Christieends Soviet style broadcasting

[idlewind]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...viet-union-before-announcing/?test=latestnews

Finally an elected official who has the guts to say what he means and say it bluntly.

 

[beachmouse]

Sesame Street is the opiate of the masses, and Mister Rogers is a commie because he teaches kids to share, eh?

 

[idlewind]

Sesame Street is the opiate of the masses, and Mister Rogers is a commie because he teaches kids to share, eh?

It is not the programing, Big Bird and Mister Rogers are fine with me. The problem is the state paying the bill. These programs are popular enough to thrive on a privately owned station. The question is why does the state need to own media outlets when we have hundreds of privately held outlets available? Is it fair for the state to subsidize media outlets with tax dollars taken from their private competitors? How would the local paper feel about the county starting its own newspaper with tax dollars and then competing with them? Same principle.

 

[PearlSB4U]

It is not the programing, Big Bird and Mister Rogers are fine with me. The problem is the state paying the bill. These programs are popular enough to thrive on a privately owned station. The question is why does the state need to own media outlets when we have hundreds of privately held outlets available? Is it fair for the state to subsidize media outlets with tax dollars taken from their private competitors? How would the local paper feel about the county starting its own newspaper with tax dollars and then competing with them? Same principle.

I am a proud liberal & I agree w/ idlewind on this one: I don't like gov't sponsored radio/tv any more than I like gov't-sponsored religion. Just because I might like what the gov't currently sponsors, I have to admit I'd hate it if gov't-sponsored tv looked like Fox News.

 

[Lake View Too]

The govt does not influence the programming on NPR nor PBS, The govt tries to provide funding for TV and radio stations to get established and maintain the programming, especially in rural areas that don't have cable and/or broadband. This is a service to the citizens of our country to simply help keep them informed and educated. In general, Republicans seem to be against an educated and informed citizenry. How come?

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I'm so thankful I grew up with Sesame Street and the Electric Company. Living in a rural area, it was usually the only channel we picked up, besides Dothan. What a shame, what a total shame. The world is upside down.

 

[idlewind]

I'm so thankful I grew up with Sesame Street and the Electric Company. Living in a rural area, it was usually the only channel we picked up, besides Dothan. What a shame, what a total shame. The world is upside down.

That set of circumstances no longer exists though. Satellite service is available everywhere for both TV and radio. So back to my question Alicia, since there is only one local newspaper in Walton County, would you be comfortable with the county commission starting another paper with your tax money and compete with your paper? And set the price at 25 cents a paper because they are subsidized by tax dollars? Would that be a legitimate use of tax dollars? And do you really think that paper would be critical of local government? I bet they could print dozens of feel good articles though.

 

[idlewind]

The govt does not influence the programming on NPR nor PBS, The govt tries to provide funding for TV and radio stations to get established and maintain the programming, especially in rural areas that don't have cable and/or broadband. This is a service to the citizens of our country to simply help keep them informed and educated. In general, Republicans seem to be against an educated and informed citizenry. How come?

True Republicans are all for an educated and informed citizenry. Those kinds of citizens understand that when the government gives money to one group it had to take that money from someone. Educated people understand the meaning of the word robbery. And bias.

 

[beachmouse]

It is not the programing, Big Bird and Mister Rogers are fine with me. The problem is the state paying the bill. These programs are popular enough to thrive on a privately owned station. The question is why does the state need to own media outlets when we have hundreds of privately held outlets available? Is it fair for the state to subsidize media outlets with tax dollars taken from their private competitors? How would the local paper feel about the county starting its own newspaper with tax dollars and then competing with them? Same principle.

No tv station has ever been told it cannot carry public interest programming. If they can make a profit doing so, they're free to do so.

As for thriving on a private station, many of them don't, and, believe it or not, there are many valuable things that aren't easily converted into a business plan. And many of those kinds of programs end up having some really interesting long term benefits to them (see the 'public health soap opera') that make them well worth the money spent.

Much more worth it than alleged fiscal conservative Chrstie deciding it was perfectly acceptable to borrow state police helicopters for private use. (Please defend your hero on that one. I wanna hear it.)

 

[poppy]

True Republicans are all for an educated and informed citizenry. Those kinds of citizens understand that when the government gives money to one group it had to take that money from someone. Educated people understand the meaning of the word robbery. And bias.