GayPatriot

The Internet home for American gay conservatives.

ABC’s Maverick Stossel: Cut Off PBS Funding

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Once again, ABC News reporter John Stossel proves why more conservative voices are needed in the so-called “mainstream media.”

Privatize PBS – RealClearPolitics.com

He starts off with a bang….

My cable company made me a remarkable offer: They want to add a new channel to my cable subscription — and you will pay for it. The channel will have liberal news, highbrow entertainment and a variety of educational programming.

Sounds insane, and yet the channel isn’t new. It’s called PBS.

But then he gets to the real point.

Republicans should stop dithering about reducing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s subsidies and eliminate them altogether. Of course, when anyone suggests cutting the PBS budget, people say, “they’re trying to kill ‘Sesame Street’!” But “Sesame Street” is big business and would survive in any environment. “Children’s programming that has an audience does not need taxpayer subsidies,” says Jacob Sullum of Reason. “Noggin, which is more ‘commercial-free’ than PBS stations, carries 12 hours of kids’ shows (including two different versions of ‘Sesame Street’) every day. Parent-acceptable children’s programming can also be seen on Nickelodeon, the Disney Channel and ABC Family.”

Stossel ends the piece with a quote from David Boaz, the author of “Libertarianism: A Primer.”

“We wouldn’t want the federal government to publish a national newspaper, writes Boaz, “why should we have a government television network and a government radio network? If anything should be kept separate from government and politics, it’s the news and public affairs programming that Americans watch. When government brings us the news — with all the inevitable bias and spin — the government is putting its thumb on the scales of democracy. It’s time for that to stop.”

To me, the most important point is also at the end: PBS, on the other hand, is broadcasting by bureaucracy. This is not a good thing. We should have separation of news and state.

Separation of news and state. That should be the new mantra for conservatives. Sounds like the great title for a blog, too.

-Bruce (GayPatriot) – gaypatriot2004@aol.com

Comments

  3. Bravo! Public funding for alternative broadcasting might have made a tiny bit of sense when the multi-channel universe was limited to three or four options, but it makes less than zero sense today. If Republicans can’t muster the guts to cut public broadcasters off from the taxpayer teat, then they might as well become Democrats.

  4. I never got any satisfaction from any of those billion dollar bombers. I never reaped a cent of benefit from the presidents generoud tax cuts and incentives. I do not get satisfaction knowing that “faith based” organisations receive subsidies from the government, even though they are heretical institutions that pervert the word of God. There is so precious little that this government gives me as a gimme, as dreams of minimum universal healthcare dance in my head. Which is why I watch all three PBS stations in So. Cal. Some weeks it is the only TV I watch. This makes me happy. Mebby one day I will be able to afford cable.

  6. Oh please, Chandler.

    The only way you couldn’t have benefitted from the tax cuts and incentives, in some form or another, is if you lived in another country. Save your talking points for your lies to the choir.

  9. Save your talking points for your lies to the choir.

    Comment by EMT907
    ===========
    Rob,
    Your harsh rhetoric, unsympathetic stance and ease at which you call people liars is, well, repellent. You do not live my life and your comments are uncalled for.
    You certainly do not need to take charm-school lessons from glisteny.
    =

  10. Your harsh rhetoric, unsympathetic stance and ease at which you call people liars is, well, repellent. You do not live my life and your comments are uncalled for.
    You certainly do not need to take charm-school lessons from glisteny.

    Charm skrewl?
    Screw that. Quite frankly, Chandler, I thank God that I don’t live your life. Furthermore, I’ve tried being nice to liberal ass clowns. Now, I calls ’em as I sees ’em. If that ruffles your feathers and repels you, to be honest, that’s too damn bad.
    I call a spade a spade. If I see a lying spade, I call a spade a liar. Actually, I am nice, considerate and sympathetic. Many people can attest to that. However, they will also tell you that my opinion is upfront and simple and if you don’t like it, tough shit. I won’t polish a turd so you’ll feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

    Cheers!

  11. EMT – Good one. Same with the other stuff Chandler cited, like defense spending. He totally benefits from all of it, all the time – he just has some kind of weird need to deny it.

