Finally, the Bush administration is beefing up the budget for Voice Of America, which is a radio/TV network similar to NPR but without the left-wing spirit. During the Cold War, VOA provided the US and the Western World with a voice of freedom and liberty to the people languishing behind the Iron curtain. To understand the power of this beacon of freedom, check out Natan Sharansky's The Case for Democracy.
Anyway, the White House is asking for an additional $7.3 million, which would push the operating budget of VOA up some 45% to $652 million. As Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the Broadcasting Board Governors noted this is great news because:
"It's important to remember that in the decade following the end of the Cold War, U.S. spending for international broadcasting was slashed a very real 40 percent," he said. "Now, thanks to President Bush and key supporters in Congress, we are rebuilding from a depleted base and working to get back to where we should be."It's about time we started putting our hard earned dollars into a government programs that actually achieve something besides wasting money. I guess it helps when the right people arrive at State and in the White House to get things done.
Also, check out this column by John Hughes in The Christian Science Monitor where he argues for bringing back the defunct United States Information Agency (USIA).
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