Please Help Save NPR and PBS

[SuzeQuze]

A House panel has voted to eliminate all public funding for NPR and PBS, starting with "Sesame Street." This would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting. NPR and PBS are under attack, but Americans trust them over the commercial networks. Sign the petition to save NPR, PBS and our local public stations from losing their funding.

Dear MoveOn member,

You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it's actually true. (Really. Check the footnotes if you don't believe us.)

A House panel has voted to eliminate all public funding for NPR and PBS, starting with "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," and other commercial-free children's shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch.

Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS:

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?id=5663-5735729-ywqfSZZrKnCVp9JcUwZysA&t=3

If we can reach 250,000 signatures by the end of the week, we'll put Congress on notice. After you sign the petition, please pass this message along to any friends, neighbors or co-workers who count on NPR and PBS.

The cuts would slash 25% of the federal funding this year—$100 million—and end funding altogether within two years.1 In particular, the loss could kill beloved children's shows like "Sesame Street," "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Arthur" and "Postcards from Buster." Rural stations and those serving low-income communities might not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate sponsorships.

This shameful vote is only the latest partisan assault on public TV and radio. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which exists to shield public TV and radio from political pressure, is now chaired by Kenneth Tomlinson, a staunch Republican close to the White House. Tomlinson has already forced one-sided conservative programs on the air, even though Tomlinson's own surveys show that most people consider NPR "fair and balanced" and they actually trust public broadcasting more than commercial network news.2

Tomlinson also spent taxpayer dollars on a witch hunt to root out "liberal bias," including a secret investigation of Bill Moyers and PBS' popular investigative show, "NOW." Even though the public paid for the investigation, Tomlinson has refused to release the findings.3

The lawmakers who proposed the cuts aren't just trying to save money in the budget—they're trying to decimate any news outlets who question those in power. This is an ideological attack on our free press.

Talk about bad timing. Every day brings another story about media consolidation. Radio, TV stations and newspapers are increasingly controlled by a few massive corporate conglomerates trying to maximize profits at the expense of quality journalism. Now more than ever, we need publicly funded media who will ask hard questions and focus on stories that affect real people, instead of Michael Jackson and the runaway bride.

As the House and Senate consider this frightening effort to kill public broadcasting, they need to hear from its owners—you.

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?id=5663-5735729-ywqfSZZrKnCVp9JcUwZysA&t=4

Thank you for all you do,

–Noah, Wes, Jennifer, Eli and the MoveOn.org Team
Tuesday, June 14th, 2005

P.S. You can learn more about the threat to public broadcasting from our friends at Free Press at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=748

Sources:

1. "Public Broadcasting Targeted By House," Washington Post, June 10, 2005
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=745

2. "CPB's 'Secrets and Lies': Why the CPB Board Hid its Polls Revealing Broad Public Support for PBS and NPR," Center for Digital Democracy, April 27, 2005
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=746

3. "Republican Chairman Exerts Pressure on PBS, Alleging Biases," New York Times, May 2, 2005
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0502-01.htm

[skcin]

I can't believe this is really a possibility. :mad:

I signed of course.

[ontheEdgeof17]

Signed.


Thanks for the head's up on this, Suze.

[strandinthewind]

I waffle on this issue all of the time. I think we need to feed the hungry and insure the poor before funding this. But, then I think this is so little money in the big scheme of things. So, I say fund it.

[SuzeQuze]

I think they are voting on this right now. MoveOn got over 300,000 signatures yesterday but I think it is still important to go and sign it if you believe these media should be funded.

[ontheEdgeof17]

II think we need to feed the hungry and insure the poor before funding this.


Do you really think that will ever happen? :cool:

[sparky]

I signed it, but this puppy will probably be drowned. It dares to sometimes report from a POV that is not conservative. And uses government money. In this administration, the government only wants to support it's own POV.Therefore, it will be shut down. It will be a feather in the caps of Shrubbie and all of his Tabernacle Taliban buddies.

[strandinthewind]

Do you really think that will ever happen? :cool:


I am an optimist :cool: amongst pessimists I know - but I remain so nontheless :laugh:

[sparky]

I think we need to feed the hungry and insure the poor before funding this.

You must be making fun of Dissention with this statement, right ?

[strandinthewind]

You must be making fun of Dissention with this statement, right ?


I would never make fun with --- I mean of -- Dissention :woohoo:

[cliffdweller]

I signed. I hope it helps!

[golddustdragon]

From what I see, some GOP congressmen are starting to break ranks with the hardliners. I hope they use their heads and not their partisan leaning hearts. We know how irrational decisions from the heart can be.

