# Defunding CPB **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 17, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374 "2017-03-17T03:44:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/21 "2017-03-17T14:24:39Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Of course, they might make [$96 million a y](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/12/business/media/sesame-street-goes-global-lets-all-count-the-revenue.html)ear. Would that affect their autonomy? > > Regards, > Shodan The link in this post redirects me to VigLink Shopping, not the _NY Times_ … anyone else seeing this? … and I have sent a report to the moderators about this … ETA: Ah, I see the link on that page to the _Times_ … I guess I got fooled again … sorry … ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/22 "2017-03-17T14:25:33Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I’d really like to hear the argument for how NPR is a liberal. I was interviewed by NPR in 2004, and my interview was deceptively edited to suggest that I, and my organization, viewed the upcoming election between Kerry and Bush as a somewhat balanced choice, even though the interview itself was overwhelmingly dominated by my listing the reasons I favored Bush, and supplying only one reason Kerry’s views matched my own. The final interview contained two snippets, one each for Bush and Kerry. I regard NPR as one of the least biased news sources, but that’s not the same as unbiased. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/23 "2017-03-17T14:31:19Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > The link in this post redirects me to VigLink Shopping, not the _NY Times_ … anyone else seeing this? … and I have sent a report to the moderators about this … > > ETA: Ah, I see the link on that page to the _Times_ … I guess I got fooled again … sorry … FWIW I got the same thing. I thought it was the NY Times website doing it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/24 "2017-03-17T14:40:27Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > From a few years ago, [CPB reported](http://www.cpb.org/files/reports/revenue/2014PublicBroadcastingRevenuev2.pdf) {PDF} that about 15% of their funding comes from the Federal appropriation … and don’t worry about them Sesame Street muppets, they got a gig whoring on HBO now … Look more carefully at that document. It talks about the various sources of funding for public television and radio, of which the CPB is only one. The [CPB](http://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/financials/budget) itself is funded entirely by the government. The CPB is the conduit through which the government supports public broadcasting. In short, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting does not equal all public television and public radio. And as for the Sesame Street muppets, they are from an entirely separate company called Sesame Workshop. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/25 "2017-03-17T14:45:39Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I think the Cookie Monster might be a better shill for that. Except that it would be against his mission statement for the past few years: > [@](#): > > Cookie Monster wants your children to cut down on his namesake treats and start snacking on baby carrots and clementines instead. > Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the children’s TV show, and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) have partnered to create Eat Brighter, an initiative aimed at curbing childhood obesity. Sunkist, one of the country’s largest citrus brands, joins the effort in late October, launching a line of navel oranges and mandarins in Sesame Street-themed packaging. > … > The goal of the initiative is to compete with producers of cookies and chips by deploying the same marketing strategies these foods use. > **[Me eat vegetable: Cookie Monster wants kids to snack healthier](https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/oct/04/cookie-monster-sesame-street-vegetable-fruit-tv-cartoon-character)** > > The nonprofit behind Sesame Street wants to use marketing tactics to get children to eat healthy > [@](#): > > In 2005 Sesame Street began to focus more strongly on delivering positive health messages to children, a process that involved introducing segments on the values of good nutrition, exercise, and proper sleep habits into the program. It also involved expanding Cookie Monster’s diet to encompass other foods beyond just his beloved cookies. His newfound nutritional awareness was expressed in his new anthem, “A Cookie Is a Sometime Food” > > … > > Cookie Monster still eats cookies, just not nearly as many of them as he once did, and he is now also seen eating and enjoying fruit. As to the reasons behind the shift towards a more healthy lifestyle for this rascally Muppet, Cookie Monster is, after all, the idol of many a wide-eyed tot, so Sesame Street‘s producers hope that altering his diet will incline his young audience to take a healthier path themselves. > **[Is Cookie Monster Becoming Veggie Monster?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cookie-monster-veggie-monster/)** > > When Sesame Street expanded Cookie Monster's diet to encompass other foods beyond just his beloved cookies, the internet started baking up rumors. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/26 "2017-03-17T14:58:32Z")
> [@Debillw3](#): > > The budgeting process doesn’t change. They could give a $60 Billion increase to education or NASA or anything else, but they’ll still be looking to cut things that they view as non-essential elsewhere in the budget to make up for it. If anyone here honestly believes saving money has anything whatsoever to do with the real reason for eliminating CPB (except as propaganda lie for the stupid to hang their hats on), I’ve got a large bridge in Brooklyn for sale. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/27 "2017-03-17T14:59:18Z")
Quicksilver wrote: “Ummm… he’s a puppet” Anybody else flash back to donald trump saying: “YOU’RE the puppet.”? ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/28 "2017-03-17T15:16:33Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Look more carefully at that document. It talks about the various sources of funding for public television and radio, of which the CPB is only one. The [CPB](http://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/financials/budget) itself is funded entirely by the government. The CPB is the conduit through which the government supports public broadcasting. > > In short, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting does not equal all public television and public radio. > > And as for the Sesame Street muppets, they are from an entirely separate company called Sesame Workshop. Thank you for this correction … I’d like to rephrase my claim then: About 15% of Public Broadcasting funding comes from the Federal appropriation via the CPB … I don’t expect Peter Segal to be moonlighting on The Price is Right anytime soon … ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/29 "2017-03-17T15:20:51Z")
