Help Save PBS and NPR

[Frank II]

Hi,

The Republican led House of Representatives just released their budget proposal, and it zeroes out funding for both NPR and PBS--the worst proposal in more than a decade. We need to tell Republicans that cutting off funding was unacceptable last time they were in charge, and it's unacceptable now.

I signed a petition to save NPR and PBS. Can you join me at the link below?

http://pol.moveon.org/nprpbs/?r_by=-18656263-6fwS2Vx&rc=confemail

[GvdM]

I donate regularly to PBS as I do enjoy the programming. Now for the "but". It should not be subsidized. People who benefit should foot the bill, not the government.The US government spends too much money and is in a huge hole. At the moment they need to cut out any non-essential spending If they do not do that they are not operating in the best interests of the people and have become a detriment and need to be replaced.

Sorry, but we did this to ourselves. I will continue to donate as should the people who do enjoy the programming, but the US government has itself in areas it should not be in. And that is far reaching.

[colortini]

I also say that there needs to be big changes at PBS and NPR. PBS is a relic of the 60's from a time when there were only 3 other TV networks and a noncommercial educational channel was needed. Lately, however, all I find on the PBS channels here in the DC area is constant pledge programming. I haven't been able to follow a season of a single PBS show for years because almost every week now the regular programming schedule is preempted by the special shows they show when asking for pledges. How many times can I watch Do-Wop 50's or any of those self help gurus. Its running this weekend again on Maryland Public Television. I think even the producers of the great PBS programming have figured it out as well. This Old House is shown on HGTV and DIY and Motorweek is also seen on Discovery HD Theater. With all the commercial cable and satellite choices out there, PBS needs to give up this obsolete method of funding itself and become a commercial over the air network just like NBC, ABC, FOX, and CBS.

That's my 2 cents,

[scotlib]

How can PBS give up its obsolete method of funding itself? It SUPPOSED to be funded by the feds and the feds keep cutting it. A pledge drive is just the PBS version of a bake sale used by a public library to purchase materials (electronic as well as print) or parent-teacher groups to bring in the extra programs and field trips that have been cut from the school budgets!

Who funds commercial cable and satellite? The people who can afford it. Everyone benefits from a publicly funded media, not just those with money:

"It is necessary and appropriate for the Federal Government to complement, assist, and support a national policy that will most effectively make public telecommunications services available to all citizens of the United States." -The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967

"make .. available to all .." It was necessary in '67 and it's still necessary!

Never would have been PBS programming for us to enjoy and support if the feds hadn't started it in the first place.

[flitcraft]

Every industrialized country in the world has public broadcasting because it is seen as crucial for an informed and aware citizenry. So sad that we are rapidly re-imagining the role of government to mimic that of Third World countries.

Thanks for posting the link, Frank II.