[macfanken]

What pisses me off is that this isn't about trying to save money. It's about control of the media... the republicans feel threatened by PBS and NPR because they are still independent media entities. They are just trying to silence another voice of dissention. :distress:

[sparky]

What pisses me off is that this isn't about trying to save money. It's about control of the media... the republicans feel threatened by PBS and NPR because they are still independent media entities. They are just trying to silence another voice of dissention. :distress:

YOU GOT IT. The Gestapo must control all the information.

[chiliD]

I can't believe this is really a possibility. :mad:

Oh, really? Just look at this current administration. ANYTHING that narrows the minds of "the people" is their goal. "Free country" my a$$. Rigged elections twice in a row, The Patriot Act, Homeland Security, etc. Us Americans are living in a Fascist State these days...c'est la vie "GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE".

Or...

What pisses me off is that this isn't about trying to save money. It's about control of the media... the republicans feel threatened by PBS and NPR because they are still independent media entities. They are just trying to silence another voice of dissention. :distress:

...what Ken said.

I guess I should've read the WHOLE thread.

[gldstwmn]

Signed. :)

[GypsySorcerer]

Done. Hope it helps.

[SuzeQuze]

From what I see, some GOP congressmen are starting to break ranks with the hardliners. I hope they use their heads and not their partisan leaning hearts. We know how irrational decisions from the heart can be.

Yes because we got a huge majority voting against the part of the patriot act that would allow library and book purchase records to be obtained. So there is a divide beginning.

[DrummerDeanna]

I was SO going to post that link :laugh:

Anyway - it is a real and very scary threat. It's not the first time public broadcasting has been in danger and it probably won't be the last - I just hope that enough support comes through - :o

[strandinthewind]

From what I see, some GOP congressmen are starting to break ranks with the hardliners. I hope they use their heads and not their partisan leaning hearts. We know how irrational decisions from the heart can be.


Bush has had only minor success this term and has sold out his larger possibilites. For example:

SS "reform" is dead in the water with IMO no hope of revival in its present state, which W has been adamant about keeping

Yes, he got three of five judges in, but Frist via the very very clever McCain sold out the big fish known as the USSC nominee which is rumored to be coming as early as Sept.

The Patriot Act has been lessened against W's wishes

Tax reform is stalled

Control of Stem Cell research is slipping through W's fingers

W's popularity is low

only around 40% of Americans think the Iraq war was worth it and that number seemingly continues to drop.

___________________________________________________________

All of this suggests that W's popularity is waning. I still say his popularity was waning before the election, but he won, all consp. theories aside, because Kerry was not a strong enough candidate.

We shall see how it all plays out, but the R sharks are swimming excitedly at the smell of blood - at least as I see it.

[SuzeQuze]

Yes because we got a huge majority voting against the part of the patriot act that would allow library and book purchase records to be obtained. So there is a divide beginning.

This was the vote 238 to 187.

[GypsySorcerer]

Bush has had only minor success this term and has sold out his larger possibilites. For example:

SS "reform" is dead in the water with IMO no hope of revival in its present state, which W has been adamant about keeping

Yes, he got three of five judges in, but Frist via the very very clever McCain sold out the big fish known as the USSC nominee which is rumored to be coming as early as Sept.

The Patriot Act has been lessened against W's wishes

Tax reform is stalled

Control of Stem Cell research is slipping through W's fingers

W's popularity is low

only around 40% of Americans think the Iraq war was worth it and that number seemingly continues to drop.

___________________________________________________________

All of this suggests that W's popularity is waning. I still say his popularity was waning before the election, but he won, all consp. theories aside, because Kerry was not a strong enough candidate.

We shall see how it all plays out, but the R sharks are swimming excitedly at the smell of blood - at least as I see it.


It appears more heat is coming........


Lawmakers Push Resolution on Iraq Pullout
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
57 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush would have to start bringing home U.S. troops from Iraq by Oct. 1, 2006, under a measure a small bipartisan group of House lawmakers — including a Republican who voted for war — proposed Thursday.

Two Republicans and two Democrats introduced a resolution that would require the president to announce by the end of this year a plan for withdrawing troops and steps for following through on that plan.

It is the first such resolution put forth by lawmakers from both parties, although an overwhelming number of Democrats and six House Republicans voted in 2002 against sending troops to Iraq.

Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said such timetables won't work, suggesting insurgents would simply wait for U.S. forces to withdraw before attacking.

Lt. Gen. James Conway, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, "If you look at it from the insurgents' perspective — they know our history, just like we study them — and they see where we have withdrawn previously, in Vietnam, in Beirut, in Somalia, and nothing would make them happier, I suppose, than to think that there is a deadline out there."

