coverSUBSCRIBE
Close

Bye-bye, Big Bird? PBS funding under fire

Much has been made of this past week’s first presidential debate: President Obama’s perceived poor performance, Jim Lehrer’s mediocre moderating and Mitt Romney’s surprisingly strong showing. But nothing has stirred up discussion and protest quite like his attack on the funding for what he considers to be unnecessary expenses, like public broadcasting. In just 20 seconds, Romney managed to stir up generations of Americans who are rallying around a yellow, feathered symbol of happiness: Big Bird.

 

Watch the clip…

 

 

While Sesame Street is likely not in danger, the notion of cutting funding for public programming like PBS and NPR is a very real threat to those who value it. It’s been a goal of conservatives for many years, though none can recall a politician who opted to drag Big Bird into the debate.

 

The problem with cutting federal funding for PBS and similar programs is that it will greatly endanger small localities’ abilities to continue running show like PBS and Reading Rainbow in rural and poorer areas across the U.S. While Romney argues that cutting PBS will help ease the nation’s debt, the reality is that funding for PBS constitutes .00016 percent of the federal budget.

 

What do you think of the Big Bird brouhaha? Weight in below!

 

POSTED IN , ,

by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016
share

POLL

Pick a kind of cookie to bake:

  •  
heart

LOVE THIS

Stumble in Style with
Stumble Guys x Barbie

Stumble Guys fans, this one's for you! Check out the newest Stumble Guys x Barbie collaboration HERE.

FREE STUFF

Win! Quip 360 Oscillating Toothbrush

Here’s a bright idea: Before you shoot your seasonal snaps for IG, reach for Quip’s 360 Oscillating Toothbrush. It rotates to nix plaque in every corner of your mouth (and whitens better than your average brush starting Day 1). Dare we say that’s something to smile about? Enter to win here!