I have written before about how I feel that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has, in many ways, sold out to the Conservative Government. Undoubtedly not having understood the sad history of appeasement, they have pursued that profitless course, trying to convince the government of its bones fides by giving right-wing cranks like Kevin O'Leary his own show, and allowing Peter Mansbrige to play the role of the obeisant sycophant during his interviews with those who hold power.
Nonetheless, the Right is implacable. As is so widely evident in their destructive rhetoric, they cannot tolerate opposing views, even when they hold power. It is therefore not surprising that there is a concerted move afoot to defang ( I mean defund) the CBC even further.
As reported in a Globe story entitled CBC funding under microscope in Conservative survey:
Conservative Senator Irving Gerstein, who chairs the Conservative Party’s fundraising division, recently sent a letter to supporters that included a 10-question “National Critical Issues Survey” seeking input to help the government set its priorities for the fall and into 2012.
One question asks whether the more than $1-billion Ottawa spends on the CBC is “good value” or “bad value.”
Meanwhile, two Conservative MPs, Rob Anders and Ed Holder, are taking it a step further, asking their constituents in surveys whether the government should keep funding the CBC.
Mr. Anders, a Calgary MP who has always been a controversial maverick on the right wing of his party, now features a petition on his website calling on Parliament “to end public funding of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.”
Some may recall that Anders, who had an interesting previous life as a professional political heckler in the U.S., was also the moral and mental genius who was the sole parliamentarian to vote against Nelson Mandela being recognized as an honorary citizen of Canada, labeling him a communist and terrorist.
Need I add more?
Kevin O'Leary may be a right wing crank, but at least he's more honest than all the other right wing cranks. I can listen to Kevin O'Leary even though I may disagree with him.
ReplyDeleteThe others are all/trying to be shifty masters of spin. It's all media-spun talking points focused on pushing emotional buttons, with their own "facts", or an analysis consisting of "The Fraser Institute said so. You must believe them because we tell you to believe them. They are respectable and responsible and trustworthy."
I agree completely with your point about Mansbridge. Total sellout. Sad.
I don't know if it's a sell out as much as a state of fear. The cbc have had their budgets axed since the "Muldoon" regime. Everyone with half a brain knows that the Cons will privatize this public broadcaster in a heartbeat to the biggest bidder that come along. Methinks that Rogers would love to play catch up with Bell in the Media/entertainment business. Then you'll hear the whining albeit too late.
ReplyDeleteI cannot disagree with anything you.ve written.
ReplyDeleteThe CBC is among the lowest funded public broadcasters in the world..only the US funds less.
CBC is vital for thinking people, and for promoting our culture in the face of massive US radio-tv-film.
funds to CBC support thousands of taxpaying employees and are spread out much wider among other independent artists, production houses, and suppliers.
Those who would defund the CBC are using wild distortions and half truths to promote their illconceived shortsighted idea