Susan Weiner's column headlined 'Cutting funds for publicbroadcasting shortsighted' (Daily News, Jan. 9) was a typical exampleof why liberals are losing the ideological fight in America. For,unlike most Americans, Weiner believes that our debt-riddengovernment needs to be supplying us with our culture - something thatis already abundantly available at a low price in the free market.
Weiner maintains that public broadcasting is fulfilling amandate that is not being fulfilled elsewhere, claiming that, 'Theadvent of cable channels and the promises of the networksnotwithstanding, so far only public broadcasting offers qualitydocumentaries, in-depth news coverage, and features on the sciencesand humanities.'
That simply isn't true. I know, because I happen to be ahistory and science documentary junkie. I also demand the best andmost extensive in-depth news coverage. And quite frankly, although Ido agree that there is some excellent programming on PBS, it's a dropin the bucket compared to what basic cable has to offer.
For example (I'm trying hard not to seem like an advertisementfor cable), the Arts and Entertainment network and the DiscoveryChannel are just gushing culture all over the place with programminglike 'Civil War Journal,' 'David L. Wolper Presents,' 'The 20thCentury,' 'Justice Files,' 'Investigative Reports,' 'AmericanJustice,' 'Best of Comic Relief,' 'Evening at the Improv,' 'Magic,''In the Wild,' 'Nature,' 'In the company of Whales,' 'PetConnection,' 'Animals,' 'Fangs,' 'Hunters,' 'Sanctuary,' 'Survival,''Himalayas,' 'America Coast to Coast,' 'Alaska Bound,' 'Challenge,''X-Planes,' 'Wings,' 'Wings of the Luftwaffe,' 'Wings of the RedStar,' 'Wings Over the Sea,' 'Firepower,' 'Armor,' 'Know Zone,' 'NextStep,' 'Beyond 2000,' 'Invention,' 'Shipwrecks,' 'Pirates,' 'AncientMysteries,' 'Biography,' 'Chefs,' 'Cuisine.'
And that is just a taste of the programming that are on two ofthe channels through the week on basic cable. Other channels such asthe Family Channel, Lifetime, USA, TBS and TNT also have equally goodprograms, and as far as in-depth news coverage, CNN isworld-renowned. And two channels, ESPN and Prime Ticket, arecompletely dedicated to sports, both national and internationalsports. Another channel, C-SPAN, is dedicated to governmentalaffairs such as congressional and Senate debates and committeehearings and the like, as well as round-table call-in discussionswith important personalities in the news.
As for Weiner's insistence that the benefits of publicbroadcasting justify the cost of $253 million, which comes to onlyabout $1 per person a year, all I have to say is that this is a veryarrogant attitude toward taxpayers' money. How many other uselessgovernment programs are there that only take $1 out of my pocket eachyear? I wonder if they add up to a thousand. But hey, what do Ineed with a mere $1,000 dollars anyway, right?
- Leonard C. Snebold
Simi ValleyHearing about vote fraud
The Jan. 4 Daily News article headlined '170,000 fraud incidentsoccurred in election, study says' is incorrect. It should have said'170,003.'
I have a very bad habit of listening to the conversations ofpeople near me when I am alone. One day, prior to the Novemberelections, while alone and bored in a restaurant, I overheard a manexplaining how he had voted four times by absentee ballots. He votedfor himself, his ailing mother-in-law, his daughter (who was away atschool) and his son (who, also, was not at home).
Shortly after that, I reregistered in front of my local market.I had to prove nothing. I could have been anyone from anywhere.
Now we are going to have this marvelous motor/voterregistration, which invites more fraud in a system that is already afarce. We should have more stringent control over something soimportant as the concept of one vote per one United States citizen.
- Carole Breyde
North HollywoodFeds, cults and the NRA
Though I think much is commendable in John Cork's critique ofNat Hentoff's poor use of examples in his Jan. 9 anti-governmentalabuse editorial ('Ending a plague of official lawlessness'), I thinkCork errs in one respect, as regards the Branch Davidian fiasco. Hewrongly takes Hentoff to task for saying the FBI should haveconsulted with an expert on 'marginal religious movements' beforedeciding to storm the compound.
