Bye, Bye, Big Bird...

[Roger]

Oddly enough, all those that voted to give money back to the millionaires by repealing the inheritance tax voted to take money from PBS. Go figure. I really hate these f#@&ing guys.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/06/08/gop_takes_aim_at_pbs_funding/

[Buxom Wench]

Those RAT BASTARDS!!!! :irked:

[Dmitri]

Frankly, Sesame Street sucks now... I loved it as a kid and it taught MILLIONS so much... but now... With half the show in the unintelligible "Elmo's World" the show really teaches NOTHING... it has become just another baby sitter...

Sad...

[Phoenix McHeit]

Oh jeez thanks D - here I thought I was remembering my own viewing with Rose-colored glasses. I watched it a few times with my kiddos (when they were that age) and found myself thinking ..."Huh? Where's the good stuff?"

So its not just me then, who thinks its changed... or that said change is a sad thing.

[Buxom Wench]

I agree about Sesame Street but, let's not forget, its ALL of PBS that gets effected, not just kids shows.

[Roger]

Sure, I’ll admit, when I was 16 or so and Big Bird’s voice changed; I got really pissed and stopped watching (for a while). But the point of the post has nothing to do with the decline in quality of a childrens' show.

[Capt. Stamina]

Oh yes, it's always those evil rich people...

http://www.rightnation.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=104641

who hire and employ people. Who work hard and do things that make them money.

As for PBS/NPR, it's about time it's funding got cut. I can understand it 30 years ago when it came out, but there's no need to have it any longer.

[Alianne]

PBS goes *way* beyond 'Sesame Street'.

It's 'Great Performances', the 'House' series ('1900 House', 'Texas Ranch House', etc...)....it's programming on politics, local cultural events, giving an outlet to local and regional filmmakers. It's been 'Reading Rainbow', 'Electric Company', 'Cosmos'. It's 'Nova'. Hell, the US' first exposure to 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' was via PBS in the 70s! It's "I, Claudius" and "Masterpiece Theatre". It's "ZOOM" ('Write ZOOM, zee double oh em, box 3-5-4, Boston, Mass, 0-2-1-3-4. Send it to ZOOM!" <g>)

It's opera. It's Roy Orbison, Harry Chapin, Little Feet.... It's foreign language instruction, and English as a second language instruction. It's even soap operas in Gaelic and Korean. It's "Yan Can Cook". It's Julia Child.

Gods help us, it's also been 'Benny Hill'. :)

But if the millionaires can have their tax cuts, then screw the programming that we'd not have if it weren't for PBS (and National Public Radio, which will also fall under the proposed cuts in funding).

We don't *really* need to have the masses having any exposure to culture, now do we?

[Roger]

Oh yes, it's always those evil rich people...

http://www.rightnation.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=104641

who hire and employ people. Who work hard and do things that make them money.

As for PBS/NPR, it's about time it's funding got cut. I can understand it 30 years ago when it came out, but there's no need to have it any longer.


Cap'n, supply-side economics has proven questionably effective and pure capitalism is not possible. I'm personally closer to the "effected" tax bracket that I rail against than many, but that doesn't prevent me from wanting to pay my share.

[Dmitri]

With Discovery, A&E, Disney, Animal Planet, History Channel, etc... Plus the myriad of news programs (including the BBC, which is nice and detached) the need for PBS/NPR is much less than it was 30 years ago...

[Selena]

PBS goes *way* beyond 'Sesame Street'.

It's 'Great Performances', the 'House' series ('1900 House', 'Texas Ranch House', etc...)....it's programming on politics, local cultural events, giving an outlet to local and regional filmmakers. It's been 'Reading Rainbow', 'Electric Company', 'Cosmos'. It's 'Nova'. Hell, the US' first exposure to 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' was via PBS in the 70s! It's "I, Claudius" and "Masterpiece Theatre". It's "ZOOM" ('Write ZOOM, zee double oh em, box 3-5-4, Boston, Mass, 0-2-1-3-4. Send it to ZOOM!" <g>)

It's opera. It's Roy Orbison, Harry Chapin, Little Feet.... It's foreign language instruction, and English as a second language instruction. It's even soap operas in Gaelic and Korean. It's "Yan Can Cook". It's Julia Child.

