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[eznark]

This stupid fucking country.

If I were in charge of the budget I'd be able to balance it within 4 years guaranteed (before social security and medicare completely destroy it again) and there would be plenty of money left over for public broadcasting. Politicians are dishonest about what their actual priorities are.

Sweet, how?!

 

[sangreal]

I don't think public broadcasting means so much in the age of 500+ channel cable packages. It's a shame, because the PBS programming is top notch, but many people don't watch it (on TV -- I'm sure their docu's are still quite popular in school). I'm not sure what Sesame Street has to do with it though. Wouldn't Sesame just take their show to another network?

 

[Srsly]

Republicans should stop wasting our time by trying to cut funding for programs that legitimately enhance society which, even if they did cut funding for, wouldn't even make a dent in our deficit. It's all a fucking show, which is all modern Republicans are capable of. Play to your brainwashed base, even if it means you're neglecting to fix real issues. It baffles me how scummy Republicans are.

 

[JayDubya]

Sweet, how?!

It's not that hard to balance the budget.

It's quite hard to pay down the debt, which is what we need to do.


It's important to remember that the nation's financial status is worse than broke.

 

[sangreal]

This stupid fucking country.

If I were in charge of the budget I'd be able to balance it within 4 years guaranteed (before social security and medicare completely destroy it again) and there would be plenty of money left over for public broadcasting. Politicians are dishonest about what their actual priorities are.

Social Security adds $0 to the budget deficit

 

[The Technomancer]

Cut. Military. Spending.
Cut. Military. Spending.
Jesus fuck...

 

[eznark]

It's not that hard to balance the budget.

It's quite hard to pay down the debt, which is what we need to do.


It's important to remember that the nation's financial status is worse than broke.

I'm not saying it's hard, I just like hearing what some folks would do.

 

[JayDubya]

I'm not saying it's hard, I just like hearing what some folks would do.

Things like CPB and NEA would be on any chopping block list worth having.

 

[ElectricBlue187]

Sweet, how?!

Cut defense spending in half, close all foreign bases, end operations in Iraq and Afganistan reform government contracting and cut foreign aid. That was easy (I dunno if that's enough but I'm probably pretty close)

 

[Shard]

No surprise. This happens every time the Republicans hold Congress. Just look back to 2004 or back in the 90's.

Indeed and every time it happens they back down when the citizenry balks at having PBS defunded.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Cut defense spending in half, close all foreign bases, end operations in Iraq and Afganistan reform government contracting and cut foreign aid. That was easy (I dunno if that's enough but I'm probably pretty close)

So, you just effectively put unemployment back over 10% and devestated many local economies around the country. Which politician is going to sign off on that?

 

[Aylinato]

how much of the budget does PBS actually get?

 

[andycapps]

Indeed and every time it happens they back down when the citizenry balks at having PBS defunded.

Of course, it's posturing. The Repubs can then say that they tried to cut spending but were fought by the Dems who just want to spend, spend, spend. And the Dems will come back with something and the cycle will just repeat again.

 

[ElectricBlue187]

So, you just effectively put unemployment back over 10% and devestated many local economies around the country. Which politician is going to sign off on that?

Their jobs didn't produce anything of value besides security and most contractors would be hard pressed to justify their existance under national security. It's also becoming increasingly difficult to find any benefit the US recieves these days by protecting and aiding and policing everybody

 

[Pinzer]

Republicans should stop wasting our time by trying to cut funding for programs that legitimately enhance society which, even if they did cut funding for, wouldn't even make a dent in our deficit. It's all a fucking show, which is all modern Republicans are capable of. Play to your brainwashed base, even if it means you're neglecting to fix real issues. It baffles me how scummy Republicans are.

.

 

[Xyphie]

I wish Sweden would be this sensible and stop giving money to public service radio/TV. A billion dollars worth of tax money goes in the Government's wood chipper every year for that shit. There's zero need for this stuff in the Internet-age.

 

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

I could see and even agree with massive cuts to the NEA, but PBS fulfills a pretty important social function and continues to provide some of the highest quality stuff in the television airspace; cutting it is just dumb.

 

[ElectricBlue187]

I wish Sweden would be this sensible and stop giving money to public service radio/TV. A billion dollars worth of tax money goes in the Government's wood chipper every year for that shit. There's zero need for this stuff in the Internet-age.

