[Durham INC] NPR and PBS th get the chopping block?

[RW Pickle]

Not being "at the table" is a huge issue. Apathy wins every election...
That's why I say to tell them where they can cut money instead of what you
like. There are Lobbies greater in number that push their agendas where by
the few of us who care about a particular area of spending, our voices
will get lost.

And I don't disagree with what you say in item #2. Like NPR and PBS, the
subsidies (except maybe in the food area since it's necessary for
everyone) need to be checked. I also think if diesel fuel were to be given
a subsidy, the cost of all goods would drop since this is the fuel that
moves our country (as far as goods are concerned). We'd all see money back
in our pockets and a better standard of living. I'd hope that our
governing body/bodies could step back away from the "red/blue State" and
do some things that would benefit us all. And I see some of this happening
which is a positive step. But Pat is right, we have some hard choices
coming down the road. And if we can't get it all straightened out, we're
in for a rough ride...

This spending train has to be stopped before it runs over us all. Because
it will.

Randy Pickle

>
> I have to disagree (respectfully) with Randy in 2 ways:
> 1) My observation is that the "innovative solutions" often come at the
> expense of the people who aren't at the table.  If you don't lobby for the
> stuff you want to spend YOUR tax dollars on, your taxes will go for bad
> ideas you don't support.
> 2) We all know that the current Republican spending reductions are more
> about getting back at people they don't like by slashing their projects,
> to leave more money for their own clients.  For all the pain of the
> proposed cuts, they amount to deciding to cut your OJ out of your
> breakfast, while continuing the 3 beers at 4PM, the meal that would feed
> half an African family at 8PM, and the midnight "snack" to tide you over
> until breakfast.  As the President's commission on the deficit showed, we
> need to get the "gumption" to "go where the money is" and address Social
> Security entitlements, tax reform, farm subsidies, and the military.
> Regards, pat
>
>> Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:37:29 -0500
>> From: randy at 27beverly.com
>> To: inc-list at durhaminc.org
>> Subject: Re: [Durham INC] NPR and PBS th get the chopping block?
>>
>> It's not Government Public Radio and these choices are tough. I listen
>> to
>> some NPR segments and give $$ when they have their fund raisers. They
>> even
>> give away some decent gifts for doing so. And PBS is no different.
>> Should
>> government fund WQDR because folks listen to country music? Or WRAL
>> because of their programming? Of course not. And these government funded
>> programs need to stand on their own as well. XM radio, Dish or Time
>> Warner
>> isn't free... But you can listen/watch what you want. So paying to
>> listen/watch what you like is already out there (and not government
>> supported). We're not talking about necessities here.
>>
>> Just today, the UNC Board of Governors raised tuition by 8% and dropped
>> 60
>> programs. Why? Because this spending train has to come to a stop before
>> it
>> runs over us. If it doesn't, finding easy money to cut will switch to
>> some
>> much harder choices. And we, the taxpayers, will ultimately write the
>> checks to pay for it.
>>
>> Instead of telling legislators what not to do like cut NPR and PBS
>> funding, shifting trust fund money, or even saving the
>> spotted-three-legged possum, tell them where they can cut some money.
>> Cutting government waste hurts no one...
>>
>> We have to understand that as a country, it's all trickle down money.
>> And
>> when there is a problem at the headwaters of it, the down-stream side of
>> it just gets smaller and smaller. Something has to happen and cutting
>> spending is all that can be done. Because as taxpayers, we wouldn't
>> stand
>> for the increase that would be necessary to fund it all...
>>
>> Randy Pickle
>>
>>
>> >  See immediately below...and please sign and/or contact your
>> legislators
>> > and tell them to protect public radio and public broadcasting. The
>> > American public can't afford to be any more mis- or un- informed.
>> > Next we'll be subsidizing Fox!
>> >
>> > Our legislators need to look at how much THEY are costing us and start
>> the
>> > cuts there. We need an independent consultant to determine where the
>> cuts
>> > should be made. We all know our state and federal operations are top
>> > heavy...legislators and many other govt employees get top notch
>> salaries,
>> > top of the line health care plans, gym memberships, travel stipends,
>> and
>> > multiple simultaneous pension plans to boot...
>> >
>> > Melissa Rooney
>> >
>> >
>> > ----------------------------------------------
>> > I guess we shouldn't be surprised.
>> >
>> > With Republicans back in charge of the House of Representatives,
>> funding
>> > for NPR and PBS is in grave danger. Again.
>> >
>> > The Republicans just released their budget proposal, and it zeroes out
>> > funding for both NPR and PBS—the worst proposal in more than a
>> decade.1
>> >
>> > They probably think that no one will notice these cuts in the midst of
>> so
>> > many others. But the millions of listeners and viewers who rely on
>> public
>> > broadcasting for "Sesame Street," "All Things Considered," and
>> independent
>> > journalism will notice.
>> >
>> > We need to tell Republicans that cutting off funding was unacceptable
>> last
>> > time they were in charge, and it's unacceptable now.Â
>> >
>> > Add your name to the petition to save NPR and PBS:
>> >
>> > http://pol.moveon.org/nprpbs?id=26078-10944909-Zl5Z_Dx&t=4
>> >
>> > The petition says: "Congress must protect NPR and PBS and guarantee
>> them
>> > permanent funding, free from political meddling."
>> >
>> > Thanks for all you do.
>> > –Daniel, Amy, Michael, Wes, and the rest of the team
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >       _______________________________________________
>> > Durham INC Mailing List
>> > list at durham-inc.org
>> > http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
>> >
>>
>>
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