During the Waco standoff I was in a producer's office pitching astory about a cult deprogrammer who has spent virtually his entirelife on the front lines, snatching people from the fire of 'marginalreligious movements' like the Branch Davidians. At this time in thestandoff, my deprogrammer friend was desperately trying to persuadethe FBI to call off the dogs (i.e., hovering helicopters, blaringfloodlights, sounds of dying rabbits, etc.).
He offered his services as a former lieutenant in a BranchDavidian-type cult - he knew cult leaders, how they think, what makesthem tick. Though the FBI knew who he was, they just blew him off.
They had their 'experts.' The producer asked me if my friendhad any predictions about the outcome. I said: 'Yes. He predictsthat, if the FBI continues with its tactics, the group will becomemore insular, more paranoid, and eventually Koresh will gather hislieutenants and they will ensure that everyone goes out in a blaze ofglory.' A week later, that is exactly what transpired.
In '93 it was the Branch Davidians in Waco. In '94 it was the'The Order of the Solar Temple' in Switzerland. We are approachingthe year 2000 and millennial madness has set in. Small, paranoid,heavily armed, apocalyptic fringe groups now dot the Americanlandscape. More death and disaster are right around the corner. Ourlaw enforcement personnel (police, FBI, ATF, etc.) need to availthemselves of all available resources, not just the theoreticalacademicians, but also those who are on the front lines in this dark,perplexing domain within our culture.
- Bob Pierce
Van Nuys
John Cork's letter in the Jan. 11 Public Forum ('Hentoff ignoredrisk of serving search warrants') seems to be directed from anotherplanet.
Cork states that the National Rifle Association advocates'disrespect for law enforcement.' Nothing could be further from thetruth. He states that, 'The NRA is funded largely by gunmanufacturers.' The NRA is funded 95 percent by its membership,which represents millions of law-abiding citizens.
For Cork to even suggest a correlation between the NRA and theunbelievable, unconstitutional and illegal actions of the DrugEnforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco andFirearms, and much of law enforcement today is unconscionable atmost, ill-informed at least.
- William Marky
Reseda
John Cork's Jan. 11 letter failed to note an important point.The DEA agents had a legal search warrant, all right. But the reasonthey were searching the Malibu estate of the 'armed man' who wassubsequently shot and killed trying to defend his home againstunannounced, armed intruders was to find marijuana (which they didnot) and seize the estate under the Racketeer Influenced, CorruptOrganizations (RICO) law.
RICO, as applied during the Reagan and Bush administrations byoverzealous and corrupt law enforcement professionals, has resultedin more suffering and death than ever was caused by marijuana. Theimportant lesson here is that out-of-control 'get tough' politiciansand law enforcement types must be stopped from their insane,expensive, unconstitutional, and futile 'War on Drugs.'
- John D. Baltic
TopangaPut academics first
This is in response to the Jan. 6 Daily News editorial 'Failedby their schools.'
After teaching 34 years in public high schools, I am notsurprised that 85 percent of CSUN freshmen students take at least oneremedial course.
For example, on a daily basis, my attempt to offer qualityinstruction was sabotaged by excessive disruptions. Not only werestudents frequently excused from class for frills, but the amount ofbulletins, clerical work and discipline problems left very littletime for instruction.
No school reform can be effective without challenging thepriority given to competitive sports. While no one is permitted toinflate football scores even with the intention of maintaining highteam self-esteem, our schools issue inflated grades as well ascounterfeit diplomas to students who obviously do not read, write orcalculate anywhere near their grade level.
Until performance in the academic classroom is rewarded on a parwith performance on the football field, taxpayers will continue topay more taxes for more remedial courses for academically deficientstudents.
- Gilbert A. Rubio
San Diego
