Why Do Republicans Hate CPB, PBS and NPR?

The Republicans in Congress just voted to de-fund the public media organizations CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting), PBS (Public Broadcasting System, domestic TV service) and NPR (National Public Radio).  These media organizations were established by Congress decades ago.  For much of the time since then Republicans have complained that they are biased "liberal" media and they are unfair to Republicans and Conservatives.  

As a long time regular viewer of PBS and a listener of NPR, I disagree.  PBS shows a wide variety of shows including Sesame Street, Daniel Tiger, Ken Burns documentaries, Master Piece Theater, and some news, political and cultural shows.  The news shows seem to me to be very fair and balanced unlike FOX news or MSNBC.  NPR provides many shows including news, weather, science, entertainment, etc.  In many rural areas NPR may be a primary provider of news and weather.

I have been confused by the vehement hatred of these public media outlets by Republicans/Conservatives.

I think I've figured out why Republicans hate them. 

I asked ChatGPT to summarize principles of Democrats and  Republicans.  You can click on the links to see its answers.  I also asked ChatGPT to make a summary list to compare Democratic and Republican principles.  Finally I asked ChatGPT to define the principles of a Liberal Democracy.  You can read these to get a more detailed description of each.

According to ChatGPT":

Democrats tend to emphasize:

• Collective responsibility through government action,
• Equity and inclusion for historically marginalized groups,
• Public investment in health, education, and the environment,
• And a belief that government can and should help level the playing field for all Americans.

In essence, a liberal democracy blends majority rule with minority rights, ensuring that even unpopular groups have their basic freedoms safeguarded.

The principles of the "liberal" Democratic party seem to more closely align with ChatGPT's description of a liberal democracy.  So Republican's consider any institutions that believe in the ideals of a liberal democracy to be biased towards and aligned with Democrats.  But sorry Republicans, the U.S. Constitution was designed to define a liberal democracy for the United States.  This was long before the Democratic Party was created.  The founders fell short of a liberal democracy in some areas (slavery, universal suffrage), but until recently we have been moving forward to complete the project (more about this in future posts).

We have a First Amendment which guarantees free speech, but which party likes to ban books?  Which party believes in an historical interpretation of the Constitution and then chooses to ignore the opening clause of the Second Amendment?  

Which party is the worst proponent of gerrymandering?  I know Democrats have also been guilty of gerrymandering, but it is Texas Republicans who are trying to take gerrymandering to a new level.  

Which party would like to implement universal health care?  Which party wants to cut Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP?  In the current environment, which party is standing up for rule of law and due process?  Which party is trying to destroy the principle of separation of powers?  Which party has neutered congressional oversight?  Which party is trying to make courts impotent?  Which party is trying support medical science? Which party is trying to keep independent agencies like the DOJ and FBI truly independent and not subject to executive pressure? Which party believes in the unitary executive?  Which party is trying to mitigate climate change?  Which party has been more willing to get big money out of politics? Which party is more interested in funding early education (like Head Start).   Which party is trying to fund food for school children?  Which party is trying to destroy our world class higher education system?

So Republicans hate CPB, PBS and NPR because these organizations work very hard to provide objective information and services that reflect the ideas of Constitution and the people of this country.  They may not always be perfect, but they are always working to be provide facts and objective truth. 

And Republicans hate them for this.

What is a Liberal Democracy?

The United States is governed by our Constitution which I believe contains many of the ideas behind the concept of a liberal democracy.  The "liberal" in "liberal democracy" is not directly tied to the Democratic Party, but I suspect that Democrats agree with many of the core principles that would define a liberal democracy. 

I asked ChatGPT for a definition of a liberal democracy.  Below is its answer.  I provide it here because I want to use it as a reference in future posts.

A liberal democracy is a form of representative democracy characterized by:

1. Free and fair elections – Government officials are elected through regular, competitive elections where multiple parties can run and citizens can vote without coercion.

