January 26, 2010

Ending State Funding of IPTV: My Talking Points

Posted by Adam Graham in : Idaho Conservative, The
  1. Whatever one thinks of the arguments for public television in the 1960s and 70s, the world has changed. With the expansion of Cable and Satellite packages, home movie rentals, libraries lending films, and films posted on the Internet, the public has more access to educational television than at any time in the history of mankind with or without taxpayer funding to Idaho Public Television.
  2. In this time, when schools and so many programs on which Idahoans depend are being cut back, it is incumbent on the state to prioritize and to eliminate unnecessary spending and programs.
  3. Most of Idaho Public Television’s funds do not come from the State of Idaho, and therefore they should be able to continue their work in some form regardless of what the state does.
  4. While I acknowledge that there are some special programs, features, or stations which may be curtailed as a result of cuts, Governor Otter has laid out a sensible exit strategy providing plenty of time for IPTV to find alternate sources of funding.
  5. I further acknowledge that it is possible that some rural communities may no longer have public television. However, it is not the job of taxpayers to provide this.
  6. I believe that institutions for the common good of the community can and should only survive through voluntary support from those who care about their work. If the supporters of Public Television have decided that if IPTV is defunded by Idaho that it’s not worth the sacrifice to make up the difference out of their own pocket, why should those who don’t watch IPTV or don’t care about it have to pay for it?
  7. It is no more the job of the government of Idaho to ensure that that IPTV is on the air in Burley than it is for the state of Idaho to ensure there’s an opera house and disco in Burley.
  8. In regards to the Idaho Public Television coverage of the State legislature (which some say is threatened by these cuts), I’d point out that I’m among the vast majority of this state that rarely or never sees the coverage. The reason? I’m working while the legislature meets, so is most of the state. Again, the many are subsidizing the wants of the few.
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