    But as for entertainment stuff – like PBS – since when is the government supposed to be in the entertainment business? If Chandler likes that entertainment so much, he can just pony up and pay for it – or persuade some of the ultra-rich liberal celebrities and George Soros types to do it. So Stossel’s point stands, and Chandler is basically full of it….as usual 😉

  12. After that shameless and despicable apologia 20/20 did last year for Matthew Shephard’s murderers, I have no use for Stossel, Vargas, or any other hacks on that show. Ever since they took over the ratings haven’t exactly been great either.

  13. “We should have separation of news and state.”

    Talon News was not separate from the state. Clandestine funding and manipulation counts. Clandestine funding and manipulation from foreign governments counts as well.

    At least with PBS and NPR the funding is overt and can be audited.

  14. EMT907,
    If you are so into conservative honesty, tell, me, what is your relationship to the gay community? Where and who do you volunteer for? Tell me how you walk the walk after all your talk? Put your time, money and resources where youre sizeable pie hole is.
    Now honestly…
    =

  15. Chandler,

    1. Explain what the hell you’re talking about and how the hell it’s relevant.

    2. I don’t believe that a “Gay Community” exists.

    3. My volunteer activities have to do with protecting and serving the entire community not a select few.

    4. I somehow missed the memo which dictates that if you don’t volunteer or contribute money at all, you get your gay membership card revoked. I trust you can forward me a copy?

    5. Stay on topic or cram it in your box.

  17. Thank you, EMT907,
    You seem to be hot air that quotes fictional quotes that all ends up being a bunch of masterbatory bullyoing and hating. What a bunch of big boys here. The topic here is Gay Patriotism, and for some reason I get that there are more gay fascicts here than I ever could have imagined. I think I’m going back into lurk and just watsh you all shoot your happy loads pulling the wings off of things. And PatC, your screen anme is soooo appropriate.
    =

  18. So if Republicans get separation of news and state (which is ridiculous considering the department of education money that paid pundits to endorse No Child Left Behind) can the rest of us expect real separation of church and state and not just separation of non-christian chuches and state?

  19. Question-

    Of course.

    But remember, just like “separation of news and state” doesn’t require the defunding of the White House newsroom, or preventing newspapers from using state-funded highways to distribute their product, religious organizations will still be treated equally with secular ones. (Such as federally-guarunteed student loans sometimes paying tuitions at religious colleges…)

    If you think they shouldn’t, can you explain why it’s different?

  21. What a bunch of big boys here. The topic here is Gay Patriotism, and for some reason I get that there are more gay fascicts here than I ever could have imagined.

    Sigh……Chandler, if you want to call this sort of thing being a “gay fascist”, knock yourself out. I’ve already dealt with a gay liberal saying that a bad car wreck I was in “should have done more damage”; if people are wishing me dead or injured, being called a “fascist” is among the least of issues.

  22. See folks when you point out to liberals how full of shit they are, it’s all “masterbatory bullyoing and hating” or you’re a bigot.

    (whatever the hell “masterbatory bullyoing” is.) ;P

    Suffice it to say that Chandler prefers to run and hide like a little bitch instead of slapping his/her (let’s see, blog with a pink background?) dick on the table and dealing with it.

    Now back to the issue at hand. The liberal left gets their tampons in a bunch about the promotion of No Child Left Behind (even though that sort of thing isn’t new, especially to them). But what’s the difference between that and State funding of pushing a liberal agenda in the media or in universities? What’s the difference between that and giving government grants to professors who sit on their ass and write books, which nobody will read, while student aids do their work?

  23. For the record –

    I believe in total separation of church and state, news and state, and business and state. I don’t care who’s doing it (which party or interest group is trying to benefit illegitimately from the State) – it all has to end.

    This is why I am an independent “radical for Capitalism”, not a Republican. Corporate welfare, farmer welfare. and *corrupt or unnecessary* (note the qualifier) defense spending are just as wrong as welfare-queen welfare, and PBS/NPR welfare for deluded, whining liberals.

    I believe Stossel falls in roughly the same camp, and (unless he has converted recently) he is also no Republican.

    With that understood…”separation of news and state” (or PBS/NPR welfare for deluded, whining liberals) is the topic and let’s keep going on that.

