Slaying the NPR dragon

Apparently, National Public Radio’s “Car Talk” is at the root of the $14 trillion U.S. deficit. That must be why the Republican-controlled House voted 228-192 to kill federal funding for NPR. Talk about profiles in courage. Per the Huffington Post, the bill would ban federal funding of NPR (about $5 million in 2010) and bar public radio stations from using their federal grant money to pay dues to NPR (about $2.8 million in 2010). Taken together, that amounts to reducing the U.S. debt by an eye-popping $7.8 million or 0.00056%. Never mind that Congress spends nearly that much ($7.5 million) on toner cartridges and pencils each year. Taxpayers from coast-to-coast are leaping with joy over the savings. But I concede that might have more to do with the green beer they're drinking for St. Patrick's Day. Anyway, the fate of the nation is safe from the deficit-bloating clutches of "Click and Clack" – until the bill reaches the Senate where it will be promptly voted down.