NPR ‘appalled’ by former exec’s comments

[pjorourke]

Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

Are there popular libertarian activities currently funded by the government that should be cut?

Libertarians don't have any popular government programs.

[charlestudor2005]

Originally Posted by Mazomaniac

What they're trying to kill is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB funds the public radio and TV stations that carry PBS and NPR programming. Kill CPB and you effectively take out all three.

The right loves to focus this argument on the "politics" of NPR but it's Big Bird's head on the chopping block too.

Cheers,
Mazo.

Yeah, some of my greatest relief from being a new Dad (read breaks from being a parent) took place to Sesame Street, Teletubbies (I think a BBC thing) and Dora the Explorer. God bless 'em!

Originally Posted by pjorourke

The hell it is. Children Television Workshop (CTW) is a separate and very profitable company.

I think you're right, but can it survive without a forum???

Originally Posted by pjorourke

Libertarians don't have any popular government programs.

I guess that means you're more like anarchists. Your ideal is to get rid of government entirely.

[pjorourke]

Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

I guess that means you're more like anarchists. Your ideal is to get rid of government entirely.

Not exactly, but we need to head in that direction.

[Mazomaniac]

Originally Posted by pjorourke

The hell it is. Children Television Workshop (CTW) is a separate and very profitable company. http://supportus.sesameworkshop.org/...STATEMENTS.PDF

Uh, it's a 501(c)(3) non-profit company.

Sesame Workshop is what it is today because of CPB. Without public tv stations funded by CPB there would never have been Sesame Street in the first place. Us and our kids would have been raised on the wonderful educational values of The Flintstones, Superman, and Josie and the Pussycats instead.

You're way, way off track on this one.

Cheers,
Mazo.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by pjorourke

Just for you WTF -- because you are "special".

[pjorourke]

What I meant is that libertarians don't have any sacred cows -- i.e. government MUST do this. If there is a better way, using private industry/funding -- go for it.

[Iaintliein]

Originally Posted by pjorourke

What I meant is that libertarians don't have any sacred cows -- i.e. government MUST do this. If there is a better way, using private industry/funding -- go for it.

Well, actually there is that list of things the government must do, it's rather short and doesn't include entertaining kids or giving Charles a (harumph) "credible source". It starts out something like, ". . . provide for the common defense. . . " etc.

But, to Charles's point, I'm sure national Pravda is very appalled, just like Doenitz was probably appalled when he found out enigma was broken after the war.

[pjorourke]

Originally Posted by Mazomaniac

Uh, it's a 501(c)(3) non-profit company.

Sesame Workshop is what it is today because of CPB. Without public tv stations funded by CPB there would never have been Sesame Street in the first place. Us and our kids would have been raised on the wonderful educational values of The Flintstones, Superman, and Josie and the Pussycats instead.

You're way, way off track on this one.

Cheers,
Mazo.

No i'm not. A 501(c)(3) means it doesn't pay federal income taxes -- it doesn't mean it doesn't make a profit. Look at the financial statement I linked.

And don't get me wrong. I think CTW's Sesame Street is a wonderful product -- my kids grew up on it. I just don't think that in today's economy it needs to suck at the government tit to survive. back when it started, there was not the variety of distribution options -- mainly because the government had created a monopoly for the big 3 nets.

[Randy4Candy]

Hmmm, I heard the tape and I'm having a hard time figuring out what the guy said that was so "wrong" and OB (out of bounds for all you non golfers). Also, it just sounds to me like a salesman trying to be agreeable to a potential customer/contributor in order for them to feel comfortable about forking over the jack.

It's so funny, all the right wangers getting their whitey-tighties in a wad over some lefty talking like they do on a daily basis...tff.

[charlestudor2005]

The latest:

By BEN NUCKOLS, Associated Press Ben Nuckols, Associated Press – 13 mins ago
WASHINGTON – The chairman of NPR's board of directors says the board asked chief executive Vivian Schiller to step down after another executive called the tea party racist.

NPR chairman Dave Edwards said Wednesday that accepting Schiller's resignation was difficult. She stepped down a day after a conservative activist posted a video showing NPR executive Ron Schiller calling tea party Republicans xenophobic and racist.

Vivian Schiller says NPR is facing the most serious threat yet to its congressional funding. She says there's extraordinary pressure on Congress to make cuts and the remarks by Ron Schiller were outrageous and unfortunate at such a critical time.

Ron Schiller is not related to Vivian Schiller.

Looks like PJ may get his wish. Then, the budget will balance, and the deficit will go **poof**.

[pjorourke]

Originally Posted by Randy4Candy

Hmmm, I heard the tape and I'm having a hard time figuring out what the guy said that was so "wrong" and OB (out of bounds for all you non golfers). Also, it just sounds to me like a salesman trying to be agreeable to a potential customer/contributor in order for them to feel comfortable about forking over the jack.

It's so funny, all the right wangers getting their whitey-tighties in a wad over some lefty talking like they do on a daily basis...tff.

Who gives a shit what the guy says or thinks -- if it is not government supported. And btw, that includes that 501(c)(9) charter.

