Should NPR receive government funding?

Chase · 28th February 2010 05:34 PM

NPR is now primarily funded through private donations; however, it still receives government grants which subsidize some of its overhead.

The radio network tries to present a balanced point-of-view to offset conservative talk radio, which is much more prevalent. A lot of people think that NPR is fairly balanced, but I would argue that it does lean to the left because of some of the content posted on its website and the views of its commentators. A couple of months ago it even featured this on the front page:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCqQRflUWd4]YouTube - Learn to Speak Tea Bag[/ame]

I don't have a problem with NPR presenting a different point-of-view, but the government should not be funding media stations to give certain viewpoints a competitive edge. The government should not infringe on the rights of the press, nor should it give preference to certain members of it.

**Winn** · 28th February 2010 05:40 PM

Nope. They don't need taxpayer funds. Plus if we cut off their funding it would be one less thing for Republicans to complain about.

**Churlant** · 28th February 2010 06:02 PM

"Should" NPR receive government funding? No. I don't see a reason they "shouldn't" either. If we're going to cut funding on principle, there are plenty of other media programs to include as well, some of those might even be supported by people who oppose NRP.

-JC

**Groucho** · 1st March 2010 01:59 PM

The government subsidizes lots of things that maybe only benefit a portion of our society, from various artist grants to museums to theaters to PBS.

While these things don't have a right to the funding, I don't think whether these things are funded or not should be based on the content of those things.

**Dutch** · 1st March 2010 05:09 PM

No, but hell no!!

**Winn** · 1st March 2010 05:18 PM

I have an idea. Probably a bad one, but what the fuck, it's just a forum.

Suppose we allow all of the Republicans in DC to pick one item of spending that they can cut. No questions asked. It just gets cut.

But there's a catch...

For every item and dollar amount the Republicans cut from government spending the Dems get to make the same amount of cuts to any spending they want cut.

I wonder how that would play out?

Maybe I should ask forum members what they would personally cut and what sacrifices of equal value they would be willing to make in government spending?

**MOSLEYDS** · 21st October 2010 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Winn

I have an idea. Probably a bad one, but what the fuck, it's just a forum.

Suppose we allow all of the Republicans in DC to pick one item of spending that they can cut. No questions asked. It just gets cut.

But there's a catch...

For every item and dollar amount the Republicans cut from government spending the Dems get to make the same amount of cuts to any spending they want cut.

I wonder how that would play out?

Maybe I should ask forum members what they would personally cut and what sacrifices of equal value they would be willing to make in government spending?

the federal government should exist to provide for the common defense and deliver the mail.
Cut all else.

**angryamerican** · 21st October 2010 12:50 PM

They should be funded. They are NATIONAL PUBLIC thus non-bias. The only people who feel they lean left tend to be Repubs who will disagree with any view other then their own. I just added them to my favorites on I.E.

I would say any subsidies to a Corps that is already making a profit would be a better place to cut.

**gypzy** · 21st October 2010 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by angryamerican

They should be funded. They are NATIONAL PUBLIC thus non-bias. The only people who feel they lean left tend to be Repubs who will disagree with any view other then their own.

Right. Tell that to Juan Williams.