Comments | libertybells: good start; now defund it entirely

libertybells

good start; now defund it entirely

Jun 10, 2005 09:40

A House subcommittee voted yesterday to sharply reduce the federal government's financial support for public broadcasting, including eliminating taxpayer funds that help underwrite such popular children's educational programs as "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," "Arthur" and "Postcards From Buster ( Read more... )

Comments 12

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libertybells June 10 2005, 17:13:27 UTC

If PBS was completely defunded, then CTW would probably form their own cable/satellite network in a heartbeat.

BRAVO would instantly pick up Great Performances and Antiques Roadshow.

raphaela June 10 2005, 17:13:39 UTC

I have a healthy fear of Elmo.
How deprived will my child be if I ban Elmos from our house? I think Elmos can just materialize and self-multiply in the presence of a child, though. Thus my fear of them.

raphaela June 10 2005, 17:11:47 UTC

I'm with you.

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libertybells June 14 2005, 00:58:05 UTC

There is no way on this earth I support state-run news.

Propaganda film at 11. I disagree with your premise 100%, but you knew that already. ;)

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libertybells June 14 2005, 01:43:31 UTC

Then watch CNBC or don't watch it. Read what you want on the internet. Author a "Missing White Female" news blocking plug in for your browser.

Free market of ideas... it is a bitch sometimes.

Thread 8

seahorse715 June 10 2005, 23:24:28 UTC

"Sesame Street" is a huge hit with my son, as it was a huge hit with me 30++ years ago. (Yes, including Elmo--though he didn't exist in my day. However, we had Kermit, whom my son wouldn't know from Adam since he's no longer on Sesame...but I digress.) I think, for the most part, it's a great program-----BUT, it is far too commercially successful to necessitate funding from the government. They've marketed and licensed out to nearly as many different sources as Disney. They don't NEED the funds the government provides. They could do it on their own in a heartbeat ( ... )

libertybells June 14 2005, 09:45:57 UTC

WHAT DO YOU MEAN -- KERMIT ISN'T ON SESAME STREET ANYMORE?!?!?

seahorse715 June 14 2005, 15:21:09 UTC

He took off when he hit the Big Time.

(Actually, I'm really not sure why Jim Henson (RIP) stopped playing him on SS, but it seems his appearances on SS diminished and then disappeared after Henson started "The Muppet Show." [I babysat a lot, so I've seen lots of SS over the years since my early childhood in the '70s.] Elmo appeared sometime in the late '80s, and became huge in the '90s. He's a huge focus now--the last 20 min. of the show are dedicated to "Elmo's World." Little kids tend to adore him--and he's not creepy to me like Barney is.)

(BTW, interesting trivia: Elmo is played by a big black man who doesn't sound or look at all like he could ever play Elmo. I saw that on a behind-the-scenes show recently. When you see the actual guy doing the Elmo voice, you have to do a double-take!)

jillyb June 13 2005, 03:36:40 UTC

Agreed. I think shows like Sesame Street, Arthur, and Reading Rainbow would continue to thrive on other networks. I don't see a point in the govt fuding stuff like PBS and NPR.