Comments on: Should Public Broadcasting Receive Federal Dollars?

By: Sandra in Nebraska

Sandra in Nebraska — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:55:29 +0000

Oh yeah, after I started watching PBS again I was no longer “afraid” to listen to NRP; great station, the only decent one I can get on my car radio. The four regional stations in my area are all owned by one family (which it took me a little time to track down cause they sure don’t tell their listeners that and they use different call letters for each station). Anyway I got suspicious when the same programs were on all 4 stations (all the well know conservative hosts mind you). They [conservative leadership] wants not just a peice of the American pie but the whole pie..

Anyway NRP has some talking programs but they play the most beautiful classical music throughout the day here and sometimes they play celtic music (very pretty). I love those Prairie Home Companion shows too even though I’m not a regular listener.

By: Sandra in Nebraska

Sandra in Nebraska — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:51:14 +0000

Hell yeah they should get it! I love PBS and Jim Lehrer is the most factual newsbroadcast I’ve seen bar none. My parents have never had cable and they watch PBS more than any other station. I used to buy the big lies told about PBS back when I was a “reich-winger” but started letting my child watch the children’s programming….eventually I’d be busy and forget to turn the station and saw a little bit of Jim Lehrer…then I watched a few more of their other programs. PBS tells the truth and the facts. That’s why they’re “labeled” “liberal” because facts (which you can independently verify) bother the far-right so one of their missions is to shut PBS down. — Don’t buy it people! I give PBS money these days when they do their drives. And by the way, liberal isn’t a dirty word after all; it’s a position on the political spectrum just like conservative. And either side can go too far; moderate is actually the best place to be imo.

By: david

david — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:21:32 +0000

You are right – the arts and Sesame Street are incredibly liberal. The last time I checked, there wasn’t any racist or bigoted or drug addicted hosts on PBS, but I could be wrong.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:20:23 +0000

You cite children’s programming and of course most people would support that. However, PBS is full of very liberal programming and virtually cuts out most moderate or conservative views. The argument against tax funding is that the programming does not reflect the balanced views of the public at large and taxpayers should not be funding one point of view – liberalism. It would be like taxpayers funding Rush Limbaugh’s radio show and I’m sure you wouldn’t agree with that now would you?

By: Festive Link Love Carnivality #8 | Free From Broke

Festive Link Love Carnivality #8 | Free From Broke — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:07:46 +0000

[...] Should Public Broadcasting Receive Federal Dollars at My Two Dollars. It’s a shame that the government is trying to cut the budget on public broadcasting. [...]

By: FinancialGoal

FinancialGoal — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:57:34 +0000

I believe the federal government should definitely include $400 Million to keep PBS up. PBS has some great programming and if it is forced to shut down, that would be a big shame.

By: Funny about Money

Funny about Money — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:43:37 +0000

Ditto Caveman and Beth! Send money. And if you listen to podcasts of NPR stations outside your area (I listen to Vermont Public Radio all the time, because our local classical music station is given to John Philip Sousa marches), send some support to those stations, too.

Also, I’ve arranged my will so that if all my heirs predecease me, the estate goes to NPR.

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:46:58 +0000

YES . . . and then some. I am a huge fan of public radio and television. PBS is the only channel my children watch and I spend as much time as possible listening to NPR. These are worthwhile and educational programs and a refreshing break from embarrassing mainstream media.

By: That One Caveman

That One Caveman — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:33:39 +0000

That’s why we as the viewing public need to step up and try to cover the shortfall. I know our local PBS station goes through a membership drive about every 6 months and they don’t always make enough. If you like PBS, please donate! And if you really want to help, donate and decline the membership benefit since that comes directly out of what they would have earned from you.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:07:16 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly, especially with the comment by Flexo above. As the mother of two small children, the PBS shows really are great, but the programs like Masterpiece really stand apart from commercial programming.

If you can afford cable (and we can), there are other options for kids shows (Noggin and the Comcast-PBS partnership called Sprout are both commercial free), but nothing really beats Sesame Street in my opinion (although, my 4 year old would argue vociferously for Word World).

You are also right about PBS and NPR taking on influences as the budgets are gutted and it is a shame. I definitely think that the NPR reporters are almost right leaning at times, lest they be accused of being liberals whose funding should be taken away. I’d no doubt do the same if I were them.