Have you signed MoveOn's PBS petition yet?

[GreenPartyVoter]

Here's what I sent to my Senator's and Rep:

I am appalled that public broadcasting is even on the chopping block. These stations fill so many roles that other private-owned media do not: allow for far more alternative voices to speak out on current events, showcase local culture, align their programming according to what their local viewers and listeners ask for, and offer educational programming for young children who might not otherwise be exposed to educational opportunities.

I cherish my memories of learning my numbers from Sesame Street's Kermit the Frog, and learning to read from The Electric Company's Spiderman. I know that my own children benefitted from watching "Sesame Street" and "Between the Lions." We couldn't afford preschool for them and the nearest Head Start was too far away. Please, leave these educational opportunities in place for other children who may be in similar situations!

Stand up for the children of Maine and the United States. Leave us our public broadcasting so that they can be educated as youth and informed as adults.

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

[99Pancakes]

1. Did that yesterday

Got an e-mail today saying they surpassed their goal.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. This is the mail I got today. Maybe I have gotten the latest one?

Dear MoveOn member,

In less than a day, we've blown past our goal—more than 300,000 of us have signed the petition to save NPR and PBS from losing public funding. This is huge, but we need your help.

Tomorrow, the House Appropriations Committee will decide whether to approve these severe cuts to NPR and PBS. We can stop the cuts—and save public TV and radio—with a strong show of public outrage. We'll report to the committee members on our petition before they vote.

Can you help us reach 400,000 signers by the end of the day?

[99Pancakes]

3. Oh

OKay. I see you are trying to help them surpass the surpassed number. You go, girl!

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Gotta keep my prairie home companion. ;^)

[99Pancakes]

5. I am a monthly contributor

to NPR's local affiliate, VPR (Valley Public Radio) here in Bakersfield, California. In fact, I'm listening to them now--they are even having a fundraiser month.

:hi:

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. We used to contribute. Money is hard for us to get these days and to be

honest I haven't liked the rightward-turn in their news.

What a horrible situation. I want NPR to mend its RW ways but first we have to save them from obliteration by the RW.

[99Pancakes]

7. They swung a little RWard

after the election. I almost wrote them a letter. But, they are still leaning Left (crossing my liberal fingers). If I hear one more "Cheerleaders at Christian Camp" SH--t "story" though I WILL write them a letter. However, tho' they ain't purr-fect, they are a great station. Not Bush-wacked yet.



:toast:

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Well, my hubby is a conservative moderate.. like a 1970s Repub. He

enjpys NPR and finds their news to be fine. Also listens to Neil Cavuto and Sean Hannity.

Hence some of my concern for the direction of NPR. *lol*

[99Pancakes]

9. Wow

It takes courage to be married to someone who admires Sean-y Boy. My hubby is a Liberal like me. I could never be married to anyone who didn't lean Left like me. Makes me wonder how Maria Shiver did that.

[dr.zoidberg]

10. oh, that's easy. It's all about the money n/t.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Not about the money for me, though. I just love the guy despite

the fact that I think he is pointed in the wrong direction politically and religiously.

[katinmn]

11. Yup. Last night

I wrote that I didn't want them to cut funding for the only commercial-free TV programming available for kids. The rest is all violence, sex and marketing.

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Good. Wish I had thought to mention that PBS is more "moral" when

it comes to sex and violence, but very glad that you covered it. :)

[katinmn]

14. yes, I was thinking of the RW's hypocrisy regarding morals

while I was writing it.:)

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. Welll I hope the message gets across. Who are your Sens and Reps

wh owill be reading it? Anyone who might take it seriously? :)

[katinmn]

17. Sen. Dayton and Rep McCollum are great, but then I also have

Bush's rubber stamp Sen. Coleman.

But just because he is Bush's waterboy does not mean I don't include him.

I think of it as education whenever I tell him how he's wrong, which is 2-3 times a week!

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. Hehehe. Excellent!

[man4allcats]

15. I will sign, but I live in Texas.

All of the representatives, at least from my part of the state, are inbred idiots. I therefore doubt it will do much good, but what the hell?

[katinmn]

18. Coleman's an idiot, too, but I keep writing and calling

Can't make it easy for them, you know.

