Not if this angry American can prevent it!
I try to refrain from expressing my political views on Latinowood because, for one, Bel Hernandez my Latin Heat publisher respects fair and balanced journalism. I nod and ruminate over the ones who understand its true meaning over at Faux News (sarcasm vented and duly noted). And, second, I like to focus on Latino celebrities and their projects… OK I also like a good chisme (gossip) just enough to entice our readers’ curiosity.
However, when I heard that the republican presidential candidate had made a promise to ax out precious funding for PBS, well that hit a nerve. Bel would have to tie me up and gag me until after the elections to shut me up about this one!
Public television is America’s largest classroom, the nation’s largest stage for the arts and a trusted window to the world – all at the cost of about $1 per person per year. – PBS Online Message about Federal Funding
It is also one of the few family friendly programming sources in the world today. The GOP candidate heralded PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger’s worst nightmare. Here is what Romney said to Fortune Magazine in its interview on August 15th, 2012:
Fortune: You’ve promised to cap government spending at 20% of the GDP. Specifically where will you cut?
Mitt Romney: There are three major areas I have focused on for reduction in spending. These are in many cases reductions which become larger and larger over time. So first there are programs I would eliminate. Obamacare being one of them but also various subsidy programs — the Amtrak subsidy, the PBS subsidy, the subsidy for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities. Some of these things, like those endowment efforts and PBS I very much appreciate and like what they do in many cases, but I just think they have to stand on their own rather than receiving money borrowed from other countries, as our government does on their behalf.
Really Mr. Romney? And all this time your party has been screaming that it’s a waste of my tax dollars. In July of 2012, during the same week that PBS received 58 Primetime Emmy Nominations, the GOP House proposed zeroing out federal funding for public broadcasting for TV and radio by 2015! Do they even care that this is one place I actually prefer having my tax dollars spent?
I cannot believe that there is not more than a few dozen Republicans who watch PBS and probably even in the past have personally made donations. Their quality of programming is beyond comparison especially in the area of education. PBS Kids has amazing programming! What would parents do without Sid the Science Kid, The Cat in The Hat Knows a Lot About That!, and Curious George? Also, documentaries and TV series like Journey to Planet Earth, Faces of America, or Saving the Titanic are all family brain food! Plus, there are the adult shows that so many of us are addicted to like Antiques Roadshow.
How many millions of Americans have also picked up their phone to support and purchase music concerts and specials like An Evening With Smokey Robinson!; Andrea Bocelli, One Night in Central Park; Billy Joel LIve at Shea Stadium; and David Foster: Hit Man! Currently, there is a live concert (http://viceo.pbs.org/video/2264495679) on the introduction of American singer/songwriter Nathan Pacheco singing his new single “Avatoar” — listen to it and then tell me you are not affected! PBS says Pacheco:
On the heels of a recent sold-out concert tour of the United Kingdom with soprano Katherine Jenkins and the National Symphony Orchestra, in addition to the release of his debut album, Introducing Nathan Pacheco on Disney Pearl Series, the popular young American singer-songwriter brings his own solo concert special to public television.
PBS is an American Institution — should we dismantle the Smithsonian while we’re at it Mr. Romney? My personal conviction is that I’m not willing to let this Republican, tax evading flip flopper take away more of our freedom and our moral rights! I can’t even begin to tell you what I think about him wanting repeal the Affordable Health Care Act aka Obamacare! I can personally attest to its success!
PBS’ Kerger warned the television industry at a Television Critics Association presentation this summer that a number of stations, in underserved areas, will go dark as a result of Romney delivering on his promise to cut funding. It would also affect funding for NPR. Federal funding represents 15% of the PBS budget – but given local differences in how some stations are funded, federal funding can represent 50%-60% of these stations’ entire budget. Now we’re losing jobs and, if you think it through, the full ripple effect will bring devastation mainly upon our children.
Join me and Latinowood in stopping this man from becoming our next American President. He just doesn’t care about America’s true treasures, it’s people, or any company that is not in league with his wealthy Wall Street banks and corporations. PBS the non-profit organization does not have any off shore accounts to fall back on. Does their very small dependency on Government funding produce a wealth of goodness in our society and economy? Yes! And, they are dependent on us… their intelligent, thoughtful and educational programs enrich our lives.
–Elia Esparza
All Rights Reserved, © 2012, Latinowood
Edited by: Casandra Moreno Lombera
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