If the program was a failure in the US I'd agree but many people in the US are big fans of the programming PBS provides and it has been successful in it's mission of educating the public I think. There are plenty of other stuff the US is spending money that only provides a benefit to a few or nobody

 

[UpperCaseN]

If anyone is unfamiliar with this, watch it here and be amazed.

this made me tear up

 

[cartoon_soldier]

If it warms your heart any, I was watching PBS last night when I saw an advertisement by our local station president about this.

I immediately went to www.170milionamericans.org and sent out an email to my local representatives, two of which are republican.

I am also a republican.

And my HEART ACHES!

But you don't agree with their proposals?

 

[otake]

PBS newshour is the only decent news show to watch. I already wrote to my congressman. PBS and NPR are too good to stop funding, I'm almost certain the quality of the programming on these networks would go down if they were for-profit.

 

[bengraven]

Considering what Disney is doing to Kermit

Henson would be rolling in his grave.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Their jobs didn't produce anything of value besides security and most contractors would be hard pressed to justify their existance under national security. It's also becoming increasingly difficult to find any benefit the US recieves these days by protecting and aiding and policing everybody

I'm not sure I would classify a organization that contains the US Army Corp of Engineers as not producing anything of value (both in the US and worldwide).

You're still not addressing the reality of what you are proposing. You are reintroducing hundreds of thousands of people into our workforce at a time when unemployment is at 9 percent.

 

[Lombaszko]

I work for WGBH and I have not been hearing too many people freaking out about the cuts. I think it's been kind of expected for a while. We've been trying to change the way we do business to fit in this economy, like everyone else in the country. Recently KCET in Los Angeles dropped affiliation with PBS, saving millions in dues every year. As far as funding cuts to the CPB, that will definitely hurt smaller stations. However, some stations might not feel the effect of this for a year or two because depending on their CPB grants they might have been funded in advance.

 

[ElectricBlue187]

I'm not sure I would classify a organization that contains the US Army Corp of Engineers as not producing anything of value (both in the US and worldwide).

You're still not addressing the reality of what you are proposing. You are reintroducing hundreds of thousands of people into our workforce at a time when unemployment is at 9 percent.

I'm answering a hypothetical question on an Internet forum you will have to forgive me if I haven't worked out exactly which budget lines are to be cut and which are to be spared but having worked a bit with military contractors it's quite appalling to me to see the waste that goes on there simply because politicians are afriad to be seen as "cutting the military" and to see the DoD respond to proposed cuts by saying they'll have to cut enlisted benefits is a sham. In response to your unemployment concern the fact remains that they are employed due to taxes paid by the public and debt expected to be paid by the public. Programs that do not appreciably affect the security of the nation are in effect wasteful if they don't have some other benefit (like your ACoE repairing dams or building bridges)

 

[gblues]

I don't think public broadcasting means so much in the age of 500+ channel cable packages. It's a shame, because the PBS programming is top notch, but many people don't watch it (on TV -- I'm sure their docu's are still quite popular in school). I'm not sure what Sesame Street has to do with it though. Wouldn't Sesame just take their show to another network?

I am not going to pay for television. I did it once, and never again. I have a 4-year old, and the TV is on PBS for about 5-6 hours of the day minimum, and thanks to shows like Super Why and Electric Company, my son knows all of his letters and can already read very simple sentences. At 4 years old. If he had the motor skills to write, he could probably test out of Kindergarten.

You want to take my kid's education away? Fuck you.

 

[eznark]

I am not going to pay for television. I did it once, and never again. I have a 4-year old, and the TV is on PBS for about 5-6 hours of the day minimum, and thanks to shows like Super Why and Electric Company, my son knows all of his letters and can already read very simple sentences. At 4 years old. If he had the motor skills to write, he could probably test out of Kindergarten.

You want to take my kid's education away? Fuck you.

If your "kids education" isn't worth a few bucks for basic cable or an hour of your day to teach him the same things he'd learn via the boob tube, I think your indignation rings a little hollow.

 

[ToxicAdam]

I'm answering a hypothetical question on an Internet forum you will have to forgive me if I haven't worked out exactly which budget lines are to be cut and which are to be spared but having worked a bit with military contractors it's quite appalling to me to see the waste that goes on there simply because politicians are afriad to be seen as "cutting the military"

Well, there is waste in every industry and every business organization I have been a part of. So, it's not surprising and I could see how that would color your opinions. I didn't expect some hard plans from you, I just wanted you to realize that when you flippantly say "eh, cut defense in half" is not as easy as you make it seem. In fact, it is impossible in a short time period.