    EMT, you’re right again. Let’s add a couple more examples. What about State funding of liberal professors who not only teach false stuff, but *lie about their own credentials and resume* to get jobs? (Ward Churchill) And what about Air Scamerica, where the liberals *actually robbed a taxpayer-supported charity for children and old people* to get themselves yet another news network? (PBS, NPR, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and AP weren’t enough)

  24. I would imagine “Sesame Street” toys, videos, recordings, books, etc., make at least $1 billion a year collectively in sales. The Tickle-Me-Elmo was THE toy to have in 1996. And what do you learn from that?

    They have made two feature films, one released by Warner Bros., the other by Columbia, available now on DVD. Merchandise licensors have been banging down their door since day one to get a piece of the pie, and Sesame Workshop (formerly Children’s Television Workshop) has not turned them away, all the while maintaining a pretense of non-commercialism. Last time I saw the show (recently), they had sponsor plugs for McDonald’s and Beaches resorts.

    From 1955 to 1984, advertiser-supported CBS showed “Captain Kangaroo,” an educational show for children not funded by a dime of taxpayer’s money. The late Bob Keeshan insisted he would not use the show to sell products to children.

    Big Bird can pay for his own birdseed milkshakes without taxpayers’ money. In fact, Sesame Workshop are starting another cable TV venture as partners with HIT! Entertainment.

    This post is brought to you by the letter “H,” as in “Hypocrisy”.

  25. Eh, I don’t really care if PBS is cut off believe it or not. But if we’re making a list of items that we should be cutting federal funding off from, I think there is a long list of far more wasteful uses of taxpayer dollars. If it’s going to happen, the Republicans need to do it now while they have power otherwise they can quit their rhetoric of how they are the party to bring tax relief to the average American. I’d certainly rather my tax dollars go to PBS than to some of the other ridiculous programs we spend money on.

  26. I think I’m going back into lurk and just watsh you all shoot your happy loads pulling the wings off of things.

    Oh, my! I suppose we’ll have to make do without all the snarky posts aimed at other posters, the red herrings, the endless whining about things like here at GP’s site.

    Maybe he would have been happier here if he had bothered to contribute an original thought, a relevant fact, an interesting insight once in a while. At least he still “watsh” us as he lurks.

    Some people just don’t know how to be good guests.

  28. Britton – I agree with the first part of your post, at least. I think the Republicans have basically lost the ability to cut spending under (1) Bush’s non-leadership here, and (2) the inertia of being the majority party.

    Unfortunately, I don’t see the Democrats wanting to cut it either…if anything, they want to further expand it with socialized medicine, etc. So right now, fiscal conservatives are the consistent losers.

  29. WeHoBoi: “Mebby one day I will be able to afford cable.”

    Can’t afford cable, huh? Maybe you should get a real job instead of pretending to be a “writer-actor-producer”. Apparently, you suck at all three.

  30. You were wise to take my advice, WeHoBoi! I see from the revised profile on your blog that you’ve changed your occupation from “writer-actor-producer” to “pre-homeless and pre-retired.” I’m sure you’re well qualified for both. I can’t say that this new path will be any more profitable than the last one but your sudden embrace of reality is at least encouraging.

    In the future, you only need to ask should you require any further guidance from someone who’s both gainfully employed and a good speller. Keep listening to me and you’ll soon be enjoying HBO from the comfort of your very own cardboard box!

  31. It’s amusing how others were banned from commenting on this site for being rude and personally attacking others, yet SOME people on this blog continue to make their point in perhaps the weakest and pathetic way possible by personally attacking those who disagree with them without actually offering up any information regarding themselves for discussion. Sounds cowardly and weak to me.

  34. I see I’m still “amusing” you, Britton. I’m glad you’re able to roll with the punches so well as they’re not about to end anytime soon. But if you look hard enough, you’ll see that my comments aren’t just all heavy ammo; there’s almost always a valid point or three in there along with it. As for the strong stuff, I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong to point out that an idiot who makes idiotic comments is indeed an idiotic idiot. Puts things in perspective as far as I’m concerned and you’re free to do the same if you can muster the brainpower.