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1. 

   dtroutma said, 7 months ago

   Back in “commercial television” days, PBS, radio and TV was a way for people to connect to the world, it still is, in a manner not biased by advertisers. It uses the public airwaves, which belong to all of us. Current funding comes mostly from subscribers and donors. The purpose of “commercial free” is to NOT have “news” influenced by private corporate interests, like well Faux, and cable. Gee, remember when paying for cable was supposed to also free us from commercial advertising because we’d pay the cable companies?
2. 

   MortyForTyrant said, 7 months ago

   If this toon would contain any more falsehoods it would collide into a black hole…
3. 

   Radish said, 7 months ago

   Seseme St is one show, not an entire network.
4. 

   Michael wme said, 7 months ago

   Dimlibs are complaining about this cartoon, but Romney just wants Big Bird to stop living off the government dole and get a real job. I understand the Colonel has a big opening, and if that doesn’t work out, there’s Church’s or Popeye’s.
5. 

   skipcarlsen said, 7 months ago

   America unite! Let’s roast the bird and Obama, too this November!
6. 

   narrowminded said, 7 months ago

   We don’t have the money. This type of spending has to stop. If we can’t cut here tan we’re in real trouble.
7. 

   Ms. Ima said, 7 months ago

   @dtroutma

   Back in ‘commercial television’? PBS was not an exception because the media was liberal biased but they produced shows people wanted to watch (if people didn’t watch them the advertisers wouldn’t support them – horror of horrors capitalism works once again).
   Ever watch PBS? It’s the most left leaning liberal force fed to the country. About as left as BBC and we know who pays for that.
   I remember cable was going to bring ME channels from far away. If you want commercial free turn on HBO and SHOWTIME. I don’t remember a promise of commercial free non-subscription channels. Maybe it is like your belief that taxing other people will make your life better.
8. 

   Ms. Ima said, 7 months ago

   @

   1. you don’t think that any channel wouldn’t pick up Sesame Street?
   2. they have decades of material so there could be a channel running Sesame Street 24/7 without a problem.
   3. I find it more stupid that my tax dollars go to subsidizing PBS, but unlike liberals, I son’t complain about where the money is wasted.
9. 

   SkepticCal said, 7 months ago

   @

   When was the last time I heard classical music on Fox?
   .
   I think that would be about the same as the last time I heard Juan Williams on NPR.
   .
   NPR is so broad-minded that they will air any point of view that supports their anti-capitalist agenda.
   .
   Otherwise, Hit the road Juan.
10. 

    I Play One On TV said, 7 months ago

    So simple. Wipe out a $16 trillion debt by removing funding for PBS. Why didn’t Obama think of that? No wonder he doesn’t deserve to be president.
11. 

    Bruce4671 said, 7 months ago

    Once again you take a simple example and call it the entire plan. The reduction of government spending would “include” things like PBS. PBS would not be the only program looked at for funding reduction.
    
    Why do we need to use taxes to fund things like PBS? Balsim asks “when was the last time you heard classical music on Fox?” Well, I don’t turn on fox to listen to classical music. I have purchased several CD’s with various artists to enjoy. But I can turn to PBS and I can contribute to PBS IF I want to do that. So all you wealthy liberals and conservatives who want to see PBS continue to broadcast in your area can open that wallet and give them money. If the tax rate goes down then you will have a little extra. Or maybe you do not believe in charitable giving like your man Biden.
    
    And Trout, if you wish to foot the entire bill for your cable company then keep it up. Cable was not designed nor did they promise to bring you commercial free entertainment. It was an advance in technology that brought television into areas with little to no reception. It was a new market not yet exploited and not guaranteed to succeed. But if you want commercial free you can opt for premium channels (you pay more taking the place of some advertisers). I was there at the beginning as well. I know what went down.
    
    But back to big bird. How much of their revenue stream do they contribute to insure PBS stays on the air?
12. 

    Chillbilly said, 7 months ago

    The difference between a “public” member station and a “private” affiliate is a big one. As with so many other things the GOP sets out to destroy (they are after all a party of destruction — not building), the highest toll comes in the smallest communities.
13. 

    denis1112 said, 7 months ago

    @dtroutma

    Air America did real well didn’t they?Couldn’t pay their bills because no one listened to their “stuff”.The same would happen to PBS and NPR if they weren’t on the dole from US tax payers.Just look at the ratings for the lame stream news nerds.Not that many are watching.
14. 

    Radish said, 7 months ago

    PBS gets 450 million from the govt, a drop in the bucket.
15. 

    Fourcrows said, 7 months ago

    Most PBS affiliates get as much as 50% of their operating costs from the government. The rest comes from viewers and private donors, so cutting the budget won’t affect Big Bird, but could shut down channels across the country. People also seem to miss the point about the children’s programming: the idea is that parents can let their children watch entertaining educational programs without being bombarded by toy commercials every seven minutes. The news shows are also unbiased by corporate interests. Just because they don’t always praise the right doesn’t make them leftist, it just shows two sides to each story.
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