Post: Bush Proposes Cuts to PBS
Bush Proposes Cuts to PBS
Imagine a childhood with no Sesame Street.
Perhaps that's a bit dramatic. But President Bush's budget proposal, released last week, did threaten to cut about one fourth of the Coporation for Public Broadcasting budget -- a cut which one PBS spokesperson said would "cripple PBS' ability to support programs that take years to develop."
"For PBS, it could mean the end of our ability to support some of the most treasured educational children's series and primetime icons to which CPB funding contributes," said Lea Sloan, VP-communications. (as reported in TVWeek.com)
What can you do about it? MoveOn.org is urging concerned citizens to sign a petition saying: "Congress must save NPR and PBS once and for all. Congress should guarentee permanent funding and independence from partisan meddling."
There are 3 replies to this post
Date: February 15, 2007
People have been talking a lot about how we've felt no real sacrifice in this war (unless you've got a miliary family). It's terrible that the first people who are going to be asked to make a sacrifice are going to be kids. And what they could be sacrificing will be their education and their future.
Date: February 20, 2007
Congress should NOT guarantee permanent funding for anything that has nothing to do with national defense. Any entity that gets a blank check is sure to draw abuse and waste, and no matter how noble PBS' goals are, they are no different.
Here's a question for PBS and Sesame Street, in particular: with all of the sales of TMX Elmo and the scores of other Sesame St. related products, how much money is funneled back into PBS?
Each time a program begins on PBS, we're shown commercials -- 15 to 30 second videos pushing Chucky Cheese or Spaghettioes are a commercial in my mind -- but do we ever see any 'funding' from any of the toy companies who are getting government subsidized promotion (in the form of a Sesame St. broadcast)?
PBS should be free to compete with commercial stations.
Link: http://whatsit2you.blogspot.com
Date: March 11, 2007
Great comment above... I couldn't have said it better myself.
What's also not seen is the increased programming that amounts to greater funds needed. PBS has great programs but in the past, programming had limited hours on air and so less funding was needed, thereby the times now seem like there is less money going to PBS but actually it's still more than it ever was... just there to support more and more programs.
I also read that the President of PBS is paid quite a large salary for a non-profit organization and that there were bonuses given out to executives. Is this true?