[Dialogue] Re Save NPR and PBS

[Janice Ulangca]

Here's a good letter from a retired Binghamton University professor who is active in sustainability and other issues.  He's also writing to Eric Cantor, the House Republican Majority Leader and to Senator Jim DeMint--a vocal opponent of funding for CPB.  The quotes from Thomas Jefferson are great.
Janice Ulangca

                                        Richard A. Rehberg
                                    Apt. 908 Riverside Towers
                                        5 Riverside Drive
                                  Binghamton, New York 13905
 

February 12, 2011

 

John Boehner

Speaker

U.S. House of Representatives

HC-232

The Capitol

Washington, D.C. 20515

 

Dear Mr. Speaker:

 

I understand that key Congressional Republicans propose substantial funding cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) has been quoted as saying that "With record debt and unemployment, there's simply no reason to force taxpayers to subsidize programming they disagree with".

 

As Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, I would ask that you oppose efforts to reduce funding for CPB.  

 

Both PBS and NPR provide extremely valuable news, science and education, and cultural programming for the nation.  During an average week, more than 20 million American citizens listen to NPR for relatively objective coverage of local, regional, national, and international events.  

 

In an increasingly global era when the commercial broadcast and cable channels have reduced their coverage of international events, the importance of both PBS and NPR to an informed citizenry is of compelling importance.

 

As Thomas Jefferson wrote:  

 

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."

 

". . . whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that, whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them right."

 

In the spirit of our Founders, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting informs and educates the citizens of this nation thus facilitating a strong and vibrant democracy.  It has earned and it merits continued federal support.

 

Cordially,

 

 

 

Richard A. Rehberg

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