Quote: We're in the midst of a debate about whether the media deserves special privileges.

Senator Bernie Sanders not only believes that it does, but wants to tax ads to fund the media.

In a Columbia Journalism Review pitch, the socialist politician proposes,"we should consider taxing targeted ads and using the revenue to fund nonprofit civic-minded media."

By civic-minded media, he means leftists.

Why should businesses be taxed to subsidize Bernie's propaganda. And he's fairly explicit about it being his propaganda.

"After all, TV networks that rely on $4.5 billion a year of pharmaceutical ads may be thrilled to sugarcoat our current dysfunctional health care system—but they will never provide a consistently fair hearing for something like Medicare for All," Sanders writes.

Medicaid-for-All has been widely promoted in the media. But Bernie isn't satisified. He wants North Korea's civic media.

"Our constitution’s First Amendment explicitly protects the free press because the founders understood how important journalism is to a democracy. More than two centuries after the constitution was signed, we cannot sit by and allow corporations, billionaires, and demagogues to destroy the Fourth Estate, nor can we allow them to replace serious reporting with infotainment and propaganda," Sanders concludes.

How do you distinguish between reporting, propaganda and infotainment? These are subjective variables.

The First Amendment, which Sanders doesn't understand, doesn't mandate a media. It prevents government interference with the press. And government interference is exactly what Sanders is after.

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I don't understand why Republicans in DC allow their taxpayer $$s to fund leftwing radio (NPR) for wealthy Democrats. That would be one of the first things on the chopping block if I were president. If they want it, pay for it themselves. At least PBS serves a broad range of income levels in addition to the wealthy Democrats.

Well..He is crazy.

(08-27-2019 08:20 PM)bullet Wrote:  I don't understand why Republicans in DC allow their taxpayer $$s to fund leftwing radio (NPR) for wealthy Democrats. That would be one of the first things on the chopping block if I were president. If they want it, pay for it themselves. At least PBS serves a broad range of income levels in addition to the wealthy Democrats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPR

NPR receives about 2 percent of its funding from the Federal Government. It's mostly self-funded now through donations. And it's not that liberal - you must not listen to its programming very much. Its music and trivia programs have zero to do with politics.

A 2012 Pew study found that the NPR audience tends Democratic (17% Republican, 37% independent, 43% Democratic) and centrist (21% conservative, 39% moderate, 36% liberal).

But getting back to the OP, I completely disagree with Sanders' idea. We tax media corporations and the companies that advertise on them. That's plenty. If media services are hurting for money, they need to figure out better way to get their funding.

Like everything else he proposes, it’s just another scheme to increase government control and pander to his audience. Credit where it’s due: He at least doesn’t even pretend to be anything but a socialist.

(08-27-2019 09:43 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  

(08-27-2019 08:20 PM)bullet Wrote:  I don't understand why Republicans in DC allow their taxpayer $$s to fund leftwing radio (NPR) for wealthy Democrats. That would be one of the first things on the chopping block if I were president. If they want it, pay for it themselves. At least PBS serves a broad range of income levels in addition to the wealthy Democrats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPR

NPR receives about 2 percent of its funding from the Federal Government. It's mostly self-funded now through donations. And it's not that liberal - you must not listen to its programming very much. Its music and trivia programs have zero to do with politics.

A 2012 Pew study found that the NPR audience tends Democratic (17% Republican, 37% independent, 43% Democratic) and centrist (21% conservative, 39% moderate, 36% liberal).

Its news is very much left wing. You are deliberately ignoring the point.
I have no problem with NPR funding itself. Just the government funding it is the issue. Its audience skews very much higher income.

(08-27-2019 08:20 PM)bullet Wrote:  I don't understand why Republicans in DC allow their taxpayer $$s to fund leftwing radio (NPR) for wealthy Democrats. That would be one of the first things on the chopping block if I were president. If they want it, pay for it themselves. At least PBS serves a broad range of income levels in addition to the wealthy Democrats.

Because they are complicit.

They lie to you and me telling us they're "for us" but, in reality, either allow or enjoin dem/leftist policy.

Case in point... most states are GOP-controlled.

Public education is controlled at the state level.

Why is public education overrun with leftist ideology if the GOP is in control and could stop it with legislation?