[Rakhir]

I am all in favor of defunding public broadcasting. If it once served a purpose as in the case of Sesame Street it has long outlived that purpose. With advent of channels like Discovery, TLC, A&E, History and the like there is no need for a dinosaur of liberal politics masquerading as being there for the public good.

And I know from whence I speak here. I am in the industry and once upon as time had to work with PBS. These people literally produce nothing! They spend all their time politicking for funding claiming if "they don't do it who will"? Guess what? The channels I mentioned earlier will and they make a profit with fine objective programming of quality.

These comments by now have once again exposed the organization for what it is: a Liberal Fabian Socialist vehicle for their propaganda. Joseph Gobbels would have been proud!

[gnadfly]

Just let George Soros up his contribution. No, I don't watch Glen Beck.

Ha! Typical "lefty"talk? Its hilarious how "intolerant" the "tolerant" become when it contradicts their talking points. If typical, why is the left distancing themselves from him? Didn't he resign?

Some of you don't have young children anymore. Disney channel, Nick and others have supplanted PBS in educational programing. Those networks' web content is pretty good too. The Discovery Channel, et al, has replaced PBS' natural science programming. Various business channels have replaced the Nightly Business Report. Some of you must not have cable either. Ok, PBS still has a monopoly on 40 hour baseball historical documentaries and Shakespeare.

[charlestudor2005]

Originally Posted by Rakhir

I am all in favor of defunding public broadcasting. If it once served a purpose as in the case of Sesame Street it has long outlived that purpose. With advent of channels like Discovery, TLC, A&E, History and the like there is no need for a dinosaur of liberal politics masquerading as being there for the public good.

And I know from whence I speak here. I am in the industry and once upon as time had to work with PBS. These people literally produce nothing! They spend all their time politicking for funding claiming if "they don't do it who will"? Guess what? The channels I mentioned earlier will and they make a profit with fine objective programming of quality.

These comments by now have once again exposed the organization for what it is: a Liberal Fabian Socialist vehicle for their propaganda. Joseph Gobbels would have been proud!

Originally Posted by gnadfly

Just let George Soros up his contribution. No, I don't watch Glen Beck.

Ha! Typical "lefty"talk? Its hilarious how "intolerant" the "tolerant" become when it contradicts their talking points. If typical, why is the left distancing themselves from him? Didn't he resign?

Some of you don't have young children anymore. Disney channel, Nick and others have supplanted PBS in educational programing. Those networks' web content is pretty good too. The Discovery Channel, et al, has replaced PBS' natural science programming. Various business channels have replaced the Nightly Business Report. Some of you must not have cable either. Ok, PBS still has a monopoly on 40 hour baseball historical documentaries and Shakespeare.

I guess y'all should agree that we need to get rid of the Voice of America also. Or is your call to defund good only for those broadcasts YOU deem to be liberal? There are probably others. What about the armed forces? The "Stars and Stripes?" Any other suggestions?

About VOA

The Voice of America (VOA), a dynamic multimedia broadcaster funded by the U.S. Government, broadcasts accurate, balanced, and comprehensive news and information to an international audience. Oh, gee, CT finally has an objective source.

It started in 1942 as a radio news service for people living in closed and war-torn societies. It has grown into a multimedia broadcast service. VOA now reaches people on mobile devices and Facebook, through Twitter feeds and call-in programs – using the medium that works best for specific audiences.


President Gerald Ford at Voice of America, 1976.

VOA’s work in all languages and platforms is governed by the VOA Charter, signed into law by President Gerald Ford in 1976.
The Charter states, in part, that “VOA will serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news. VOA news will be accurate, objective, and comprehensive.” There, that proves it!! Another Fair and Balanced Broadcast!! That is why we feature those words on the VOANews.com banner. The Charter also states that “VOA will present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively, and will also present responsible discussions and opinions on these policies.”
VOA’s journalists also rely our Journalistic Code, which lays out the standards for reporting accurate, objective, and comprehensive news. The Code establishes VOA’s principles and practices for “sourcing” stories, and ensuring accuracy, balance, fairness, context, and comprehensiveness. All journalistic organizations conform to similar standards.


Danforth W. Austin, the 27th Director to lead Voice of America.

The current VOA Director is Danforth W. Austin. Confirmed in 2006, he is the 27th Director to lead VOA.
There is more information about Mr. Austin and other VOA senior managers in our Key Executives section, and you can check the History section for the names, dates of service, and photographs of all VOA’s Directors, beginning with John Houseman in 1942.

PBS also has Ken Burns Civil War, which was excellent.

[gnadfly]

Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

I guess y'all should agree that we need to get rid of the Voice of America also. Or is your call to defund good only for those broadcasts YOU deem to be liberal? There are probably others. What about the armed forces? The "Stars and Stripes?" Any other suggestions?

Ha! A WTF style intellectually disingenuous retort. Assign arguments or examples of argument you interpreted to the original poster.

Dunno about VOA & SnS. Have they outlived their usefulness? Is there a readily available, cheaper substitute? Is public money being used to fund basically a political action committee? Can you vet the source? Can you address the arguments made in OP?