Should Republicans force a vote to end funding for NPR?

Question

NPR (national public radio) is a tax funded radio program that promotes leftists ideology. Why should all Americans pick up the costs if it can't survive on its own like all other radio stations?

ProfessorC- You mean like Fox news?

Dude- is free if we pay millions for it?

Answer 1

It would be wonderful if they did. Let NPR fend for itself in the marketplace. My guess is that it would do just about as well as "err America."

Answer 2

I like this question a lot, as it was mentioned in both a marketing class and a political science class that I took...in the same semester.

From the outset, the notion of NPR came about precisely because it was not supposed to be "like all other radio station." An offshoot of the NEA, NPR was created so that average Americans would have a forum to voice their opinions on issues that would never be permitted on commercial radio.

As it turns out, NPR has had quite a few "conservative" programs over the years, but when one looks at the listenership of these programs, they are quite a bit lower than any of the other programs that are aired. In fact, there is a direct correlation (in the context of the political components of programs) between progressive shows and increased listenership. While one might conjecture as to why this is the case, executives at NPR have made the strategic decision (as all radio stations/networks -public and private- must) to pursue the lowest hanging fruit.

Ironically, one of the reasons that executives have had to care more and more and more about listenership is because a quickly growing percentage of funding comes from listeners. Thus, the liberalization of NPR is a direct result of the cutting of funding by Congress. If Congressional funding were to return to levels before the 1980's, NPR could once again be a politically neutral organization.

Looking at the larger picture, however, the last decade has seen a dramatic decrease in political programming overall at NPR, as entertainment programming such as Car Talk and game shows have a much much higher listenership. It would be difficult to argue that these programs have any sort of political ideology - progressive or conservative.

Answer 3

OK, there are really two questions implied here. The first is whether we SHOULD cut funding. The second question is whether Republicans should force a vote. Since Republicans are in the minority right now, I think they probably should NOT force a vote, because they'd probably lose.

But I'm ok with cutting funding. I disagree with some of the other answers, though. I think NPR has moved markedly to the right in recent years. It started out as pure leftist, and now, while it still has a slight leftward tilt, they do seem to offer more diversity of views. That said, I don't think it's appropriate for government to be funding any kind of media. Precisely for the reasons mentioned. We don't want government to be in a position to threaten to pull funding when the media goes in a direction they don't like. So, if we avoid funding any media, then we can know that all the media are free and uncensored.

Of course, we know that nobody is truly unbiased, but if we have a free press, we'll usually have some on each side of the issue. Fox was the free-market answer to the former leftward bias of ABC, CBS, etc. Now, we have more variety of opinion.

Answer 4

I'm trying to remember when it was. A country where there were a bunch of fascists believed in squeclhing free speach and free expression of ideas? I think they banned books, and burned them too.Nationalized all communication to suit their needs and promote an irrational leader whose goal it was was to control everything and have ultimate power. Wait. It'll come to me in a minute.

Leave it to a right wing neo-con to come up with a problem with public radio. Anything that borders on creative and intellectual scares the pants off people like this.

Say goodnight now. Or in your case, say krystallnaught.

Answer 5

we could watch our money after spending practically one thousand billion on the longest wars in our history, however that is substantial fund NPR. i do no longer continually believe travelers on their classes yet a minimum of they know something with reference to the concern. it fairly is in assessment to the speaking heads on different stations with the schedule of in undemanding terms helping their political events. i'm listening to new words, "O'Keefer" and "O'Keefed" which means video clips that have been created or edited to lie to the viewer. that is nice to pay attention information diagnosis from various view factors so we are able to make up our very own minds, yet first we desire the real information from journalists who up carry expert journalism principals.

Answer 6

It's fine with me; NPR does very nicely in most markets now without a shred of government support. We Democrats who understand that it's worthwhile have been picking up the tab for quite a while, and will happily continue to do so.

Answer 7

No..you're crazy..npr is great. its coast to coast and intenational and free and provides services not offered by other 'national' corporate radio..they have live concerts...guest,novelist interviews, arts and clture programs...Its like PBS..why would you want to cancel that...children all around the world love the muppets....its almost entirely listener supported but the government should subsidize it as a venue of accurate global journalistic reporting..also america needs to have someone representing on the radio just like they deserve to have a soccer team that needs government and natioanl support to occasionally succeed... NPR is a great educatioanl tool...and is somehtign im proud my government funds.

Answer 8

Yes. This it's time to pull the plug on NPR. I like listening to it, but it already gets most of it's financing through begathons and commercials, so why not just finish the job.

Answer 9

Cut the funding. I'm tired of individuals, businesses and organizations living on the dole.

Answer 10

They've talked about doing it for years but have never gotten the guts to do the right thing.
NPR is a socialist, leftist propaganda station that should never ever be funded with taxpayer money. Never.

Nothing but pure leftist propaganda.