Not getting their money's worth (Federal Govt)...

[Anrhydeddu]

From http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,92543,00.html

MIAMI — Financial conservatives are looking to discontinue a Cuban-American, PBS-style newscast beamed out of the United States, saying the Spanish-language program is broadcasting to nowhere.

TV Marti (search), a multi-million dollar venture in Florida that takes aim at Fidel Castro, doesn't seem to be reaching the target audience it seeks — Cubans on the island nation.

"I can tell you the taxpayers across the country aren't getting their money's worth," said Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.

Since 1990, TV Marti's mission has been to send uncensored news from its West Miami studios to Cubans, much the way Voice of America (search) reached behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.

"For half a century, we were doing that in Eastern Europe, and no one complains. Why complain when the Cuban people could receive this information?" asked Pedro Roig, news director of TV Marti.

Since its inception, U.S. taxpayers have spent at least $100 million on TV Marti. It currently has 55 reporters, anchors and writers on the payroll, though it cranks out only about five hours per day of news and programming.

On top of that, UHF antennas are illegal in Cuba, and even though as many as 100,000 satellite dishes have been bought on the black market, critics say Cuban engineers have managed to use a $100 piece of hardware to block TV Marti's signal.

The big-screen size failure is not only costing taxpayers, but Cubans themselves, said Flake.

"I think the Cuban people would be a lot better off if we use that money to actually improve their lives somehow, instead of beaming a signal that they can't even view," he said.

But in Miami, Cuban Americans say TV Marti's pro-America message is clear even if the signal isn't.

"Why do they want to stop the information and news from being broadcast?" asked U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. "It's a totalitarian state, airtight in terms of its control and oppression of the people."

Castro has threatened to jam radio signals in South Florida if the United States doesn't stop trying to send its signal into Cuba. Already, Cuban representatives in the United States have been questioned by the U.S. government about its jamming a satellite signal from California to Iran, where another program is trying to make headway, broadcasting tales of freedom to a dissident population.

The Bush administration has said that it has tested new anti-jamming measures aimed at getting the TV Marti signal into Cuba, but it does not yet know its measure of success.

Fox News' Orlando Salinas contributed to this report.

Copyright 2003 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

This is one another of many examples (albeit a small one) of why I continue to be very critical of the Federal Govt and its many programs. I really don't have that much of a problem of them violating the 10th Amendment throughout our history but my complaint comes from the fact that they waste so much money without showing anything or much for it. This is a good example. Despite its good intentions (seems like everything is done with good intentions), it does not work. Instead of coming up with lame excuses to keep your job "For half a century, we were doing that in Eastern Europe, and no one complains. Why complain when the Cuban people could receive this information?". Maybe the mindset should be "I think the Cuban people would be a lot better off if we use that money to actually improve their lives somehow, instead of beaming a signal that they can't even view."

[clintl]

It was the conservatives that wanted, and created, Radio Marti in the first place.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'd say we find out how effective the anti-jamming measures are before making a decision about the overall program.

Although I would have preferred the money be allocated toward development of a better poison cigar.

[Fritz]

Originally posted by clintl
It was the conservatives that wanted, and created, Radio Marti in the first place.

It was the Cuban Exiles (a mostly conservative group) that wanted this, if I recall corectly.

Originally posted by Arandomletters
Maybe the mindset should be "I think the Cuban people would be a lot better off if we use that money to actually improve their lives somehow, instead of beaming a signal that they can't even view."

I think that we don't want their lives to improve, at least not until there is a regime change.

[Anrhydeddu]

Isn't it hard to do one without the other?

[MylesKnight]

How would one go about overthrowing the government here in America? What would you need?

[CamEdwards]

Does it really matter who started the program? It's not working, so it either needs to be fixed or scrapped.

[Anrhydeddu]

But Cam, folks keep electing those that believes in throwing more money at government programs. Those that wants to fix or scrap programs are ridiculed.

[sabotai]

Why do they need 55 people to be reports, anchors and writers for 5 hours a day?

Oh yeah, it's a government program. Nevermind.

[Fritz]

Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
But Cam, folks keep electing those that believes in throwing more money at government programs. Those that wants to fix or scrap programs are ridiculed.

Well, they elect people who start programs. Stopping them is a completely different matter. Funding is frequently a matter of political trades. Halting a program requires leadership, and it is hard to find a congressman who is willing to put people out of work.

[JPhillips]

I find the Fox News connection to Cuba fascinating. They have been beating the drum for a relaxed Cuban stance for a while now. They also barely mentioned the recent crackdown on dissidents in Cuba. Murdoch's other outlets have taken a similar tack. Does anyone know why Murdoch is easy on Cuba? Does he have a potential or current business deal there?

[Anrhydeddu]

Murdoch has business everywhere.

[JPhillips]

Yeah, like China. I read that he cut the BBC from Star at the request of the Chinese government.