During the Presidential debate, Mitt Romney said he would stop funding PBS. He made it clear that there would be no more government subsidies for Big Bird, who is apparently a freeloader, one of the 47% who couldn’t survive without federal assistance.
Charles Blow wrote a terrific column about Big Bird and about the value of subsidizing high quality programs that provide news, in-depth documentaries, education, and the best of culture, whether high or middlebrow.
If the government were to withdraw support for the arts and for cultural institutions, we would lose a lot more than Big Bird. We would lose museums, libraries, concerts, and everything else that is not self-sustaining.
To remove all government support for the arts and humanities is profoundly anti-educational. It would dumb down the public and impoverish us all.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
As with quality schools, medicine, etc., the very wealthy would still have access to such things, so it’s not their problem.
While most believe Romney “won” the debate, his comment about de-funding PBS will be the often repeated and I believe it will hurt Romney more than “losing” the debate will hurt Obama.
Middle Americans sees PBS as quality TV and Romney was not wise to use that as an example of something he would cut.
You are right. That was a self-inflicted wound. No one asked the question.
He must have been primed to say it to show he is tough and mean.
Considering my beloved Gov Chris Christie was his coach, I’m gonna say he was told to say it to be tough, mean and arrogant…. Christie’s modus operandi. If so, that would be the “unkindest cut of all”! Smh!!!
Dumb us down and impoverish us? Exactly what they want.
Exactly the agenda I have read about time and time again !!
What is it with the GOP/right wingers/libertarians/Randians and their rabid irrational hatred for public TV (PBS) and public radio (NPR)? They seem to be under the impression that PBS has a liberal bias, hardly. Much of the programming is not political in any way. There are wonderful educational shows, science shows, cultural shows, travel shows, food shows, BBC series, etc., that are light years away from politics. It would be such a huge loss to lose PBS and NPR. I loathe Obama’s hideous educational policies but at least he’s not spouting all the toxic bilge coming from Romney’s twisted view of things.
And Romney has so much in common with Big Bird: tall, awkward and they both sound goofy when they speak. Mitt murders BB:
http://www.collegehumor.com/embed/6832243/mitt-romney-murders-big-bird
In Louisiana, the defunding of public libraries has already begun.
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/06/funding/louisiana-eliminates-state-library-funding/
It must be a Republican thing…..
The dumbing down of America has been the collective objective of both parties for quite some time now. In terms of policy, there is virtually no difference between Obama’s and Romney’s, between Dems and Repubs.
If the only feather in Obama’s cap is that he didn’t roll Big Bird under the bus, then we are indeed in dire straits.
Well, eliotpound, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but yes, we are in dire straits.
Which is my point, David Eckstrom. Indeed, we are in dire straits and worse, are clutching straws to think that the current direction under Arne and O is any better, which is why Arne tried to “reach out and touch” teachers last week.
One of the many things that make Romney’s attack on PBS a stupid idea is that it is such a tiny part of the budget. If he were saying that he was going to significantly reduce military spending, he might have some credibilty, but PBS? As Neal deGrasse Tyson observed, cutting PBS to reduce the federal deficit is like deleting text files from your hard drive to save space.
I wonder if his comment on defunding PBS was part of an agenda to intimidate Lehrer in an attempt to take control of the debate. Romney’s Pinocchio impression was delivered with an obnoxious bravura. Did he think he was in the board room speaking to his underlings? Why anyone would vote for this “entitled” bully is beyond me.
WE AGREE!
JMV Blog Link: http://janeymccullough.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/election-2012-debates-four-sentences-and-48000-tweets-about-big-bird-plus-defunding-pbs-may-have-derailed-mitt-romney/
FYI.Big Bird made $54 million in merchandising, The President of PBS makes $650,000, it is the CORPORATION for Public Broadcasting, How is that not a Corporate Subsidy?
My concern is for the mother trying to raise her children by herself watching the gas prices double and hoping she doesn’t loser her job!!
So are you saying you do support Corporate Welfare?
Great point, MOM. However, this corporation serves the public. Sesame Street is also a business with services purchased for public consumption not unlike any other private service hired by the public system (Pearson ring a bell?). The government is not in the children’s program production business, so PBS hiring a private entity for this service is a “necessary evil.” As well, I don’t think you can compare PBS with most corporations unless they also provide a service to the public.
That $54 million subsidizes high-quality public television. Paying for great programming for the American people is not corporate welfare.
Diane
We are 16 TRILLION in debt. End the Corp. subsidies. It’s unsustainable and exactly how we get everyone dependent on the master.
When you look into the programming that is supported through this nonprofit corporation, the value is apparent. It is the only media source that is not beholden to a for profit corporation. Do some research on PBS, MOM, and think about the cost benefit ratio.
She can’t, she does not believe in the value of anything that doesn’t show a return on investment. The esoteric value of PBS and the virtue of a relatively neutral outlet for news do not strike her as being valuable. I would agree with her if we could tax G.E. and Exxon Mobile appropriately, say at least like a person instead of a corporation. I would also appreciate it if they had to vote on a designated scapegoat to go to jail on behalf of the board for illegal actions. I’ll believe they are people when they can be jailed or executed like a person.
PBS is paying their CEO MORE than the President of the U.S.
We have parents who cannot afford the basic necessities for their children. Gas prices have DOUBLED.
As a mom, I can assure you that my kids grew up on Sesame Street. However if I’m THAT committed to something, I FUND IT MYSELF.
IF you support PBS, it’s very simple, send them a donation.
You may have the means to fund it yourself, but many families do not. Should only children of the privileged have access to educational programming? Maybe only the privileged should be allowed to use the roads or breathe the air. Yeah, that’s your argument taken to its philosophical end.