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With the announcement that MPT is launching a new Spanish-only TV station called "V-Meh" (pronounced "veh meh"), Maryland Publict Television continues to justify calls to end taxpayer financing of television broadcasting. One must wonder why -- in the age of 500 channels of programming (and nothing on!) -- we even need Public Television.
The simple fact is, we don't. And we certainly do not need Public Television exacerbating a HUGE issue of segregation and assimilation by empowering immigrants who do not speak English to go on not speaking English.
If I look at my on-screen channel guide for Comcast Digital Cable-- I see over 25 channels today that provide the kind of programming that used to be the exclusive domain of the MPT. In fact-- I see a lot of old Public Television programming on thoses channels (like "This Old House"). Digging deeper -- you see channels like TLC and Discovery, which actually do a BETTER job on their programming than MPT.
So why do we need MPT? For Sesame Street? I don't think so-- Sesame Street is a massive commercial and brand success that could survive on its own. This Old House certainly does well. Bob Vila -- who started with This Old House -- has his own set of programs and endorsements. Ask This Old House does great on DIY and A&E. The simple fact is that there is NO NEED for continued taxpayer financing of MPT -- or any other Public Television Station.
More importantly, we REALLY do not need public tax dollars going to futher the segregation between immigrants and citizens by perpetuating the gap between English and non-English speakers. By sponsoring a Spanish-only station, MPT and its benefactor -- the government of the state of Maryland -- are perpetuating language based segregation that only serves to harm Spanish-speakers.
Moreover, I think it violates the Civil Rights Act and the 14th Amendment. Why isn't there a Mandarin channel? Cantonese? French? Irish? Russian? Ebonics? Why have Hispanics been singled out for special treatment?
MPT is a fundamental waste of taxpayer money. Given the "structural deficit" the state of maryland faces, why do we continue to fund this? Why do we spend money on a government service that is better provided -- in terms of cost, quality, quantity, and access -- by private industry?
Stop funding MPT NOW!