Romney Hates Big Bird

[GostHacked]

Nobody's saying that just cutting PBS will solve everything. But it's still the right thing to do. Stop being so obtuse.

I am not being obtuse, stop typing such complete nonsense.

[Michael Hardner]

None of it should. It's self sustainable.

Why shouldn't it? It costs a pittance and improves the public information why target it?

[Shady]

Why shouldn't it? It costs a pittance and improves the public information why target it?

Because its self sustainable. It doesn't need to cost anything and still improve public information.

[sharkman]

The statement of borrowing money from China to pay for Big Bird is completely absurd. Seems like China owns about 25% of the 16 trillion dollars of the USA's total debt. I am sure cutting funding to Big Bird will balance those books. This is more talking to how messed up the current financial situation is.

Are you intentionally misrepresenting what Romney said?

He said he would be analyzing each item in the budget to see how essential it was, not just one very small one like PBS, but they wouldn't be exempt. He also didn't infer that China owns most or all of the debt.

[GostHacked]

Because its self sustainable. It doesn't need to cost anything and still improve public information.

What is so different about buying advertising time on entities like CNN and FOX? The military loves to promote their nice awesome kick ass lifestyle on the tele. That is still in a sense funding those organizations. If air time was bought on PBS would that be better?

[GostHacked]

Are you intentionally misrepresenting what Romney said?

He said he would be analyzing each item in the budget to see how essential it was, not just one very small one like PBS, but they wouldn't be exempt. He also didn't infer that China owns most or all of the debt.

It's a drop in the bucket to fund PBS and the educational return is more than what you put into it. Even as a Canadian, the funding of PBS helped educate me and inform me on other topics most of the other channels would not provide unless they have some good advertising sponsors.

[sharkman]

It's a drop in the bucket to fund PBS and the educational return is more than what you put into it. Even as a Canadian, the funding of PBS helped educate me and inform me on other topics most of the other channels would not provide unless they have some good advertising sponsors.

Since you personally think you got benefit from PBS, then that item should not be cut?

When a nation is incurring trillion dollar deficits every year for 4 years, then something a little drastic has to be done. Every single item on the budget will have supporters saying they received great benefit from it so it shouldn't be cut. The budget wouldn't get reduced at all with that mentality.

[Black Dog]

Since you personally think you got benefit from PBS, then that item should not be cut?

When a nation is incurring trillion dollar deficits every year for 4 years, then something a little drastic has to be done. Every single item on the budget will have supporters saying they received great benefit from it so it shouldn't be cut. The budget wouldn't get reduced at all with that mentality.

And yet it's never the big ticket items that get the attention. Military spending cuts? Fugheddabout it. Closing tax loopholes to make it harder for guys like Romney can't stash their cash overseas? Fat chance. No matter how you might try to couch cuts to the PBS or arts funding or what have you, there's always a strong ideological component you can't ignore.

[Michael Hardner]

Because its self sustainable. It doesn't need to cost anything and still improve public information.

I like the idea of it being independent of government, however the relative weakness of strength of this message, added to the cuts would make it even lower of a voice in the current media echoscape.

[sharkman]

And yet it's never the big ticket items that get the attention. Military spending cuts? Fugheddabout it. Closing tax loopholes to make it harder for guys like Romney can't stash their cash overseas? Fat chance. No matter how you might try to couch cuts to the PBS or arts funding or what have you, there's always a strong ideological component you can't ignore.

But the military is getting a 30 billion cut next year. Closing tax loop holes is not a budget item, but you have a point there.

[Shady]

I like the idea of it being independent of government

Me too, that's why it doesn't need government funding. It's self sustainable. It doesn't need tax money. We should be funding priorities that need funding, not something that has it's own revenue stream. Big Bird et al can survive and thrive on their own without a cent from tax payers.

[Shady]

And yet it's never the big ticket items that get the attention. Military spending cuts? Fugheddabout it. Closing tax loopholes to make it harder for guys like Romney can't stash their cash overseas? Fat chance. No matter how you might try to couch cuts to the PBS or arts funding or what have you, there's always a strong ideological component you can't ignore.

Actually, the biggest ticket items are Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Military spending and so-called tax loopholes are completely dwarfed by them. So you're not even paying attention to the actual big ticket items either.