[man4allcats]

20. Yes, thanks. You're right.

Anyway, I just signed and sent my little missive along with it. At the very least, we have to try. :hi:

[DFLer4edu]

35. If I were you I'd stop writing

It's not like he reads it anyway and your time would be much better spent clogging his phone lines.

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. Gotta at least try and let them have a chance to surprise you :^)

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. Kick

[GreenPartyVoter]

23. Nother kick

[Eric J in MN]

24. Just signed. (nt)

nt

[Booster]

25. Yes, I did. Practically begged them to do the right thing, but I

expect they will go down the path already taken and gut it all. Bastards.

[Tsiyu]

26. kick

:kick:

[NMMNG]

27. Done!

[DFLer4edu]

28. Signed alreadly

[deacon]

29. signed just now n/t

[Tsiyu]

30. kick

[DFLer4edu]

31. They now have over 600,000 signatures!!!!

[oldlady]

32. yop n/t

[jzodda]

33. Just signed n/t

[movie_girl99]

34. yes I did it on Tuesday n/t

[lildreamer316]

36. Done n/t

[blueblitzkrieg]

37. Just did n/t

[DFLer4edu]

38. 625,000 signatures and counting!!!

[DFLer4edu]

39. Vote this post onto the favorites page!

This story needs to get out there. In the past I have generally avoided signing/forwarding petitions (I did sign the DSM one if you're wondering). This is something truly important. Everyone on the DU bitches about the "Mainstream Media or Corporate Media". NPR provides real mainstream news that people don't get anyplace else.I have signed this petition and passed it on and I urge all DUers to do the same. So that all of the DU sees the story it needs to get onto the favorites page.

[peekaloo]

40. needs one more vote

:kick:

[DFLer4edu]

41. 8000 signatures to go until 700,000 please sign!

[GreenPartyVoter]

43. Amazing, isn't it? :^D

[myrna minx]

42. Done. n/t

[DFLer4edu]

44. 736,000 signatures! Is this the best we can do?!

I just checked over at MoveOn and they have slightly over 736,000 signatures. Which really shows how many people care about NPR and PBS. Wouldn't it be great if they could get to a million?

[DFLer4edu]

45. A kick as I sign off

Come on people. We can't afford these cuts. Help get this petition over 1 million!

[garybeck]

46. I disagree with the statement!!!!!

it says this on the petition:

"Congress must save NPR, PBS and local public stations. We trust them for in-depth news and educational children's programming. It's money well spent."

i do not trust them for in-depth news.

they have been DISMAL on the stolen election and DSM. they are controlled by bush.

[DFLer4edu]

47. If I were you I'd sign it anyway

You obviously aren't happy with the way have covered the election or the DSM, but overall it is the best mainstream news source out there. This petition is about keeping Bush's hands off of NPR and PBS. It is about keeping them unbiased. Don't just not sign it because you don't like the wording of the petition. Don't sign it if you can actually come up with a better mainstream American news source.

[garybeck]

49. wake up my friend

you think this is about "keeping" bush's hands off PBS and NPR? You think this is about "keeping" them unbiased?

it is TOO LATE for that.

if you haven't heard, Bush has appointed the president and several boardmembers at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. they are already censoring stories.

if you think you can "keep" them unbiased, that would imply that they are unbiased now. they ARE NOT.

they blatantly censored the problems with the election just like the rest of the MSM.

you can't "keep" them unbiased when they are BIASED NOW.

I will not sign this petition. It doesn't matter if they are the "best" mainstream media source. they are biased and they are polluting the facts with disinformation, all under the false guise of being unbiased. They are just like Fox News saying they're fair and balanced.

All MSM is dead. Let it die. They will start to report real truth or they will perish.

[ikojo]

48. My note to Senator (no) Talent and Bond

Mr Talent and Mr Bond,

I urge you to stand up for freedom and access to information. PBS fills a void not provided by the corporate controlled media of NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and CNN.

The for profit media are too beholden to corporate interests to report on subjects often only covered by PBS. I offer as proof the fact that ABC has ordered the network to not interview Robert Kennedy, Jr about his report on the role mercury plays in the increase in autism, specifically Asperger's Syndrome.

A properly funded public broadcasting system in the US would report on subjects avoided by the corporately controlled media. A democracy demands such a media outlet.

How can the US claim to be fighting for freedom abroad when the government here is doing all it can to stifle freedom of information on its own airwaves? Seems hypocritical to me.