I think Sesame Street is much better than anything Disney makes.

[strredwolf]

(from MoveOn)

You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it's actually true. (Really. Check the footnotes if you don't believe me.)

Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS:

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?t=1

The House of Representatives is about to vote on whether to slash funding for NPR and PBS, starting with "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow" and other commercial-free children's shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch.

The cuts would eliminate more than $200 million for NPR, PBS and local stations immediately, with more cuts likely in the future. The loss could kill beloved children's shows like "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Arthur," and "Postcards from Buster." Rural stations and those serving low-income communities might not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate sponsorships.

The House will vote on the cuts this week. Can you help us reach 1 million signatures calling on Congress to save NPR and PBS today?

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?t=2

Thanks!

P.S. Read the New York Times story on the threat to NPR and PBS at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=753

Then read the New York Times story on this campaign to save NPR and PBS at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/19/weekinreview/19spam.html

Comments

[xaviusarchangel.livejournal.com]

I would actually sign this petition if I was a U.S. citizen! I grew up with those shows, especially Sesame Street, and I couldn't imagine the next generation of toddlers and young children not growing up with the same experience.

Sign people, sign!!

[kazriko.livejournal.com]

Oh no! What will Sesame Street ever do without public funding? Where would they get the money to make a TV show that sells millions in stuffed dolls and tickle me Elmos every year. The entire economy will collapse without the sales of all these Sesame street toys for babies and kids. Oh, wait...

Sesame Street would survive anyway. Hopefully it will be a stronger product for being on their own supported by merchandise revenue as well vs. taking a government handout to survive.

[kazriko.livejournal.com]

(For more information on things that do not take government subsidies surviving better than things that are government subsidized, here's a link for a review of Burton Folsom's book. I can't find it right now, but he gave a very enlightening speech on Vanderbilt vs. Collins. http://www.fee.org/vnews.php?nid=1912 There's also some mention of Nasa's various missteps and more on Vanderbilt and collins here. http://www.fee.org/vnews.php?nid=494)