The Bush administration has insisted that a timetable for withdrawal can't be considered until Iraq's security forces are strong enough to protect their country from insurgents.

While many Democrats and some Republicans repeatedly have voted against continued funding for the war, there has been no concerted joint effort before to bring troops home.

A low-water mark of 41 percent of adults said in an Associated Press-Ipsos poll this month that they supported Bush's handling of the war in Iraq. And a Gallup poll released Monday found that six in 10 Americans say they think the United States should withdraw some or all of its troops from Iraq.

Conway, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, acknowledged the poll numbers were down.

He said the U.S. military has to be concerned about indications "our public is not as supportive as perhaps they once were." But Conway also said, "We'd like, I believe, to try to reverse those figures and start the trend back the other direction because it's extremely important to the soldier and the Marine, the airmen and the sailor over there to know that their country's behind them."

Car bombings and attacks by insurgents killed 80 U.S. troops and more than 700 Iraqis last month. Pentagon officials acknowledge the level of violence is about the same as a year ago.

Among the resolution's sponsors are Rep. Walter Jones (news, bio, voting record), R-N.C., who voted for the Iraq war but now says the United States has done what it can in Iraq and the reason for going to war — Saddam Hussein's alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction — has been proven false.

"After 1,700 deaths, over 12,000 wounded, and $200 billion spent, we believe it is time to have this debate and discussion on this resolution," Jones said.

Two years ago, Jones helped lead an effort to ensure Capitol Hill cafeterias retooled their menus to advertise "freedom fries" instead of french fries to protest France's opposition to the war.

The other resolution sponsors are Ron Paul, R-Texas, who voted against the war, and two Democrats who've opposed it, Reps. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii.

[gldstwmn]

all consp. theories aside,

People standing in line in minority districts for hours on end in the rain because there weren't enough voting machines for them is not a conspiracy theory.

[strandinthewind]

People standing in line in minority districts for hours on end in the rain because there weren't enough voting machines for them is not a conspiracy theory.


I did not use "consp. theory" to insult - it was just an expression :cool:

[seeker007nmss]

Where is Mr. Rogers When we need him? :( Maybe they could reshow his testimoney to Congress when they needed money and he wrapped them all around his finger.

[Sugar]

Signed. :thumbsup:

[DrummerDeanna]

Where is Mr. Rogers When we need him? :( Maybe they could reshow his testimoney to Congress when they needed money and he wrapped them all around his finger.


Well Mr. McFeeley is still alive and kicking - he was in Rochester a couple of weeks ago - he was at our station doing our talk show - and I missed him :( Anyway - I hope that enough people voice their support for public broadcasting - it really is a valuable asset...and I'm totally not just saying that because I work in public radio...

[seeker007nmss]

Well Mr. McFeeley is still alive and kicking - he was in Rochester a couple of weeks ago - he was at our station doing our talk show - and I missed him :( Anyway - I hope that enough people voice their support for public broadcasting - it really is a valuable asset...and I'm totally not just saying that because I work in public radio...


I got the DVD bio on Fred Rogers. (Okay ..one..two...three....PBS GEEK) Anyway, was very interesting. In the extras they had the congressional hearings for funding, ... They never had a chance with Mr. Rogers there, even the "tough" congressman wanted to give up the cash. :nod:

[Mari]

I don't know of non-americans can sign this, but they want to stop funding Sesame Street?!?! :shocked: :shocked:

What I'm afraid of, Bush might be gone one day but all those laws, etcetera will be there for a long time after. Or free media organisations, gone is gone ?

[irishgrl]

signed when I got my own MoveOn email........I seriously thought about posting it and Im glad Suze DID do it. :wavey:

I actually got a response from one of my co-workers that said this was a hoax (apparently she tested it by going to a "truth or fiction" type of link, and she wouldnt sign. I told her I trusted MoveOn more than any Truth or Fiction type website, and thanks anyway)

[SuzeQuze]

signed when I got my own MoveOn email........I seriously thought about posting it and Im glad Suze DID do it. :wavey:

I actually got a response from one of my co-workers that said this was a hoax (apparently she tested it by going to a "truth or fiction" type of link, and she wouldnt sign. I told her I trusted MoveOn more than any Truth or Fiction type website, and thanks anyway)

Yeah, that's pretty silly. MoveOn would not send around a hoax. :shrug: Silly lady.

[DrummerDeanna]

There was a similar call somewhat recently that WAS a hoax - so perhaps she's thinking of that :shrug:

Unfortunately though - this is a real threat - you can go to many a public radio station's website and a call to write to state lawmakers etc is displayed prominently :nod:

[irishgrl]

you'll all be gratified to know I gave her HELL when I saw her at work :nod: