Big Bird, PBS, and Big Spending Keynesians

Those of us who come from the Austrian school of economic thought want to cut federal government spending and balance the budget wherever we need to cut.  We believe that there are limited Constitutional roles for the federal government that we except spending money on, but we believe in cutting and eliminating spending on programs that were never the federal government’s responsibility.  The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is one of those programs where the federal government should not be involved in.

Last night, LeVar Burton was on Bill O’Reilly’s “O’Reilly Factor” making the case that those of us who want to cut funding to PBS don’t get the broader problem, which is the education of the next generation.  Let me be very clearly, I like Mr. Burton.  I grew up watching Reading Rainbow, and reruns of Star Trek.  He seems like one of the nicest people, but he’s the one who doesn’t get it.

Let me try to put it as plainly as possible so that Mr. Burton might be able to understand the real problem.  WE’RE BROKE!  We don’t have the money to spend on programs like PBS.  We don’t even have 10 dollars to spend on PBS.  We’re borrowing money to spend money.  How is that sustainable?

All you Keynesians who say the federal funding that PBS receives are a drop in the bucket compared to our largest deficit problems.  That may be true, but every little bit that we can cut matters.  Except for big entitlement programs that are funded on autopilot, and not through the normal budgetary process, most of the federal government’s spending when looked at individually is a drop in the bucket.  However, if we look at all of the spending as a whole, then it adds up to a significant cost to the taxpayer.

Mr. Burton is correct to draw attention to educating the next generation.  My question is why isn’t he and others like him collaborating to do it themselves?  Why aren’t parents stepping up?  Why do they need the federal government to take on the responsibility of what used to be the responsibility of the parents?  The Founding Fathers formed a Constitutional Republic that would be limited to the defense and protection of the rights to life, liberty, and property foreign and domestic.  Education is not one of those responsibilities.

The best solution that improves education in America, and keeps federal government spending limited to its Constitutional responsibilities is school choice.  School choice puts education back into the hands of state and local authorities, and parents because people closest to an issue are generally best suited to address problems.  School choice also allows the federal government to focus on balancing the federal budget, eliminating unnecessary and unconstitutional responsibilities, and focusing on a limited list of duties like protecting and defending America.

When we have a stagnating economy, trillion dollar deficits per year, and a 16 trillion dollar national debt that exceeds our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), there should only be two priorities of the federal government.  Our leaders should first be focused on getting America working again by replacing the current tax code, and streamlining and eliminating unnecessary burdensome business regulations.  Their other priority should be paying off our debt, balancing the federal budget, and eliminating unconstitutional programs and agencies.  When will America be the land of opportunity and freedom again?