Mars, You mean to actually be accountable for your actions or inactions? Those days are long over.

What would lead you to draw that conclusion?
I've heard of CPB and I don't think that's something the Federal Gov. should be involved with, I don't think we need a DoE either. In fact, it's one of the many terrible legacies left to us by President carter.

PBS isn't needed so people can take classes from home, especially with the internet. Further, I've seen classes being held on Drexel's channel, so I don't know why the other Universities couldn't follow suit. There's no way they need 168 hours a week to showcase their student projects.
You've got to admit that's a flimsy argument.
Just because we waste money for research on growing dates in Idaho doesn't mean that we should waste money on other projects the gov. has no charter to be involved in.
If we'd cut out all the stupid little wastes of money, we'd end up with a big overall reduction and a reasonable tax burden.
The "Copywrite Clause".
Are you serious?
Okay, how does this: To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries
Establish the responsibility of Congress to have CPB?

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The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27:1

Where did anyone say that we shouldn't have a municipal P.D. or F.D. or that they should be for profit?
We're discussing whether or not the Federal Gov. (FEDERAL) should pay for broadcasting.

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The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27:1

Just treat it like the 2nd Amendment, the inconvenient parts don't matter.

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All I said was that intellectuals are like the Mafia, they only kill their own.

Woody Allen
Stardust Memories

Tannhauser,
You have an opinion, and others have a differing opinion. The only reason why I got involved with this thread to begin with is because people throw around figures and don't even know what they are reiterating from someone else's talking points. I provided several links directly to the bush administration's budgets to show that the OP's numbers were wrong. In return I get "moveon.org" thrown back when they don't even know what political affiliation I associate. These arguments are as inane as "I don't think that's something the federal government should be involved with". Well, good for you-get into politics and shut it down, and while you are at it shut down corporate welfare, beef subsidies, oil company protections, etc.

I could really care less what people think should or shouldn't be funded by the government. Education is, get over it. So are bridges to nowhere in Alaska. Its not going to end anytime soon, and I don't think a politician who eliminates education spending will get re-elected in this day and age.

As for dates in Idaho? $500,000 was once spent to test grape farming in Idaho. It is now an $8million business annually, and will soon reach $20 million annually. Sure sounds like a good investment to me, so if dates are the next exotic crop that will bring jobs and commerce-let the testing begin.
As you said-"You've got to admit that's a flimsy argument".

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Magellan2's prescription:
ATTENTION ALL READERS...
DISCLAIMER: Alesis is a South Street business owner
(keep that in mind when reading his or her responses)

I just meant that I perceive those to be essential government services that shouldn't be privatized. And, by and large, privatization attempts in those spheres haven't worked. In Philly Edison school have, at best, merely equaled the performance of public schools and non-profit charter schools. And states around the country are having problems with for-profit prisons that skimp too much on health care, food, etc.

Obviously governments can be very inefficient in those areas as well - but the solution is to improve the way government operates those systems, not to privatize them.

alesis - you should care what gets funded by the federal government. Government support of CPB may not be as high as government support for Alaskan bridges to nowhere, nor is it as egregious, but anyplace we can cut waste we should. I will concede that the OP's numbers were off, and I'm not going to get into a debate about the exact amount of tax dollars that go to CPB, but the important part is that some of them do go there and they shouldn't.

And it's silly to say we need to "get into politics" if we want to change things. Not all of us can actually enter politics, but certainly we all should be paying attention to political candidate's spending priorities and vote against those who are all too willing to waste money on PBS or on Alaskan nowhere bridges or whatever.

Regarding your example about grapes in Idaho - it does sound like a good investment, but I'm still not convinced that federal money should have gone to the effort. It's not like the US was facing a critical grape shortage and we needed the federal government to intervene. I'm sure Idahoans would like to see their grape business expand, but from the point of view of the federal taxpayer I could care less whether my grapes come from ID vs. CA vs. PA vs. wherever. Why couldn't the Idaho state government, or some sort of private agricultural association, footed the bill?

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Boom, boom, acka-lacka-lacka boom.
Boom, boom, acka-lacka boom boom.

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The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27:1

That is a bit of a stretch, yes.

It does fit quite easily under the tax & spend clause:
"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States"

"If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions." - James Madison
The Constitution's General Welfare Clause has widely been seen as one limiting Congress' power to tax and spend rather than grant it sweeping powers.
Not that something as insignificant as The Constitution has ever gotten in the way of Congress.

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The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27:1

Such as providing service, solace, and education to the families and children of our Armed Services.

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/

In recognition of the contributions made by the United States Armed Forces, Sesame Workshop presents this bilingual educational outreach initiative designed for military families and their young children to share.

We are proud to offer support to help military families as they face challenging transitions.


And which exact for profit TV show is going to produce programing like this and be able to distribute it free of charge both through free DVDs, iTunes, and streamed on the internet?

http://a836.g.akamai.net/7/836/12038..._Grown_Ups.wmv


I support our troops, I support the CPB which supports PBS which supports The Children's Television Workshop.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKibyMn81GE

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There are more old drunkards than old doctors.

~Benjamin Franklin


http://www.pagrandlodge.org/2be1ask1.html