CBC French to drop the word Canada from their name..

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

And I think you would be wrong:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle4250955/



My point is simply that those that rail against paying taxes have absolutely no intention of moving to a country that has no taxes. They are free to continue to rant about "government waste" while protected by the benefits those taxes bring us. Or in Naga's case, railing against having to pay taxes for something that (see the article I just posted) most Canadians support.

I am naturally leery about any poll conducted by a media outlet, let alone a poll conducted by a media outlet about the funding to a media outlet. I don't have a problem with funding the CBC but at the same time something obviously needs to change from the current system of putting trite programing out that isn't watched by anyone in order to keep the fledgeling East Coast entertainment industry afloat.

I like the job that CBC does with news but the rest of it from that Steven and Chris show to the terribly dreadful comedies that are past their prime by decades (22 Minutes) seems to be a money pit with the only worth being the "Canadiana" factor. For over a billion dollars a year + ad revenue you would think that they could at least put out one decent show a year. But time and time again they take the safe, boring route and don't produce anything of substance and people look elsewhere for their entertainment.

I just looked at the TV Schedule and there is Heartland, Steven and Chris, Dragons Den, The Lang and O'Leary Exchange, The Mercer Report/22 Minutes, Just for Laughs Gags (worst show on TV) and a bunch of crap that no one watches (Being Erica).... this is what appears to be on every single day.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I am naturally leery about any poll conducted by a media outlet, let alone a poll conducted by a media outlet about the funding to a media outlet. I don't have a problem with funding the CBC but at the same time something obviously needs to change from the current system of putting trite programing out that isn't watched by anyone in order to keep the fledgeling East Coast entertainment industry afloat.

I like the job that CBC does with news but the rest of it from that Steven and Chris show to the terribly dreadful comedies that are past their prime by decades (22 Minutes) seems to be a money pit with the only worth being the "Canadiana" factor. For over a billion dollars a year + ad revenue you would think that they could at least put out one decent show a year. But time and time again they take the safe, boring route and don't produce anything of substance and people look elsewhere for their entertainment.

I agree that it could be better. But to be better, it would need more funding. And we horribly, horribly underfund our national broadcasters as opposed to most other developed countries (see my previous statistics).

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Throwing money at an issue isn't an effective way of actually making things better though. I would like to see some promise of better programing before I open up the chequebook and start handing over money.

If you look at the neighbors to the south, there are some high quality shows that are being produced, by relatively small broadcasters (FX for instance). Canada has nothing to that effect, there is nothing critically acclaimed to come out of it for decades as is evidenced by people bringing up the original degrassi, kids in the hall, and road to avonlea as their examples of programing.

I was more disappointed in your if you don't like it, leave approach to the situation. I think that your arguments are generally better than that and it is frankly pretty dumb and childish.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

If you look at the neighbors to the south, there are some high quality shows that are being produced, by relatively small broadcasters (FX for instance).

FX is owned by Fox which is owned by News Corporation. It hardly qualifies as "small."

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Reaper

FX is owned by Fox which is owned by News Corporation. It hardly qualifies as "small."

I didn't realize that actually. I thought that they were an independent cable channel... I wonder what the budget for those channels is though, I looked and I couldn't find much. Honestly though, I would love for nothing else than for CBC to take the route of a US cable channel and produce something controversial. Look at what the best shows on TV are, Californication, Mad Men, Homeland, Game of Thrones, Modern Family, Louie... all of them (with the potential exception of Modern Family) aren't of the cookie cutter family friendly variety that CBC loves to produce.

[Nage Waza]

But if CBC did produce a profit, is that profit not coming from the hands of their competition? Even Canadian competition? CBC should stay away from competing if they have that advantage.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

*sigh* People often leave countries if they feel persecuted unfairly. They leave of their own free will. My suggestion is that those who argue for deep cuts, even against things that most in the country support, might be more comfortable in a country more in tune with their values. Thus far it has been suggested that I was recommending forced removal of people or violence against people... My only guess is that feigning outrage against what you want me to have said is easier than what was actually proposed.

Let's take this one step at a time.
1) The poll from the Globe and Mail says that most Canadians support the CBC funding.
2) Do you still feel that you should not have your tax money going to the CBC even if the majority of Canadians want tax money going to the CBC?

In the future, everytime I form an opinion I will consult the opinion of a majority (this online poll seems like a good source). I mean I don't want democrats to put me on a cattle train...

[Devils'Advocate]

I think you both are being deliberately obtuse.

The question I am asking is "Given that this is a democracy, do you take issue with paying taxes for things that the majority of Canadians support even though you personally don't agree with funding these things?"

Basically the question is whether you respect the will of the majority?

But since you are more comfortable reframing the question to suit your own needs, so be it.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

In the future, everytime I form an opinion I will consult the opinion of a majority (this online poll seems like a good source). I mean I don't want democrats to put me on a cattle train...

FYI - If you were referring to the study that says most Canadians support funding to the CBC, it was a telephone poll done by Decima Research.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I think you both are being deliberately obtuse.

I wouldn't be so sure its deliberate.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I think you both are being deliberately obtuse.

The question I am asking is "Given that this is a democracy, do you take issue with paying taxes for things that the majority of Canadians support even though you personally don't agree with funding these things?"