Gods help us, it's also been 'Benny Hill'. :)



Don't forget Austin City Limits! One of my favorite shows which features all kinds of music including some major labels as well as local musicians. ACL has been such a big influence for music.

[Phoenix McHeit]

Taking aim, yes. For the second time, yes. However...

Markey expressed confidence that supporters of public broadcasting would have more than enough votes to stop a cut again this year. Their arguments will carry particular force in an election year in which moderate Republicans fear being portrayed as callous to the demands of their constituents, he said.

I have a good feeling about the outcome.

************************************************** *****

[Winifred Baskerville]

With Discovery, A&E, Disney, Animal Planet, History Channel, etc... Plus the myriad of news programs (including the BBC, which is nice and detached) the need for PBS/NPR is much less than it was 30 years ago...

Valid point... but what about those who can't afford cable tv/satellite and only get a handful of channels? When I was growing up, we lived out in the boonies and didn't have access to cable, and PBS was a staple.

[Abigail]

As one of the unwashed and poor masses, I don't have cable, so PBS is my only shot at cultured TV in the sea of reality TV and other self absorbed crap (We have 5 stations in English here for us non cable folks plus one God is great station. My Spanish isn't good enough to enjoy Spanish language programming).

I don't have $50-75/month to blow on basic cable, which wouldn't even get me the history channel, A&E, Discovery, and TLC.

Seasame street may not be what it was when we were youngins', however there are alot of other worthwhile shows for us grownups to watch.

Example- The Frontline special on the history of HIV and AIDS that was on last week. Good stuff (but scary).

YMMV, of course!


Abigail, who'd rather watch PBS than have 85 channels of crap

[Ysobelle]

The point of PBS, NPR, etc. is to bring culture and news to the masses. Restricting such things to cable makes it elitist once again. We absolutely DO need such outlets.

Besides which, it's mutually supportive, PBS and the arts. If people who wouldn't normally get such exposure to, say, opera or theatre are completely cut off, where do the artists of tomorrow come from?

[Pathos]

I too am a supporter of Public Television. I grew up in the sticks with only ABC, CBS, and PBS. I probably would've watched more network TV if we'd gotten it but since we didn't I watched more PBS than anything. As a result...I donate to my local station every year.

Doctor Who, Python, Nova, American Playhouse, and Cosmos in particular all had a big impact on me and I'm not sure I'd have seen them if there were more options in my area.

That being said...I don't presume to know all the intricacies of this legislation. I do know there's more than likely a lot more to it than "the big bad Republicans are giving the finger to us common folk" despite the media's way of making it sound exactly like that.

[Ysobelle]

http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/ (http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/)

http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/sesamestreet (http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/sesamestreet)

[Leyla]

:cuss: Why should my tax dollars go to pay for Big Bird rather than healthcare and education? Kids aren't watching PBS, they're looking at porn on the internet. Put the money in the schools instead. It makes more sense. If you're that upset about funding being cut to PBS send them some money.
Then again, if liberals have their way we'll have a nice constitutional amendment paying for Big Bird http://www.taxpayersleague.org/PR/2006/04112006.htm Makes even more sense doesn't it :roll:
This idea that they're cutting funding for PBS in order to handle a taxcut to the rich is just more liberal twisting. Personally I think a death tax is ridiculous. If you're paying taxes while alive there's no reason why having the wealth that you've accumulated over a lifetime should be further taxed when transfered over to your children upon death.

[Selena]

:cuss: Why should my tax dollars go to pay for Big Bird rather than healthcare and education? Kids aren't watching PBS, they're looking at porn on the internet.

Really? You really lost me on this rant. I don't know about you and yours, but me and mine don't watch porn on the net. My rogue's 5 & 12 year olds are carefully monitored while on the computer, which is in the living room... with us. Somehow, I don't think the 5 year old knows who Jenna Jamison is.

In addition, we already DO pay for healthcare and education... unless you don't pay taxes.


Put the money in the schools instead. It makes more sense. If you're that upset about funding being cut to PBS send them some money.

I do... and I do! Do you realize I, as a homeowner and taxpayer, pay over $3300/year in property taxes alone? And of that amount (according to my tax receipts), over $2400 of that is to school funding? And that's just little 'ole me and my 1788 square foot home the big city of Austin.

My family has provided money to public broadcasting in this city for decades. So many of us do make that leap to help our community. Please don't think we do not.