[BubberMiley]

Military spending and so-called tax loopholes are completely dwarfed by them.

The first time you were proven wrong by that statement, I thought you probably just didn't know better. Now I know you're just lying.

[Smallc]

Actually, the biggest ticket items are Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Military spending and so-called tax loopholes are completely dwarfed by them.

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/budget_pie_gs.php

You should stick to assholes and holes in the ground.

[Shady]

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/budget_pie_gs.php

You should stick to assholes and holes in the ground.

Seems to me, that $1.6 trillion dollars is a lot bigger than $800 billion. And when you look at the upcoming years, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security balloon in size, while defense becomes less and less a percentage of the budget. So yes, as I stated, the real big ticket items are Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Learn math. It's important.

[Shady]

The first time you were proven wrong by that statement, I thought you probably just didn't know better. Now I know you're just lying.

Nope, you might wanna learn to add though. Try adding up, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and them compare them to defense. Also, take a look at the next few years. They all balloon in size, while defense shrinks. Learn math, it's important.

[Guest American Woman]

Seems like China owns about 25% of the 16 trillion dollars of the USA's total debt.

In spite of what it seems like to you, the reality is that China owns 8%, not 25%.

[Smallc]

Seems to me, that $1.6 trillion dollars is a lot bigger than $800 billion.

Sure, if you decide to arbitrarily combine healthcare and pensions.

And when you look at the upcoming years, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security balloon in size, while defense becomes less and less a percentage of the budget.

If the PBS subsidy is important, everything is important....or did you forget your argument there?

So yes, as I stated, the real big ticket items are Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

And defence. And welfare. Anything over 10% of such a huge budget is a pretty big ticket.

[Black Dog]

Actually, the biggest ticket items are Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Military spending and so-called tax loopholes are completely dwarfed by them. So you're not even paying attention to the actual big ticket items either.

Which has nothing to do with what I said. Good job buddy!

[madmax]

What is so different about buying advertising time on entities like CNN and FOX? The military loves to promote their nice awesome kick ass lifestyle on the tele. That is still in a sense funding those organizations. If air time was bought on PBS would that be better?

Big Bird in Combat Gear...

[GostHacked]

Since you personally think you got benefit from PBS, then that item should not be cut?

When a nation is incurring trillion dollar deficits every year for 4 years, then something a little drastic has to be done. Every single item on the budget will have supporters saying they received great benefit from it so it shouldn't be cut. The budget wouldn't get reduced at all with that mentality.

No worries, the USA is going to start another war in order to give the economy a boost. Killing people overseas is way more important than educating people at home I guess. Some screwed up priorities.

[GostHacked]

In spite of what it seems like to you, the reality is that China owns 8%, not 25%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt

As of May 2011 the largest single holder of U.S. government debt was China, with 26 percent of all foreign-held U.S. Treasury securities (8% of total U.S. public debt).[68] China's holdings of government debt, as a percentage of all foreign-held government debt, have decreased a bit between 2010 and 2011, but are up significantly since 2000 (when China held just 6 percent of all foreign-held U.S. Treasury securities).[69]

Looks like both our numbers are correct, depending on how you look at it.

[Guest American Woman]

No worries, the USA is going to start another war in order to give the economy a boost. Killing people overseas is way more important than educating people at home I guess. Some screwed up priorities.

Yep. That's the U.S. alright. Starting wars and not educating American citizens. "Killing people overseas" is our top priority. We are, indeed, one screwed up nation. Truly evil.

x infinity

[Guest American Woman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt

Looks like both our numbers are correct, depending on how you look at it.

Since you said "total debt," both of our numbers are not correct. Mine are.

[sharkman]

No worries, the USA is going to start another war in order to give the economy a boost. Killing people overseas is way more important than educating people at home I guess. Some screwed up priorities.

Pure speculation does not really give us any direction. Oil could go up by 100% next year. Israel could attack Iran or be attacked. A giant tidal wave could wipe out the East Coast. A virus could wipe out 10% of the American population. A terrorist nuke could go off in New York. And yes, the US could engage in some sort of war. Any or none of that could happen.

Romney will cut spending if elected next year. PBS is gonna have to do some more fundraisers.