Reply #47: For the same reason they fund public schools; for the betterment of

[Lorien]

society. PBS gives everyone an opportunity to view something on the PUBLIC'S air waves that doesn't come with countless brainwashing commercials every seven minutes. The public does fund a huge amount of public broadcasting-but grassroots efforts will never be able to compete with megacorporations, and children deserve programming that gives them a head start on their education without making them scream for sugar snaps.

EVERYONE I know watches and/or listens to PBS at least several times a week. Of course, I prefer to spend my time with those that are intellectually curious, not someone who will only get excited about who won last night's "American idol".