I was politically aware during the 90's when Clinton cut the defense budget then. Which was a process actually drawn up during the Bush administration. It was an arduous process of determining which bases to cut, what programs to cut and ultimately what jobs to cut. In the end, the cuts were not nearly as deep as he would have liked (actually, less than his predecessor Bush actually planned) and the DoD has since made up for that period and then some.

And that was in a strong economy...

I am completely for cutting the military spending. It's one of the most important issues facing the country today. But, it needs to be a transformation of our military .. not hacking off it's limbs.

 

[blame space]

is a country without Antiques Roadshow worth living in?

 

[ElectricBlue187]

If your "kids education" isn't worth a few bucks for basic cable or an hour of your day to teach him the same things he'd learn via the boob tube, I think your indignation rings a little hollow.

The fact that kids shows of the educational quality that SuperWhy! is can only be found on PBS pretty much invalidates your whole argument. Also kids like watching these television programs probably a lot more than what daddy has to say about the alphabet

 

[badcrumble]

I am not going to pay for television. I did it once, and never again. I have a 4-year old, and the TV is on PBS for about 5-6 hours of the day minimum, and thanks to shows like Super Why and Electric Company, my son knows all of his letters and can already read very simple sentences. At 4 years old. If he had the motor skills to write, he could probably test out of Kindergarten.

You want to take my kid's education away? Fuck you.

i could write when i was 4 and i was reading Beverly Cleary books at that age. your son's just lazy

 

[ToxicAdam]

I am not going to pay for television. I did it once, and never again. I have a 4-year old, and the TV is on PBS for about 5-6 hours of the day minimum, and thanks to shows like Super Why and Electric Company, my son knows all of his letters and can already read very simple sentences. At 4 years old. If he had the motor skills to write, he could probably test out of Kindergarten.

You want to take my kid's education away? Fuck you.

A few things:

Your 4 year-old child shouldn't be in front of a television for more than 6 hours a day.

If you choose that as a reality for your child, its up to you as a parent to provide him with the entertainment (or educational programming) to fill that time. Your public library has a wide array of dvd's and vhs tapes that provide similar programming that is on PBS.

Being able to read and write is not enough to "test out of kindergarten". There are dozens of other criteria needed to pass through kindergarten. Many of which are social and play skills that your child isn't getting while sitting in front of a television 7-12 hours a day.

 

[Ecrofirt]

If your "kids education" isn't worth a few bucks for basic cable or an hour of your day to teach him the same things he'd learn via the boob tube, I think your indignation rings a little hollow.

You do realize that spending a 'few bucks' (read: $20) on 'basic cable' doesn't get you much more than PBS, right?

For example, if I were to sign up for basic cable in my area I would receive:
CBS
NBC
ABC
FOX
PBS
CW
ION Television
ETWN
QVC
HSN

What, other than PBS (which comes free over the air), does basic cable get me? Morning talk shows? About half a day's worth of programming on PBS is educational television for children.

Now, if I were to pay for Comcast's next plan, the little-advertised Digital Economy, (read: $40 a month), I'll get the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network. Both are fine channels, but they specifically don't give you Nickelodeon which also has a ton of children's programming.

So, you're telling me I should spend another $480 a year just to supplement the superb content my son gets now.

 

[Vyer]

If your "kids education" isn't worth a few bucks for basic cable or an hour of your day to teach him the same things he'd learn via the boob tube, I think your indignation rings a little hollow.

Your recent addition (Congrats btw) is your first, isn't it?

I think you're going to find it takes a combination of things to really enhance a kid's education, not just the one on one time. Kids are going to want to mix it up a bit, even at a young age, and sometimes that can include sitting with your kid and going over something they are teaching on a show like PBS offers.

If the guy's kid is developing skills well at a young age, I'm willing to bet he's done more than just plop the kid in front of the tv every day. But I could be wrong.

 

[Drkirby]

How much would this save though? Are we talking like $10 Millions, $500k?

 

[eznark]

You do realize that spending a 'few bucks' (read: $20) on 'basic cable' doesn't get you much more than PBS, right?

