Bush to Cut PBS...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The latest twist of Bush's budgetary knife lays bare the White House's information priority: Fake news trumps real reporting.

George W. Bush is trying—yet again—to smother NPR, PBS and other public broadcasting while at the same forcing an escalation (sorry "surge') in funding for propaganda.

The president's proposed fiscal year 2008 budget for "U.S. international broadcasting" calls for an overall increase of 3.8% from the last year's recommendation.

All told the budget calls for $668.2 million for the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the federal agency that supervises all US government non-military propaganda.

Slash and Burn

At the same time Bush's budget proposes steep cuts to federal funds for public broadcasting by nearly 25%. According to the Association of Public Television Stations, the Bush budget would cut up to $145 million from the $460 million proposed FY 2008 budget for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting.

The amount allocated to the BBG is a 3.8 percent increase from the agency's 2007 budget with monies specifically "targeted to the war on terror." These tax dollars would flow to government mouthpieces including the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Alhurra, Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.

According to a BBG release: "The budget also fully funds initiatives … to critical Muslim audiences. These include the expansion of VOA television to Iran to a 12 hour stream, VOA Pashto radio programming to the Afghanistan/Pakistan border region, television programs to Afghanistan and Pakistan and Alhurra Europe, the 24/7 service to Arabic speakers in Europe."

Taxpayer money well spent?

Measure the overwhelming public support for funding of public broadcasting against their growing dissatisfaction with the war effort. According to a 2005 Roper poll, 82% of Americans believe that taxpayer funding given to PBS is "money well spent". A recent AP-Ipsos poll counts 62% of Americans who now think that going to war in Iraq was a mistake.

Bush proposed cuts to public broadcasting will have "Sesame Street" and other ad-free kids' shows are under the knife. So is the watchdog journalism, critical voices and diverse fare that PBS, NPR and other public media offer. The cuts continue the partisan war on journalism once led by the ex-chair of public broadcasting, Ken Tomlinson (remember him).

It's now up to Congress to set the budget right and restore funding to media that more accurately represents the public's priorities. You can help.

Timothy Karr is the campaign director of Free Press. He blogs at MediaCitizen.

[Savanphil 3]

No Sesame Street ?

[Lewis 0]

They really need more pledge drives featuring Grateful Dead concerts from the 70's.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I despised Sesame Street as a kid, and I still hate it. If that gets tanked, all I can say is: GOOD!!

[Savanphil 3]

I despised Sesame Street as a kid, and I still hate it. If that gets tanked, all I can say is: GOOD!!

Despised Sesame Street

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I despised Sesame Street as a kid, and I still hate it. If that gets tanked, all I can say is: GOOD!!

That explains why you're wound up like a clock. Did you get to play with toys as a child? Pretend?

[almaty 19]

I despised Sesame Street as a kid, and I still hate it. If that gets tanked, all I can say is: GOOD!!

what! ...........................

I despised Sesame Street as a kid, and I still hate it. If that gets tanked, all I can say is: GOOD!!

That explains why you're wound up like a clock. Did you get to play with toys as a child? Pretend?

pwned by my brother steve...!

[DeadPoolX 9]

I despised Sesame Street as a kid, and I still hate it. If that gets tanked, all I can say is: GOOD!!

That explains why you're wound up like a clock. Did you get to play with toys as a child? Pretend?

Wound up? I'm actually feeling pretty relaxed and normally, I'm fairly easy-going. When it comes to debates, however, I just like to get my point across (not that anyone actually READS my posts, but I suppose that's an entirely different subject all together...) when speaking or writing.

Sure, I got to play with toys. I had a huge collection of Transformers ("more than meets the eye!") as a kid and in fact, I still own quite a few of them. I just never cared for Sesame Street -- I'm not sure why, either. Something about it just turned me off a lot. This may be difficult for you to believe, Steve, but not every child loves Sesame Street.

I did like The Muppet Show, however. That was entertaining.

Edited February 9, 2007 by DeadPoolX

[Jenn! 918]

I used to tell my mom that I couldn't watch Mr. Rogers because he made my tummy hurt.

[Robor007 0]

I despised Sesame Street as a kid, and I still hate it. If that gets tanked, all I can say is: GOOD!!

Come on, admit it. Burt & Ernie made you uncomfortable!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I despised Sesame Street as a kid, and I still hate it. If that gets tanked, all I can say is: GOOD!!

That explains why you're wound up like a clock. Did you get to play with toys as a child? Pretend?

Wound up? I'm actually feeling pretty relaxed and normally, I'm fairly easy-going. When it comes to debates, however, I just like to get my point across (not that anyone actually READS my posts, but I suppose that's an entirely different subject all together...) when speaking or writing.

Sure, I got to play with toys. I had a huge collection of Transformers ("more than meets the eye!") as a kid and in fact, I still own quite a few of them. I just never cared for Sesame Street -- I'm not sure why, either. Something about it just turned me off a lot. This may be difficult for you to believe, Steve, but not every child loves Sesame Street.

I did like The Muppet Show, however. That was entertaining.

I was jerkin your chain. But seriously, I don't know any child under the age of 5 that wouldn't be entranced by Sesame Street. In fact, young children lack any discretion when it comes to television (they'll watch just about anything you put in front of them...little sponges) which is exactly why we need to keep PBS funded. Television can be valuable source for learning, but too much children's programming is geared around anethisizing them and turning them into impulsive consumers, IMO.

[beameup 0]

Sorry, but the U.S. Government has no business using taxpayers money to subsidize a television network.

When PBS was created during the Lyndon Johnson administration there were only three TV networks - ABC, NBC, CBS.

It was created amidst the '60s LIBERAL revolution. By being created and subsidized by the LIBERAL DEMOCRATS it was

always "left leaning" in it's programming (not the kids programs) and depended upon the continued funding by the

Democrats who were "in charge" of Congress for 40 years (up until 1994).

[eric&gen 0]

Mr. Rogers is gay...

[Heartland 0]

What about the teletubbies? The wiggles...you want to talk about seriously uncomfortiable???????

I love NPR....esp science friday

Wendy

[Saddle Bronc 124]

What about the teletubbies? The wiggles...you want to talk about seriously uncomfortiable???????

I love NPR....esp science friday

Wendy

didn't they get that basically from CBC's ScienceMagazine?