National Public Radio (NPR) - with emphasis on the word "public" - has created a firestorm for itself with the Juan Williams firing that has opened the eyes of America to the point where it may finally lose its taxpayer support. We don't need a publicly supported radio network. There are plenty of other radio stations and networks available, as well as other commercial outlets for news - all without taxpayer support.
According to Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), NPR receives about 13% of its budget from taxpayers. That is a whopping $420,000,000 annually. He introduced legislation this past summer to withdraw public funding from NPR, but Pelosi wouldn't let it proceed.
If NPR was truly a nonpartisan, unbiased network that it agreed to be in its charter, that would one thing. That still wouldn't justify such a huge expenditure of our tax dollars. The fact that it acts like a partisan news organization, competing with all other commercial news channels which do not get any federal money, means that the gravy train is over. No more tax dollars.
If they can't survive in a competitive news market without any tax dollars, that's too bad but the way it should be in a free market economy.
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I could not agree more and although NPR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Public_Radio
is both public and private, the NPR president * Vivian Schiller * was HERSELF insensitive by indicating that it was unfortunate that this was happening during member outreach and pledge week * DUDAH!
Steve, the whole thing is ludicrous and outrageous. But as for the money, I thing we need to try to stop wasting trilliongs before we fight for realtive chicken feed on Obama's scale
Steve
I will calling Washington on this , cut the money off.
Good luck and success
Lou Ludwig
Wallace,
Because it accepts $1 in public money and support, it's a public organization. :)
Steve
Jon,
Every dollar adds up and a half-billion is not insignificant. :)
Steve
Lou,
Wait until Pelosi is gone. :)
Steve
Steve, Thank you for posting this, while I do not always agree with Juan Williams I do respect him and enjoy hearing his views. This was absolutely wrong on NPR's part, I am going to write my elected officials to pull the funding for them, I would ask that others who feel the same join and we need to make it clear that we do not support them in heart, mind and pocketbook.
Below is the URL for Juan William's article I was fired for telling the truth.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/10/21/juan-williams-npr-fired-truth-muslim-garb-airplane-oreilly-ellen-weiss-bush/
Steve - that amount is what goes to CPB, not NPR. However, CPB does pass down about 25% of that to NPR, the rest to other entities such as Public TV. However, I do agree with your position. In today's environment, there is no need, nor justification, for the taxpayers to be funding CPB at all, regardless of what NPR did in the Williams case.
There should never be government (taxpayer) funded media. It's time to defund NPR and let them stand on their own.
Steve, Jon has a great point. Freedom of the Press and of Religion are two of the Rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, so why should government fund one media source/viewpoint while it literally bans the practice of religion in any government venue. Putting public money into CPB or NPR seems as unconstitutional as funding the a religion. Cut them off, and make them personally and financially responsible for the wrongs to Mr. Williams. He is an honorable and honest man who brings much to the ongoing discourse in this country.
Elizabeth,
Thank you. Doug Lamborn has already introduced legislation in the House and Jim DeMint plans to do the same in the Senate to withdraw this funding. Go ahead and voice your support. :)
Steve
Mike,
The central point is that media is free enterprise - as biased as some of them may be - and not one cent of public money should go to them. :)
Steve
Jon,
Absolutely. :)
Steve
Steve,
Public radio was never a good idea. As for the religion ban, the government is off base in most cases. :)
Steve
If they are SO good, they will survive. Otherwise, let them fail. No government money.
Lane,
That's the free market principle. :)
Steve
Having worked in radio for 30 years, and having owned a station where we actually had to work for our money, I think everyday that, if I was a pol, I would cut NPR to the bone,
Steve,
There is no reason for public funding regardless of the intent. :)
Steve