2. Rule of law – Laws apply equally to all citizens, including government officials. Legal processes are transparent and independent.

3. Protection of individual rights and freedoms – Civil liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly are guaranteed and protected by law.

4. Separation of powers – Government power is divided among branches (executive, legislative, judicial) to prevent abuse.

5. Pluralism and political participation – Multiple viewpoints and interest groups are allowed and encouraged to compete and participate in the political process.

In essence, a liberal democracy blends majority rule with minority rights, ensuring that even unpopular groups have their basic freedoms safeguarded.

Above is the description of a liberal democracy as provided by ChatGPT.  You may or may not agree with this analysis.  Feel free to comment if you have issues with this description.  Anonymous comments are allowed, but please keep them civil.

 

 

Differences Between Conservative and Liberal Beliefs

I asked ChatGPT to do a side-by-side comparison of typical Republican and Democratic party principles.  The answers are provided below.  I included them here because I want to reference this in a later post. 

Principle	Republican Party (Conservative)	Democratic Party (Liberal/Progressive)
Role of Government	Limited government; more power to states and individuals	Active government role in addressing social and economic issues
Taxes & Economy	Lower taxes, deregulation, pro-business	Progressive taxation to fund public services and reduce inequality
Healthcare	Market-based solutions; repeal/replace the ACA	Healthcare is a right; expand ACA or pursue universal healthcare
Social Safety Net	Reduce size of welfare programs; encourage self-reliance	Strengthen programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
Individual Rights	Emphasize gun rights, religious freedom, property rights	Emphasize civil rights, voting rights, and protections for marginalized groups
Abortion	Pro-life; support restrictions or bans	Pro-choice; support access to abortion and reproductive healthcare
LGBTQ+ Rights	Mixed; some support traditional definitions of gender/marriage	Strong support for legal equality and protections for LGBTQ+ people
Climate and Environment	Skeptical of regulations; favor fossil fuels and energy independence	Support strong environmental regulations; invest in clean energy and climate action
Immigration	Emphasize border security, reduced legal immigration, strict enforcement	Support path to citizenship, protections for Dreamers, more humane policies
Education	School choice, parental control, charter schools, reduce federal role	Invest in public schools, affordable college, universal pre-K
Gun Policy	Defend Second Amendment; oppose most gun control laws	Support background checks, red flag laws, limits on certain firearms
Law and Order	Strong support for police and tough-on-crime policies	Criminal justice reform, address systemic racism, community policing
Foreign Policy	“America First,” military strength, skeptical of global institutions	Multilateralism, diplomacy, alliances like NATO, global leadership
Judicial Philosophy	Originalist interpretation of Constitution	Living Constitution; support judicial decisions that expand rights
Voting Rights	Emphasize election integrity, voter ID laws	Expand voting access, oppose voter suppression, support automatic registration

Notes:

• These are general trends and do not apply to all individuals in either party. Both parties include moderates, libertarians, populists, and progressives. 
• Platform positions may shift depending on current leadership, national events, or generational changes.

Above is the side-by-side comparison of care principles of Conservative Republicans and Democrats as provided by ChatGPT.  You may  or may not agree with the results of this comparison,  Feel free to comment if you have issues with this description.  Anonymous comments are allowed, but please keep them civil.

What Principles Define A Democrat?

I asked ChatGPT "What principles would the Democratic Party say define a Democrat??"  The answer is provided below.  I included it here because I want to reference this in a later post.

 1. Equality and Civil Rights

• Strong support for equal protection under the law, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

• Defense of civil rights legislation and expansion of anti-discrimination protections.

• Advocacy for voting rights and access to the ballot as essential components of democracy.

2. Economic Opportunity and a Fair Economy

• Support for progressive taxation—higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund public programs.

• Emphasis on raising the minimum wage, strengthening unions, and ensuring fair labor standards.

• Support for social safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food assistance, and housing support.

3. Healthcare as a Right

• Belief that everyone should have access to affordable healthcare.

