Stop funding NPR!

I've changed my mind about supporting NPR with government funding.

I love NPR. I think NPR is one of the few places that one can get a balanced perspective on the state of the world, today. But, because they receive a large part of their funding from the government, it is easy to criticize them for their political stance.

The fact that neo-conservatives are going after NPR has very little to do with the deficit. Yes, spending money on public radio is a part of the discretionary spending the government does, and does contribute to the deficit. Just as corporate loop-holes do, though there is a wide margin between which contributes more to our debt.

So take away the funding. NPR won't go away. They get about 25% of their funding from the government, so they will have to cut back. They'll have to do more beg-a-thons. And, I will start supporting them with my own money, which I've never done before. The fact is, I've been lazy about NPR, expecting it to just be there when I turn on the dial.

And, if NPR put a much more liberal spin on their reporting due to the fact that neo-conservatives knocked the pegs out from under them, then so be it. In fact, I hope it happens. Then, our congressmen can say nothing about what NPR might have to say. They will no longer have any skin in the game.

Besides, MSNBC is figuring out that heavy liberal spin on the news is profitable.