Basically the question is whether you respect the will of the majority?

But since you are more comfortable reframing the question to suit your own needs, so be it.

Why can't they take issue with paying taxes? You know there is a difference between disliking doing something, and not doing it right?

Basically the question is whether you respect the will of the majority

Is the majority always right? What is your problem with having dissenting opinions and ideas?

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

The public broadcaster would get more support from a more diverse segment of the population if they were not so politically leaning, bottom line. That is the problem for much of Canada, they are more of a publically funded Liberal tool than a public broadcaster. I don't want my money spent on them in any way shape or form.

Sorry to dredge this post up from a page long passed in this thread, but I often hear this allegation but have never actually seen any evidence to support it. When I challenged another poster in another thread about this same allegation, he provided CBC's "electoral compass" website as an example. However, a few minutes of research quickly discredited that example. Are there any others? Or is this allegation just a conservative talking point?

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I think you both are being deliberately obtuse.

The question I am asking is "Given that this is a democracy, do you take issue with paying taxes for things that the majority of Canadians support even though you personally don't agree with funding these things?"

Basically the question is whether you respect the will of the majority?

But since you are more comfortable reframing the question to suit your own needs, so be it.

None of that is true. You attacked me for not supporting our taxes going to the CBC and you even offered to pay me to leave the Country and suggested that those that disagree with the majority should also leave the country.

You have gone crazy.

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Sorry to dredge this post up from a page long passed in this thread, but I often hear this allegation but have never actually seen any evidence to support it. When I challenged another poster in another thread about this same allegation, he provided CBC's "electoral compass" website as an example. However, a few minutes of research quickly discredited that example. Are there any others? Or is this allegation just a conservative talking point?

There are many examples, easy to research. From what I understand, website was not discredited as an example.

There are books and articles on the subject:

http://www.amazon.ca/CBC-Exposed-Bri.../dp/098816910X

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0ER__6izvk

Not that the sources are not biased themselves, but I could not find the same regarding the CBC being biased against the Liberals. If there was no bias against the right, why the complaints?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

If there was no bias against the right, why the complaints?

Persecution complex?

[transplant99]

This had me laughing.

The CBC fought former Tory MP Brent Rathgeber’s bill that would have required senior civil service salaries (including those at Crown corporations such as the CBC) to be disclosed to those who pay those salaries — taxpayers. And it has fought the Tories’ current budget legislation because the bill would require all Crown corporations to “submit to the minister responsible a draft document setting out the general components of a policy on remuneration and conditions of employment.”

In both cases, the CBC claimed that disclosing anything about its salaries would compromise its journalistic integrity. Speaking at a Commons committee on Rathgeber’s bill, one of the CBC’s union bosses, insisted, “The bill attacks the very principle of freedom of the press and would not be in the best interests of the citizens of Canada.”

Really!? Disclosing your reporters’ salaries would threaten your professional honour, but accepting a $1.1 billion annual subsidy directly from the government, that is in no way a threat?

The arrogance is astounding.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Sorry to dredge this post up from a page long passed in this thread, but I often hear this allegation but have never actually seen any evidence to support it. When I challenged another poster in another thread about this same allegation, he provided CBC's "electoral compass" website as an example. However, a few minutes of research quickly discredited that example. Are there any others? Or is this allegation just a conservative talking point?

LOL...yes its a "Conservative" talking point.


Oh...and also a quote from the former CBC English language service boss as well.

According to Stursberg, a number of interleaving factors caused the lowest ratings in the CBC’s history: the fiscal vise which seemed constantly to tighten and an almost comically dysfunctional corporate governance model, including a “legendary inability to meet the most elementary tests of good management,” were at the top of the list.

But more inchoate factors also played a significant role:
striving for “distinctiveness” instead of an effort to entertain mass audiences coupled with “the vanity and self-regard of the institution,” supplemented by “soft left, anti-business, Toronto-centric, politically correct cultural assumptions.”

http://c2cjournal.ca/2012/06/cbc-ins...in-new-book-2/

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

None of that is true. You attacked me for not supporting our taxes going to the CBC and you even offered to pay me to leave the Country and suggested that those that disagree with the majority should also leave the country.

You have gone crazy.

All of it is true AND you have resorted to name calling / insults. Well done.

As for the CBC's "left wing bias", THE VERY BOOK that transplant just cited, by the very person he claims as authority, also revealed:
http://www.straight.com/news/richard...-best-national

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

There are many examples, easy to research. From what I understand, website was not discredited as an example.

There are books and articles on the subject:

http://www.amazon.ca/CBC-Exposed-Bri.../dp/098816910X

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0ER__6izvk

Not that the sources are not biased themselves, but I could not find the same regarding the CBC being biased against the Liberals. If there was no bias against the right, why the complaints?

Really? That is your proof? A book by a known conservative writer who is known to have unhealthy fixation with CBC and a news report where the journalist even says at the end of the piece that the Liberals were accused of the same thing at the end of the video?

[GGG]

What the CBC should focus on is the debunking of junk science. Vaccines, anti gmo, climate change etc. they should produce hard science documentarys based on fact instead of fear. One of the biggest threats right now is the populist pseudo science that rios through social media and the fear mongering media.

The CBC should be working to produce programming, no private network does it, and it would be in the best interest of canadians.