• Strong support for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), with many favoring expanding it or transitioning to universal healthcare (e.g., Medicare for All, in the progressive wing).

4. Environmental Protection and Climate Action

• Acknowledgment of climate change as a major threat, with support for aggressive environmental regulations and investments in clean energy.

• Support for international climate agreements (e.g., the Paris Accord).

• Promotion of environmental justice to protect vulnerable communities from pollution and climate-related harms.

5. Expanded Access to Education

• Support for public education, universal pre-K, affordable college or free community college.

• Emphasis on reducing student debt and investing in teachers and school infrastructure.

6. Women's Rights and Reproductive Freedom

• Support for a woman's right to choose and access to abortion and reproductive healthcare.

• Advocacy for equal pay, paid family leave, and workplace protections for women.

7. Gun Safety Reform

• Support for stricter gun laws such as background checks, red flag laws, and bans on assault-style weapons.

• Framing gun violence as a public health and community safety issue.

8. Immigration Reform

• Support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, especially Dreamers (those brought to the U.S. as children).

• Advocacy for humane border policies and opposition to family separation and mass deportation.

• Belief that immigrants strengthen the economy and enrich American culture.

9. LGBTQ+ Rights

• Support for full legal equality for LGBTQ+ individuals, including marriage equality, anti-discrimination protections, and access to gender-affirming care.

• Opposition to legislation that targets or restricts LGBTQ+ individuals in education, healthcare, or public life.

10. Democratic Institutions and Voting Rights

• Efforts to strengthen democracy, such as expanding early voting, fighting voter suppression, supporting D.C. statehood, and reforming the Electoral College.

• Proposals to reform institutions like the Supreme Court or the filibuster to ensure more responsive governance

Summary:

Democrats tend to emphasize:

• Collective responsibility through government action,
• Equity and inclusion for historically marginalized groups,
• Public investment in health, education, and the environment,
• And a belief that government can and should help level the playing field for all Americans.

Above is the description of a Democrat as provided by ChatGPT.  This may or may not reflect what you believe are the principles of liberal Democrats.  Feel free to comment if you have issues with this description.  Anonymous comments are allowed, but please keep them civil.

 

What Principles Define A Republican Conservative?

I asked ChatGPT "What principles would the Republican Party say define a Republican conservative?"  The answer is provided below.  I included it here because I want to reference this in a later post.

The Republican Party and self-identified conservatives within it typically define Republican conservatism through a set of principles rooted in limited government, individual liberty, free markets, and traditional values. While there’s variation among Republicans (e.g., traditional conservatives, populists, libertarians, nationalists), the mainstream principles they claim to uphold include the following:

Core Principles of Republican Conservatism

1. Limited Government

• Government should play a minimal role in the economy and personal lives.

• Federal power should be restrained, with more authority left to states and local governments (federalism).

• Regulation should be limited to foster personal responsibility and free enterprise.

2. Individual Liberty and Personal Responsibility

• Emphasis on constitutional rights—especially free speech, religious freedom, gun ownership (Second Amendment), and property rights.

• People, not government, should be primarily responsible for their own success or failure.

3. Free Market Capitalism

• Private enterprise is seen as the engine of prosperity and innovation.

• Low taxes, minimal regulation, and limited government spending are prioritized.

• Opposition to what’s viewed as government overreach in areas like healthcare and environmental regulation.

4. Traditional Social Values

• Support for traditional family structures and opposition to policies that conservatives believe undermine them.

• Pro-life stance on abortion.

• Religious values—particularly Judeo-Christian ethics—are often emphasized as foundational to American identity.

5. Strong National Defense and Law Enforcement

• Military strength is viewed as essential to national security and global leadership.

• Support for law enforcement, border security, and a tough stance on crime and illegal immigration.

6. Strict Constitutionalism

• The Constitution should be interpreted according to its original meaning ("originalism").

• Opposition to judicial activism or creating new rights not explicitly stated in the Constitution.