I'm sorry, but I could find your rant easier to swallow if you took into consideration that we already do pay for these expenses whether we want to or not (education, et al). And by the way, there is always money there for the education system. Always... but it's how the money is delegated by the powers that be which makes it seem as if there's not enough to go around.

[Leyla]

Yeah I know, a little bit overboard above. I'm happy that you have your computer in a location where your kids can be monitored, unfortunatly most kids these days are being set up with comps in their rooms, and I'm still pissed that my baby-brother had to deal with porn (which had been downloaded off the net) being passed around on the schoolbus. PBS is a good thing. NOVA, opera, and other brit programming as well as the childrens programs (although I'm not too sure about those tele-tubbies lol) PBS in and of itself is fairly decent. My folks love the travel programs they have too. I guess I was annoyed at this being added as a constitutional right. Moreover the way it was phrased as "we're taking away money from PBS so that rich kids can get their inheritance tax-free." The one doesn't cause the other, they are two seperate issues.
We've been hearing so much here (MN) about schools funding being cut, class sizes increasing, teacher salaries going down. That I'd rather see the money cut out of PBS which I don't think every single kid is using, and more money being put into education, something every kid should be using.

I'll be more careful about editing my comments in the future too, I know I tend to exagerate. I don't think 5 year olds are on the comps purposely looking up porn...it was an exaggeration, and I thought one that was so overboard that I wouldn't be taken literaly, guess I was wrong.

[Bean]

[ Personally I think a death tax is ridiculous. If you're paying taxes while alive there's no reason why having the wealth that you've accumulated over a lifetime should be further taxed when transfered over to your children upon death.[/QUOTE]

Of the topic a bit, but the rich have so many tax shelters and really creative accountants that they don't pay hardly any taxes on their income at all. And, those creative accountants have found several ways to pass on that money tax free anyway. Why shouldn't the rich pay their fair share of the tax load? I am glad I don't own property, the taxes would send me back into bankruptcy. Bless those of you who do pay property and school taxes.

[Leyla]

Of the topic a bit, but the rich have so many tax shelters and really creative accountants that they don't pay hardly any taxes on their income at all.

Oddly enough, all those that voted to give money back to the millionaires by repealing the inheritance tax...
Not entirely off topic.

And I wonder how many people realize that most of us "rich" people with the creative accountants are the wage earners filing singly or jointly earning about $29,000 and up (funny, did my own taxes this year...going to have to find a better accountant I guess).
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/menu/cy2003.guest.html
"Think of it this way: less than 3-1/2 dollars out of every $100 paid in income taxes in the United States is paid by someone in the bottom 50% of wage earners. Are the top half millionaires? Noooo, more like "thousandaires." The top 50% were those individuals or couples filing jointly who earned $29,019 and up in 2003."

( ::readcar: ugh, did I just use Rush to make a point...I'm about to be booted aren't I? ::couchlu: )

[Bean]

The "death tax" in question is not for the average wage earner like us, it only applies to estates worth more than $1 million (I believe it's has been increased to that level) Yes, the middle class pays the most in income taxes and yes, singles get hit harder than marrieds, I don't argue with that. I argue with the fact that those who can afford the taxes weasel a way out of them through tax shelters and creative accounting.

And personally, Rush Limbaugh is one of those that can afford the taxes, but I would love to see just how much he pays. I bet that on a percetage basis, I pay more taxes than he does..............

[Capt. Stamina]

Which is why the IRS and income tax should be replaced with a fairer tax plan. People complain that companies are moving their HQ's overseas, but the US is the ONLY country that taxes a companies domestic as well as foreign revinues. So why not move the HQs out-of-country?

Of course, for those who are receint guberment ejamacated; companies and corporations don't pay taxes. They roll them into the cost of the product that you buy and you the consumer pay.

Taxation WITH represenation isn't all that great either!

[jgirl]

In 1969 the US Senate had a hearing on funding the newly developed Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The proposed endowment was $20 million, but President Nixon wanted it cut in half because of the spending going on in the Vietnam War. This is an video clip of the exchange between Mr. Rogers and Senator Pastore, head of the hearing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sd7TcVH670#)

*sniffles*

I miss Mr. Rogers.

