An OP-ED at the Wall Street Journal got my blood going a while back and this morning John Fund, the smary blockhead just added to a bad start to the morning - well that and another thing but let's talk about the let's get NPR piece for a minute shall we? First here is the funding that supports NPR:
First NPR is programming that is carried on a fairly large network of radio stations that are often associated with Universities and Colleges. NPR doesn't own stations. It makes programs ranging from Car Talk to All Things Considered. Because it emanates from "liberal bastions" it is therefore deemed "liberal" and the target of knuckle dragging conservatives right from the onset. Because it doesn't do the "hail Caesar" bit, these stations are considered just another opposition voice that needs to be crushed in the interest of politics.
There is also a nice graph of audience makeup but you can read it all here. These are the kickers:
1. The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT gives no direct money to NPR. It gives very little money to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting who, in turn, supplies NPR with about 2% of its budget. The idiot at the WSJ also refers to "tax breaks and support of colleges that in turn, have radio stations that carry NPR"...well GE (General Electric) paid NO TAXES last year, nor did CitiBank or Bank of America. NONE. I propose that the WSJ can bitch all it wants about America's use of tax dollars in education but the big right wing corporations pay NO TAX so who are they bitching on behalf of?
2. THIS IS THE BIGGIE: PUBLIC RADIO is publicly supported in the majority....and that majority elected an administration and congress that reflects that majority and it is the majority will that programs like "car talk" and "all things considered" and "morning edition" programs that have been on air for decades, survive and are given a token amount of appreciation by the citizenry...and I mean token. DO YOU KNOW THAT WE SPEND LESS - INDIRECTLY ON NPR THAN IT TAKES TO RUN THE PENTAGON FOR 4 HOURS?
Representative Boehner and Senator DeMint, both of whom look like the types who only read in the bathroom, are squealing about this and going to "introduce legislation" to take away the couple million dollars that finds its way to NPR through grants. That two million that Boehner is incensed about is roughly the amount of money he has charged off on "golfing trips" during his tenure by the way and far less than DeMint spends to run "unopposed" in South Carolina.
These people and the rabble they try and rouse due a monstrous disservice to this nation. They are proverbial book burners and censors of the lowest sort.
First NPR is programming that is carried on a fairly large network of radio stations that are often associated with Universities and Colleges. NPR doesn't own stations. It makes programs ranging from Car Talk to All Things Considered. Because it emanates from "liberal bastions" it is therefore deemed "liberal" and the target of knuckle dragging conservatives right from the onset. Because it doesn't do the "hail Caesar" bit, these stations are considered just another opposition voice that needs to be crushed in the interest of politics.
There is also a nice graph of audience makeup but you can read it all here. These are the kickers:
1. The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT gives no direct money to NPR. It gives very little money to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting who, in turn, supplies NPR with about 2% of its budget. The idiot at the WSJ also refers to "tax breaks and support of colleges that in turn, have radio stations that carry NPR"...well GE (General Electric) paid NO TAXES last year, nor did CitiBank or Bank of America. NONE. I propose that the WSJ can bitch all it wants about America's use of tax dollars in education but the big right wing corporations pay NO TAX so who are they bitching on behalf of?
2. THIS IS THE BIGGIE: PUBLIC RADIO is publicly supported in the majority....and that majority elected an administration and congress that reflects that majority and it is the majority will that programs like "car talk" and "all things considered" and "morning edition" programs that have been on air for decades, survive and are given a token amount of appreciation by the citizenry...and I mean token. DO YOU KNOW THAT WE SPEND LESS - INDIRECTLY ON NPR THAN IT TAKES TO RUN THE PENTAGON FOR 4 HOURS?
Representative Boehner and Senator DeMint, both of whom look like the types who only read in the bathroom, are squealing about this and going to "introduce legislation" to take away the couple million dollars that finds its way to NPR through grants. That two million that Boehner is incensed about is roughly the amount of money he has charged off on "golfing trips" during his tenure by the way and far less than DeMint spends to run "unopposed" in South Carolina.
These people and the rabble they try and rouse due a monstrous disservice to this nation. They are proverbial book burners and censors of the lowest sort.
Sorry I don't care if it's 50% or 1%. It shouldn't be funded with taxpayer money, indirectly or directly. It should be able to stand on it's own. Based upon your statements it should without issue.
ReplyDelete"GE (General Electric) paid NO TAXES last year, nor did CitiBank or Bank of America."
The do no evil Google only paid 4% in taxes. While I'm not happy about this fact they did everything legal and can you blame them? You would do the same if you could. My point is this is another discussion. Two wrongs do not make a right. Taxes should be a flat tax for corporations and personal, but this is a completely different discussion.