7. Fiscal Responsibility

• Government should balance its budget, reduce the national debt, and cut spending—though in practice, this principle is sometimes inconsistently applied.

• Opposition to large welfare programs and belief in the efficiency of private charity and faith-based initiatives.

8. American Sovereignty and Patriotism

• National interests should be prioritized in foreign and domestic policy ("America First").

• Skepticism of global institutions (like the U.N. or World Economic Forum) and international agreements that are seen to compromise U.S. sovereignty.  

Above is the description of a Republican Conservative as provided by ChatGPT.  This may or may not reflect what you believe are the principles of conservative ideology.  Feel free to comment if you have issues with this description.  Anonymous comments are allowed, but please keep them civil.

 

Leave The Compaign Hats In The Golf Cart

I'm sick of seeing Trump wearing one of his campaign hats at events that are clearly not campaign events.  If he wants to wear his silly campaign hats at a campaign rally to juice up the crowd or up his income from Trump merch, that's his prerogative.  But when he is representing this country in his official duties, he should leave the cap in the golf cart. 

There are pictures of Trump in the Situation Room during the bombing of the Iran nuclear facilities wearing a campaign hat.  That is unacceptable.  Members of the military are risking their lives and he is using them to score political points. It is another example of how Trump demeans his office and reminds the country he really doesn't understand his presidential responsibilities and considers himself above the presidency. 

I'll bet he sometimes wears these hats because his hair dresser was not available.  Trump needs to face the fact he is old.  I've got grand kids who sometimes need their stuffies (stuffed animals) to help soothe their anxieties so I understand why Trump needs his hair, but really.  

Trump, get some therapy (psychological not scalp) and try to look like a real president.  

Trump's OBBB Is Bad

The devil is in the details

Trump and MAGA Republicans (aka magettes) are trying to destroy America.  Trump's OBBB (One Bodaciously Bad Bill) that was just passed is proof.  I'm sure there are some good things in the bill, but from what we know now the harm this bill will generate will far out weigh whatever good it creates.

The bad things I've heard about include the number of people who will lose health care.  This not only hurts these people. The cuts will hurt health care in areas that depend on Medicare and Medicaid dollars.  There will also be a massive transfer of costs to the states.  Either state taxes will go up or other state priorities will be cut.  Missouri's governor is already cutting items from the state's budget to be prepared for the expected increased state costs caused by Trump's OBBB.  And he is a Republican!

Trump's OBBB cuts support of renewable energy sources.  Trump just said he wants to double electric energy creation in the US.  This is mainly because of the massive energy demands of AI (and crypto).  The fastest, cheapest, cleanest way to increase electricity production is to use renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.  So cutting support of renewable sources will make rapid increases of electricity more difficult.

China is loving Trump's OBBB.  This will make it easier for China to win the race to become the world's AI leader.

While Trump's OBBB decreases support for renewable energy it increases support for dirty energy like coal.  If you like hot summers, large wild fires, powerful hurricanes, lots of big tornadoes and massive floods then Trump's OBBB was made for you.

Trump's OBBB has lots of money for border security.  It will make ICE the single largest federal law enforcement agency.  Think about that when you hear stories about how ICE treats people they detain.  I didn't say arrest because many of the people they put into ICE detention facilities and move or try to move around the country and the world have no arrest warrants.  If you think you are safe because you are a citizen or because you have a legal status to be in the US, you are naive.

The timing of the fiscal effects of Trump's OBBB are interesting.  The parts that benefit the lower ends of the income scale are implemented quickly.  The parts that harm the lower ends of the income scale are delayed until after the mid-term election.  This should tell you who to trust and it is not Trump and his magettes.

This is, as Trump is happy to tell you, a very big bill.  We are going to hear a lot more about hidden items in the bill.  You are going to frequently hear "I didn't know that was in the bill" from politicians, including Trump.  That will be another clue about how bad this bill really is for America. The devil is in the details.