The only solution I can see
I am deeply troubled by the crimes against the First Amendment being committed by the current Republican regime. But after giving the matter much thought I can only come up with one solution. Right Wing conservatives currently control all three branches of government. So to whom can those of us who rely on NPR and PBS for journalistic integrity turn? Clearly complaining to this government has repeatedly proven to be an exercise in futility. Remember the thousands of people in those 2003 peace marches? How successful were those exercises in democracy?
If the government cannot be relied upon to protect Public Broadcasting, then we must all stand together -- checkbooks and credit cards in hand -- and protect it ourselves. The only way for NPR and PBS to avoid government control in the current environment is to decline government money.
It's a bitter pill, but these are bitter times. I'd love to go to Washington and personally throw rotten tomatoes at Tomlinson and the other ideological thugs, but it wouldn't achieve my goal. Perhaps what I'm suggesting has been their mission all along. If so, it pains me to give them a win. But I have to stand back and weigh the priorities. A truly free press is more important than government financing.
I live in Santa Monica, California -- home to KCRW, one of the strongest NPR stations in the country. I'm going to call them right now and recommend that they sever their relationship with the CPB. And then, despite the fact that I just lost my job, I'm going to make my second contribution of $50 for this year.
I challenge each of you reading this post to match my contribution by donating to your own local NPR or PBS stations. I look forward to hearing from you after you've done so.
Public Broadcasting needs to be in the hands of its public.
melissaroddy@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Melissa Roddy | 
Common Blog
