution to complex problems. Do you really want a country with no opposing viewpoints? No opportuinity for the average Joe to at least thinking he or she matters? Eliminate public access television? Eliminate NPR, which in most markets is the only source of classical and jazz? Eliminate Amtrak, and alternative to other forms of transportation in light of increasing fuel costs? Eliminate farm subsidies? Well, you got me there...at least for the mega acre outfits...

What to do about the post office? Bring back the Pony Express?

P.S. "Every journalist has it out for the current administration...." A VERY general statement; unprovable and incapable of being defended. But, it begs the question: If it were true, then why is it true? Seems to me that 8 yrs ago the press was all over another president. I think that kind of treatment goes with the territory.

I heard an interesting comment today about the press. They no longer actually report on politics. Instead, they just interview politicians.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by 914GT
Good riddance.

+1

[Moses]

Originally posted by legion
Let NPR and PBS die...along with Amtrak, farm subsidies...all subsidies for that matter. Cut the post office loose too.

Exactly!

He thinks watchdog journalism cannot exist without public funding? Good thing nobody told Thomas Paine.

The Arts can't exist without public support? Nobody told DaVinci or Michaelangelo.

It's this kind of crap that makes me insane.

[lendaddy]

"If I want to hear jazz or classical music, the rest of you should pay for it"*Does not represent an actual quote, rather the authors interpretation of the jist of the original poster's statement(s)

??? Am I missing something here?

Uhhhhhh Buhhhhbye

[Moses]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
Eliminate NPR, which in most markets is the only source of classical and jazz?

If there is a market for it, there will be a willing provider. If not, then SO WHAT???
You want to spend my tax money to provide unpopular "cultural" programming because "it's good for me?" No thanks. I don't need any medicine, thank you.

[Moneyguy1]

A real hornet's nest, I see.....

If, in other areas, this country wants to be all things to all people and provide services to all its citizens, then eliminating services to specific citizens, particularly those who pay taxes, seems a bit odd.

Yes, one can find a classical or jazz station in areas with enough of a population to support it. So, outside of large minicipalities, the only supplier is usually public radio. Not everyone has access to or can afford Sirius.

The old masters were employees since the wealthy of their time desired fine art to show they were "people of culture". Let's talk about Van Gogh. Died penniless if I recall, yet look at the value of his work today. Same with Edgar A. Poe. The world would be a poorer place without his works. Moses, I agree with you on many points but the small amount spent to sponsor the arts pales into insignificance when compared with projects like that in Alaska building a bridge to nowhere. It is the poor choices the government makes that limits the funds available for worthy projects.

P.S. len..you put quote marks as if that was an actual quote.

You know better!!

[legion]

When I drive to Houghton, MI, in two weeks, I won't be able to find a rock radio station north of Green Bay...also between Effingham and Nashville, I can't find a decent station, period. Should the government pay millions of dollars to subsidize radio stations in those areas? Or is popping in a $15 CD sufficient?

[Racerbvd]

Originally posted by 914GT
Good riddance.

+ 1 more!!. With as many channels as there are, the government can't, nore should be competing in those markets.

Eliminate NPR, which in most markets is the only source of classical and jazz?

PM me your addy, I'll send you some CDs.

[aways]

I hate NPR, I like some of what's on PBS, but none of it should be government funded.

[legion]

I have to wonder if this is really about saving programming that a minority want but can't stand on its own in a competitive market (witness Air America). PBS does have some great programming, and I'm sure a commercial station would be happy to buy the rights to Sesame Street and some cable channel will buy all of Ken Burns stuff.

[Moses]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
Moses, I agree with you on many points but the small amount spent to sponsor the arts pales into insignificance when compared with projects...

Misspent tax money is misspent regardless of the amount. It's bad precedent. It's bad policy. How about a small federal stipend to bring hip-hop to the ranchers in Montana? It wouldn't cost much and it would help those cowboys see "the big picture."

See my point? We can't (and shouldn't) try to sponsor art or culture. If it's worthwhile, it will sustain itself.

[dd74]

NPR is okay, I guess. I find their news really left-slanted, which I don't enjoy at all. But then there are shows like "Morning Becomes Eclectic," which introduces independent label bands to the public; there are days when I could drop $1K on all the cool music the show plays in three hours.

My question is what would it take for programming like NPR to appear on something like Sirius or some other satellite radio?

[Moneyguy1]

Art has never been self sustaining.

Let's all march along with Winston Smith.

I think dd has hit on something. Could it be that there is some left bias on NPR that makes other folks wish it would just "go away"? But they do have a lot of excellent music, just skip the news programs. If you want to sample a commercial station with a mix, try CFMX in Toronto. The one thing I miss since moving from frozen hell.

[HardDrive]

Whats the f*cking point in having a US government anymore?

Get rid of the arts, get rid of all the social programs, get rid of all the research.

Lets just slide back into dark ages where wealth and brutality rule the land.

[Moneyguy1]

HD...That was my original point. Many here would be very happy with that until the reality factor set in..........

[HardDrive]

We can puke out half a TRILLION dollars because the frat boy f*ckwit we elected president gets a stick in his ass about Sadam, and we can't spend a few million to bring arts and culture into peoples homes?

I live in Seattle so that I can forget that 90% of the country are inbred morons. Please stop reminding me.

Yeah, I'm an a55hole. Sue me.

[dd74]

It's not about culture - according to some disgruntled souls who fear forward thinking programming - what these disgruntled souls are afraid of is the forward thinking itself.

[Mulhollanddose]

Originally posted by HardDrive
We can puke out half a TRILLION dollars because the frat boy f*ckwit we elected president gets a stick in his ass about Sadam, and we can't spend a few million to bring arts and culture into peoples homes?

I live in Seattle so that I can forget that 90% of the country are inbred morons. Please stop reminding me.

Yeah, I'm an a55hole. Sue me.

Kicking the ***** out of terrorist scumbags is good karma, hippie.

The arts need patronage, not socialism...If the work is *****, it should get subsidized. If it is good people will get paid...The government should have no part of media or arts.