The latest biscuit from the barrel

I couldn't believe my ears (when wondering what to blog about this morning) hearing that the latest biscuit to be pulled from the barrel was funding for kids TV to the ABC. (see here)
I actually think this is a good idea. But like all these "good ideas" why are they only being done now...if they are good now they were good a decade ago. And yet the eve of the election is the cynical trigger.
The Friends of the ABC remain unimpressed (as big a group of lefties you could wish to drink with) their spokesperson making the interesting observation

"This act, while on the face of it seems to be really positive, is in fact a further abuse of the independence of the ABC," he said.

"The Government has denied the ABC funding in the past. It's packed the boards with members of right-wing think tanks and the Liberal Party and now it's actually giving away ABC services as election gifts."

I think this is an important (if nuanced) point.

The independence of State owned TV is a major justification for its funding. As soon as funding becomes tied to government policy (however benevolent), then we have not free to air TV but propaganda.

This policy while seemingly good, can only work if accompanied by the total and deliberate unfettering of the funds from government control. One cannot imagine either party, but certainly not the Coalition, agreeing to this. They have steadfastly and ruthlessly failed to fund the ABC either as a news broadcaster or a producer of drama, or children's TV at anything like the real level that was the case in say the 60s or 70s.

I am not a sociologist of note (or anything of note for that matter) but I am a sociologist by training (and indeed by inclination) and I know that the transmission of values is complex and it is key to developing healthy and intellectual society. It happens whether we fund it or not. It is true that advertising works and transmits values...like consume more and fat is good (If it were not so would not the advertising gurus have told us....incidentally I think the correct plural of guru is guruo..... and why would people bother to advertise)

So it could matter that the public broadcaster is funded well enough to at least provide alternative values rather than narrow market-driven values.

So, let's go for it, accept the $68 million if offered unconditionally...but it actually seems like a pathetically small amount any way.

But what would I know, I have already declared I am not a commentator or anything else of note!