For example, if I were to sign up for basic cable in my area I would receive:
CBS
NBC
ABC
FOX
PBS
CW
ION Television
ETWN
QVC
HSN

What, other than PBS (which comes free over the air), does basic cable get me? Morning talk shows? About half a day's worth of programming on PBS is educational television for children.

Now, if I were to pay for Comcast's next plan, the little-advertised Digital Economy, (read: $40 a month), I'll get the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network. Both are fine channels, but they specifically don't give you Nickelodeon which also has a ton of children's programming.

So, you're telling me I should spend another $480 a year just to supplement the superb content my son gets now.

I'm saying you should do whatever you like, but claiming that defunding public television would somehow "take away your childs education" is ludicrous. There are 10 million learning tools (including educational DVD's and CD's that I am dreading) that will replace PBS. My issue is with your framing of the debate, which is absurd.

Axing PBS (which I'm not sure this would do) certainly doesn't leave your child without education options as you claim.

Thanks Vyer, my little girl is too young to start worrying about that too much but I know one thing that won't be happening, and that's sitting her in front of PBS. My wife is apparently anti-TV at a young age. Who knew?

 

[Forgotten_Taco]

How much would this save though? Are we talking like $10 Millions, $500k?

200mil to 400mil I believe. Still just a drop in the bucket.

 

[Drkirby]

I will admit that is a large sum of money, at the very least it will make a dent in the total budget cuts. A small one, but from 100 Billion to 99.6 Billion is countable.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Obama is actually making cuts to CPB, even though the overall budgetary number will be rising.

However, the President also proposes:


to zero out Ready To Learn, a Department of Education program that uses the power of public broadcasting's children's programming to help low-income kids learn to read (funded at $27.3 million in FY 2010);

to zero out Ready To Teach, a Department of Education partnership with public television stations that funds the development of digital educational services aimed at enhancing teacher performance so that teachers can raise student achievement (funded at $10.7 million in FY 2010);

to zero out the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) at the Department of Commerce, the primary source for telecommunications infrastructure assistance for public radio and television stations, particularly in under-served rural areas (funded at $20 million in FY 2010); and

to zero out the Department of Agriculture's rural digital program, which helps rural public television stations expand their digital broadcasting services (funded at $4.5 million in FY 2010).

http://www.cpb.org/pressroom/release.php?prn=802

 

[coldvein]

this is such a joke. tax cuts for the rich, but PBS we can't afford you anymore.

i actually wouldn't be against cutting PBS funding to some extent, but if the people in power want to make any impact on the budget/deficit they're eventually going to have to do something meaningful.

 

[nyong]

I remember my grandfather writing checks to PBS. The generation that helped to prop up the network is quickly dwindling. Anyhow, the problem Republicans have with PBS (and NPR) is that much of their programming is left-leaning and funded by the public.

And the Sesame Street dying nonsense is scare-mongering ("Think of the children!!"). Sesame Street isn't going anywhere. In fact, the network and program rights would likely get snatched up by one of the larger corporations.

 

[Zzoram]

I'm saying you should do whatever you like, but claiming that defunding public television would somehow "take away your childs education" is ludicrous. There are 10 million learning tools (including educational DVD's and CD's that I am dreading) that will replace PBS. My issue is with your framing of the debate, which is absurd.

Axing PBS (which I'm not sure this would do) certainly doesn't leave your child without education options as you claim.

Thanks Vyer, my little girl is too young to start worrying about that too much but I know one thing that won't be happening, and that's sitting her in front of PBS. My wife is apparently anti-TV at a young age. Who knew?

For the impoverished, the vast majority of those other supplemental educational tools are beyond what they can afford. These are the people who's children are at greatest risk of being left behind, and therefore need all the help they can get.

 

[Dresden]

I remember my grandfather writing checks to PBS. The generation that helped to prop up the network is quickly dwindling. Anyhow, the problem Republicans have with PBS (and NPR) is that much of their programming is left-leaning and funded by the public.

In any case, the Sesame Street dying nonsense is scare-mongering ("Think of the children!!"). Sesame Street isn't going anywhere. In fact, the network and program rights would likely get snatched up by one of the larger corporations.

Big Bird! We hitting up McD's today?

Oh ho ho! Let's drink lots of refreshing Coca-Cola, now available in Choco-Vanilla-Cherry!