[Ysobelle]

In 1969 the US Senate had a hearing on funding the newly developed Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The proposed endowment was $20 million, but President Nixon wanted it cut in half because of the spending going on in the Vietnam War. This is an video clip of the exchange between Mr. Rogers and Senator Pastore, head of the hearing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sd7TcVH670#)

*sniffles*

I miss Mr. Rogers.


Christ almightly, that came thisclose to making me cry. Fred Rogers, you'll always be a saint.

[Selena]

In 1969 the US Senate had a hearing on funding the newly developed Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The proposed endowment was $20 million, but President Nixon wanted it cut in half because of the spending going on in the Vietnam War. This is an video clip of the exchange between Mr. Rogers and Senator Pastore, head of the hearing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sd7TcVH670#)

*sniffles*

I miss Mr. Rogers.

Wow-- thanks for posting this. Can you guys imagine what our childhood would have been like withOUT that show? It almost happened.

[Bean]

Hate to say it, but I never got into Mr. Rogers...............

[Pathos]

Hate to say it, but I never got into Mr. Rogers............... Oh I never got into him either. I always thought he was a complete geek. Even as a kid. But growing up with only 3 channels...I watched him more than I would've had I had 500 channels like today.

Then when I got older I began to appreciate that he'd actually had an impact on me. A few years later I thought he was kinda' cool. A few years even LATER I started to think he was pretty damn awesome.

The things he taught were very basic and sort of corny. But he DID teach you. And the things he taught you were things that nobody else was talking about.

So yeah...it wasn't until I became an adult that I realized it but I now really believe Mr. Rogers friggin' RULED!!!

[Bean]

I was living in western PA the year he died. Man, you would have thought that God had kicked the bucket. Everything closed........ the whole city of Pittsburgh went into mouring for a week!

[Ysobelle]

Oh I never got into him either. I always thought he was a complete geek. Even as a kid. But growing up with only 3 channels...I watched him more than I would've had I had 500 channels like today.

Then when I got older I began to appreciate that he'd actually had an impact on me. A few years later I thought he was kinda' cool. A few years even LATER I started to think he was pretty damn awesome.

The things he taught were very basic and sort of corny. But he DID teach you. And the things he taught you were things that nobody else was talking about.

So yeah...it wasn't until I became an adult that I realized it but I now really believe Mr. Rogers friggin' RULED!!!


Exactly, exactly, EXACTLY.

He was SUCH a gentle man, and a gentleman. They cynic in me finds it hard to believe anyone could be that good, but the realist in me knows he was human-- just a very good human.

[Isabelle Warwicke]

Quote:
With Discovery, A&E, Disney, Animal Planet, History Channel, etc... Plus the myriad of news programs (including the BBC, which is nice and detached) the need for PBS/NPR is much less than it was 30 years ago...


Yes Dmitri...but what about we poor souls who do not subscribe to cable? I'd love to have the History Channel, A&E, Discovery and Horse TV but I'm not paying for cable. I grew up watching WTTW in Chicago for free and when I moved to Milwaukee last year I lamented the fact that I could not watch it anymore. Then I discovered MPTV and found that it was another PBS station. It's one of two channels that I actually tune in to when I do turn on the television.

I think that there *IS* a need for PBS in today's society where watching couples eat bull pizzle, dive into tanks of bugs, and find out if he's really the baby-daddy is considered a form of entertainment. Whatever happened to class?

[Dmitri]

Quote:
With Discovery, A&E, Disney, Animal Planet, History Channel, etc... Plus the myriad of news programs (including the BBC, which is nice and detached) the need for PBS/NPR is much less than it was 30 years ago...


Yes Dmitri...but what about we poor souls who do not subscribe to cable? I'd love to have the History Channel, A&E, Discovery and Horse TV but I'm not paying for cable. I grew up watching WTTW in Chicago for free and when I moved to Milwaukee last year I lamented the fact that I could not watch it anymore. Then I discovered MPTV and found that it was another PBS station. It's one of two channels that I actually tune in to when I do turn on the television.

I think that there *IS* a need for PBS in today's society where watching couples eat bull pizzle, dive into tanks of bugs, and find out if he's really the baby-daddy is considered a form of entertainment. Whatever happened to class?

I have tried to watch PBS lately and its got nothing. None of the shows I watched as a child/young adult or even 10 years ago exist, or even have teh same content. Sesame Street would be better served doing reruns from the 70s... the show now sucks... I'd rather see funding go elsewhere than into unimportant useless programming.