Not to nitpick but $60bn or $54bn? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/30 "2017-03-17T15:50:51Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Thank you for this correction … I’d like to rephrase my claim then: > > About 15% of Public Broadcasting funding comes from the Federal appropriation via the CPB … I don’t expect Peter Segal to be moonlighting on The Price is Right anytime soon … I agree that this move is almost certainly ideological instead of fiscal, and I’m probably just selfish, but my #1 thought was “Dammit, that means the local affiliate’s fundraising drives are going to be 15% longer now.” I see too that the administration wants to also gut funding for [humanities and arts](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/with-elimination-of-nea-and-neh-trumps-budget-is-worst-case-scenario-for-arts-groups/2017/03/15/5291645a-09bb-11e7-a15f-a58d4a988474_story.html). To me, this seems of a piece with the CPB cuts: conservatives think of those as The Enemy as well, indecent and insufficiently indoctrinated with conservative virtues. Besides, why do the peons need art and education? They might get the uppity idea that they are as good as their 1% betters. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/31 "2017-03-17T15:53:01Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Thank you for this correction … I’d like to rephrase my claim then: > > About 15% of Public Broadcasting funding comes from the Federal appropriation via the CPB … I don’t expect Peter Segal to be moonlighting on The Price is Right anytime soon … This is true, but it is not the whole [picture](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/15/trumps-budget-will-likely-slash-public-media-but-the-biggest-losers-wont-be-pbs-and-npr/). PBS and NPR get relatively small amounts from the CPB - but the bulk of the CPB grants go to local stations. The funds flow back up to pay for programming. > [@](#): > > Defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would primarily affect local public broadcasters, not PBS and NPR— a point the agency made in a statement responding to Lamborn’s bill.
The federal investment in public media is vital seed money > > — _especially for stations located in rural America, and those serving underserved populations where the appropriation counts for 40 to 50percent of their budget. The loss of this seed money would have a devastating effect. These stations would have to raise approximately 200 percent more in private donations to replace the federal investment_ ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/32 "2017-03-17T15:54:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Except that it would be against his mission statement for the past few years That’s liberal hippy Cookie Monster. Not new Trump Cookie Monster, who eats American Chocolate Chip cookies like Jesus used to do! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/33 "2017-03-17T16:10:35Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Except that it would be against his mission statement for the past few years: > > [Me eat vegetable: Cookie Monster wants kids to snack healthier | Guardian sustainable business | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/oct/04/cookie-monster-sesame-street-vegetable-fruit-tv-cartoon-character) That’s absurd. We already have an Orange Monster. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/34 "2017-03-17T16:11:50Z")
Now more than ever, [we need Fred Rogers](https://youtu.be/fKy7ljRr0AA). ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/35 "2017-03-17T16:17:25Z")
All major countries – with one exception that I’ll let you guess – have robust public broadcasting systems established under a public charter, because an informed populace is in the national interest. Here’s a little perspective on it. The average per capita annual expenditure on public broadcasting in 18 advanced western nations in 2011 was [CAD $82 per person](http://www.documentarytelevision.com/public-television/public-television-funding-compared-across-18-western-countries/). The biggest spenders were among the most progressive nations on earth – the Scandinavian countries and Germany, spending as follows: Norway $180, Switzerland $164, Germany $124, Sweden $117, Denmark $116, Finland $108, UK $97, Austria $92. Here is what the US spent on public broadcasting per capita in 2011: $3. So yes, it would be terrific to remove that three bucks and spend it on exploding objects for the military. Then the country can take the final plunge into the abyss of complete ignorance along with all the Trump-voting yokels who are already there, and devote itself to watching Celebrity Apprentice. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/36 "2017-03-17T16:24:32Z")
I could save a lot of money by just showing Sesame Street reruns. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/37 "2017-03-17T16:47:50Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Besides, why do the peons need art and education? They might get the uppity idea that they are as good as their 1% betters. In Trump’s America, art is paid for by your “charitable” foundation. Doesn’t everyone have one of these? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/38 "2017-03-17T16:53:55Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I think the Cookie Monster might be a better shill for that. He’s owned by the Girl Scouts. BTW, I don’t eat a lot of girl scout cookies, but I look like I do. SO I get accosted by 8 year old girls asking me to buy cookies so I had like 25 boxes of cookies on monday that I just brought into work where EVERYONE claimed they couldn’t eat girl scout cookies because of their diet or lent or something. As of right now, there is less than one box left. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/39 "2017-03-17T17:08:17Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Of course, they might make [$96 million a y](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/12/business/media/sesame-street-goes-global-lets-all-count-the-revenue.html)ear. Would that affect their autonomy? > > Regards, > Shodan No, licensing doesn’t have the same corrosive effect on autonomy as commercial sponsors. How would Elmo compromise the mission to appease France? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374/40 "2017-03-17T17:09:35Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Except that it would be against his mission statement for the past few years: Allie Brosh had the only [appropriate response](http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/01/m-is-for-moderation-and-s-is-for-stop.html) to that new mission statement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defunding-cpb/782374.md?page=3)