Let's do it Big Bird! My mom says I need to finish playing Call of Duty for the X-Box Three-Sixty with her tonight.

 

[Ecrofirt]

For the impoverished, the vast majority of those other supplemental educational tools are beyond what they can afford. These are the people who's children are at greatest risk of being left behind, and therefore need all the help they can get.

Well said.

I make a fair amount of money working two jobs to support my family. However, we're scrimping and saving all over the place while paying a little as possible for things.

I look at any free help as a wonderful thing.

 

[coldvein]

Big Bird! We hitting up McD's today?

Oh ho ho! Let's drink lots of refreshing Coca-Cola, now available in Choco-Vanilla-Cherry!

Let's do it Big Bird! My mom says I need to finish playing Call of Duty for the X-Box Three-Sixty with her tonight.

hahah. corporate bigbird does have comedy potential...

 

[reggieandTFE]

So, you just effectively put unemployment back over 10% and devestated many local economies around the country. Which politician is going to sign off on that?

Most of those military bases are in the South and they hate the government anyways so...I don't see the issue.

 

[gblues]

A few things:

Your 4 year-old child shouldn't be in front of a television for more than 6 hours a day.

If you choose that as a reality for your child, its up to you as a parent to provide him with the entertainment (or educational programming) to fill that time. Your public library has a wide array of dvd's and vhs tapes that provide similar programming that is on PBS.

Being able to read and write is not enough to "test out of kindergarten". There are dozens of other criteria needed to pass through kindergarten. Many of which are social and play skills that your child isn't getting while sitting in front of a television 7-12 hours a day.

I realize I'm feeding the troll, but:

1) I didn't ask you for parenting advice.
2) My public library has all of jack shit for DVDs (and LOL VHS). Exactly what shows are on DVD that are remotely similar to SuperWHY, Curious George, Cat in the Hat, Word Girl, Martha Speaks, or even Sesame Street.
3) My only point is that my kid has learned a ton from watching PBS and is already ahead of friends of his that are 1-2 years older than him.

i could write when i was 4 and i was reading Beverly Cleary books at that age. your son's just lazy

So was I! But he's still advanced for his age so I'm not complaining.

If your "kids education" isn't worth a few bucks for basic cable or an hour of your day to teach him the same things he'd learn via the boob tube, I think your indignation rings a little hollow.

I'm sorry! Putting a house over his head, keeping it warm, and giving him food to eat takes a little higher priority than paying for a luxury like cable. But, even if I could afford it, I wouldn't get it because PBS comes with another bonus: NO COMMERCIALS! Sure, there's sponsorship spots, but my son isn't getting bombarded with ads for toys, online shit, shitty breakfast cereal, or any of the other garbage you see in your average commercial break on Nick/Disney/etc. The only commercials he sees on a regular basis are ones that aren't targeted at him. As a result, we can take him to the store without him turning into an insane "I WANT THAT" monster.

 

[Zzoram]

BS comes with another bonus: NO COMMERCIALS! Sure, there's sponsorship spots, but my son isn't getting bombarded with ads for toys, online shit, shitty breakfast cereal, or any of the other garbage you see in your average commercial break on Nick/Disney/etc. The only commercials he sees on a regular basis are ones that aren't targeted at him. As a result, we can take him to the store without him turning into an insane "I WANT THAT" monster.

This is so important for children's television.

 

[human5892]

But, even if I could afford it, I wouldn't get it because PBS comes with another bonus: NO COMMERCIALS! Sure, there's sponsorship spots, but my son isn't getting bombarded with ads for toys, online shit, shitty breakfast cereal, or any of the other garbage you see in your average commercial break on Nick/Disney/etc.

This fact alone makes every dollar of PBS public funding worthwhile. Even if every single PBS program got picked up by a private network, you'd gain all kinds of unavoidable commercial intrusions at the least, and possibly even product placement at the worst.

 

[Dude Abides]

But, even if I could afford it, I wouldn't get it because PBS comes with another bonus: NO COMMERCIALS! Sure, there's sponsorship spots, but my son isn't getting bombarded with ads for toys, online shit, shitty breakfast cereal, or any of the other garbage you see in your average commercial break on Nick/Disney/etc. The only commercials he sees on a regular basis are ones that aren't targeted at him. As a result, we can take him to the store without him turning into an insane "I WANT THAT" monster.

Sounds like commie talk to me.