The Issue: Mitt Romney’s promise to end federal subsidies to PBS if it means borrowing from China.
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GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s big idea is to end the subsidy for the Public Broadcasting Service, saying we can’t afford it (“Big Bird, 1-Percenter,” Editorial, Oct. 6).
The yearly federal subsidy for all of PBS might run the Pentagon for an hour or two. It would maybe run the wars for a half a day or so.
The PBS subsidy is barely pocket change in the federal budget and won’t affect deficits or higher tax rates.
Romney demonstrates he is a man of minuscule ideas.Marsha Haber
Holliswood
PBS is extremely profitable. The subsidies it receives aren’t necessary unless you want to continue to fund production costs for its programming.
Keep in mind that the public doesn’t own those programs we pay for — the people who make them do. They should pay for the cost to produce them, not the taxpayers.
PBS has had commercials for years. It was a good idea to subsidize it in the beginning, but hasn’t been for decades.
As Romney said, you don’t borrow money to fund nonessentials.
Barbara Paolucci
Manhattan
If it was not a gaffe, why is The Post trying to put out the fire? It was a flat-out lie.
Unlike the 47 percent, PBS relies very little on government assistance. It certainly doesn’t need to borrow money from China to pay for it.
Mark my words, Romney will apologize for the Big Bird comment, just as he had to with the 47 percent comment. This lie-laced debate performance is the final nail in his coffin.
Rocco Pellone
Manhattan
Romney is lucky children can’t vote.
Taking away “Sesame Street” is like taking away Christmas toys from kids.
Kenneth Zimmerman
Huntington Beach, Calif.