BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

Last week, the New York Times published a piece on the necessity (or not) of PBS and NPR.  The $3.1 Trillion budget proposal from the Bush administration includes major cuts for public television and public radio.  In fact, the budget proposal cuts funding for the two public services by fifty percent.

The paper questioned the quality of programming on PBS, citing the reruns of ten year old British comedies and other purchased programs.  It did not go without notice that Jim Lehrer is now 73 and that the central theme for “Masterpiece” for the season is based on six acclaimed books by Jane Austen. 

True, Jim Lehrer is aging, and doing it well I might add.  Perhaps, he’s one of the last news reporters who is a reporter, not a spin master.  Consider “Bill Moyers’ Journal” and the conversational style interviews on “Charlie Rose.”  For my friends who encouraged me and BernieHund to voice our opinions, it’s no secret that I am a huge fan of both Moyers and Rose. 

Moyers, liberal though he may be, is one of the greatest proponents of thinking and reading in an age when we quote sound bites as facts, base our thinking on another’s words, and reading is mostly limited to scanning headlines (for those who still pick up a newspaper) or relying on headline blips on our homepage.  

Recently, Moyers interviewed Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, a self-described evangelical and president of the National Hispanic Leadership Conference.  I must admit I watched with interest as Rev. Rodriguez dispelled my notion that all evangelicals are only interested in building a fence, overturning Roe v. Wade, and putting gays inside a national closet.  But, that is only one example.  There are many others.

Charlie Rose has mastered the interview format without raising his voice or demeaning his guests.  The conversations with many of the presidential candidates gave us an opportunity to see them in a relaxed atmosphere, discussing their policies and plans in depth.  While the debates had meaning… at least the first one or two… a conversation with Charlie Rose allows the candidate to explain his/her views and often brings out controversy that may have gone unnoticed.  Need I remind anyone of Bill Clinton’s endorsement of his wife on the Rose show? 

And, as for “Masterpiece”, the Austen series is nothing less than spectacular.  Of course, we could have seen “Pride and Prejudice” in the theater.  But, most of us didn’t.  What a wonderful experience to have the entire family gathered around the television waiting for the next installment.  Call me crazy, but if it takes Miss Bennett and Mr. Darcy in a three part series to get a family together for a couple of hours I’m not about to complain.  Six books, each in three segments… that’s 18 evenings that families can sit together in peace and watch a program that sharpens the wit, presents a classic, and entertains. 

Obviously, I am a huge fan of PBS, from the polar bears and seahorses to the BBC newscast and Charlie and Bill. 

NPR is my radio station of choice most often.  Filled with in depth interviews and a wide variety of music, what more could anyone ask?  I listen to other stations as well, but during certain times of the day, I tune in.  I have picked up two of my latest books following interviews of authors on NPR.

I realize that PBS and NPR aren’t HBO or Rush Limbaugh.  And, for that I say, “thank goodness.”  And, as for the proposed budget cuts… no surprise.  An enlightened and educated society is a threat to those in control.

While our country faces far more immediate and challenging issues, let us not forget the need for a voice for all the people, a calm voice to discuss and debate the issues.  The corporate media has led this country down a path that questions nothing, spins news as fact, and fills the television screens with people dressed in tights swinging objects at one another as entertainment. 

If it takes public funding to preserve the intelligence of America and stimulate unbiased thought, we must fight for the continuance of funding.  While Congress is debating our freedoms from FISA to funding the war, important issues all, let me take a minute to speak up for the voices that bring news, not spin, quality programming, not violence, to America through our airwaves.

I encourage everyone to contact his representatives and senators and demand the funding for public programming.