Sunday, August 28, 2005
To the CBC's detractors
I am still reading quite a bit of general CBC bashing out there. Perhaps I am reading in the wrong places. At any rate, I have to keep reminding myself, and would like to remind everyone else that this is a minority position. People right across the political spectrum have sent messages of support to the people on the line, and have called to complain to their MPs about the loss of service.
Ideally what I would like to see is a box on tax forms that says “I would like to give ___ a month of my federal taxes to the CBC” (not a tax increase, just a portion of your existing taxes.) Possible answers would range from $0 a month to $20 a month. Then the people with the big hate on for CBC could write in 0 and gloat about it to their friends all year – they would also give up their right to whine. I suggest this because I am positive that if it happened the amount of revenue the CBC would receive would increase dramatically.
These people whine on constantly about how they have to pay for the CBC (which costs them a little over $2.50 a month on average). But they are a very vocal minority and probably support many government programs that I wouldn’t pay for if I had a choice. Just remember for every one of these people, there are many, many people who support the public broadcasting in general, and the CBC specifically.
For example: http://www.friends.ca/
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5 comments:
Hey Justin,
Employee 100000223 here.
I like this posting, especially after I just finished reading a CP story on the CTV web site about a poll regarding whether Canadians miss the CBC.
The results aren't really that useful considering the pollsters are asking their questions at the end of August when few people consume hard news of any kind. And even though I know how vague and subjective pollsters' questions can be...the results made me kind of sad.
Okay, if you are correct, and no one misses the CBC during the summer, let's save $183 MILLION and shut the CBC down for July and August every year. - leadneck
The CBC has been the guardian of Canadian culture since it was created 70 years ago.
CBC bashers don't understand why democracy needs a public broadcasting system. While not perfect nor free of bias, one just has to look to the US to see how the corporate media has created a bubble that is proving extremely dangerous to the nation, especially on the issue of the Iraq war. People who tend to bash the CBC, tend to also follow the corporate line that would see everything privatized and the citizens of this country robbed of their public voice.
It may be already too late for this country if this view is beginning to dominate the mainstream. Very frightening.
"guardian of Canadian culture", you say.
Ok. I'll bite. Other than "Not American", what is "Canadian Culture?"
Culture is 'a commonly held set of beliefs and norms', thanks to Pierre Idiot Turdeau and his idea of Multiculturalism, there is NO COMMONLY HELD anything, anymore - so what is the CBC guarding - mostly the liberal party.
H.A.G.D.E., leadneck
As far as I can tell what Canadian Culture means, it's what's happening in Canada. Never mind specific ideologies or mad patriotic individualism, the CBC reflects realities of Canada. And unlike private broadcasters like Global or CTV that cater to audience demographics, the CBC has a mandate to continue to do so. The CBC guards jounalistic integrity without sensationalism. Programming beyond market shares.
I'm sorry that you're disgusted with multiculturalism. But to use that as a scapegoat or to snidely have a dig at Canada's immigrant populace (of which you must be a part of) is deplorable. What would you prefer instead? The alternative "melting pot" is hardly a national identity to cling to.
My Canadian identity is precisely linked to this sense of moderation and pluralism you seem to find distasteful. Too unfortunate; each to his own, I suppose.
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