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so why is parent comment being downvoted, when it's a true statement?

Retric 4y ago
Because it’s true of every single non profit in the US. You can say the same about random churches, but that level of support doesn’t keep the lights on.
kgermino 4y ago
Because while it’s technically true (each American does contribute about $0.40 a year to NPR stations via federal taxes and the corporation for public broadcasting) it’s a tiny fraction of NPRs budget so the statement is misleading. It would be similar to complaining that people are forced to pay Ford via taxes because the government uses F-150s
happytoexplain 4y ago
Factual truth is required, but it is not the only part of human communication by a long shot. "It's true" is a meaningless defense of expressions (past childhood) if nobody is claiming otherwise (downvotes don't mean "I think this is a lie"). The GP leaves the degree of taxation/funding, as well as the broader context of what other entities are tax funded and to what degree, unspoken; and they imply that, whatever those facts may be, it's a bad thing in this case. The parent (and other commenters) then provided some of that relevant information (and, assuming that information is true, you presumably would appreciate such a thing). As for the downvoters, they may reasonably disagree with the parent's implication that it is a bad thing, or disapprove of their omission of details. You may reasonably disagree with this use of the downvote button, but it means they are not necessarily claiming the GP is stating an untruth.
- AlbertCory 4y ago
  Because it's what you would call "misinformation." Individual contributions to NPR are tax-deductible. That means the public IS indeed subsidizing NPR, far beyond the government's direct payments.
  - astrange 4y ago
    They are not tax deductible for normal people in the last few years because nobody itemizes anymore.
    - AlbertCory 4y ago
      The relevant percentage is not "normal people who itemize" but "NPR contributors who itemize." Do you have that number?
      - astrange 4y ago
        I don't but I think they're mostly average people. Wealthy people are too rare to matter. Less true for art museums and things because wealthy people can get more out of their donations, like their name on stuff and cool party invitations.
        AlbertCory 4y ago
        "I think they're mostly average people" that's an easily-testable hypothesis. I dispute it. As for "Wealthy people are too rare to matter" do a search on the percentage of income taxes paid by the wealthy.
  - Retric 4y ago
    Just as they are also supporting the Catholic Church, Atheist organizations, Mormons, Buddhists, etc and anyone else who fulfills the basic requirements to be tax deductible. But the reality is only ~13% of US tax payers itemize deductions so in general there isn’t any such support when the average person donates to anything. It’s really just support for the kinds of people who can itemize their taxes rather than supporting charities.
    - AlbertCory 4y ago
      Irrelevant how many people overall itemize. The question is "how many NPR contributors itemize?" I don't know what your point is in the first paragraph. Yes, we do "support" any 501(c)(3). Are you opposed to that?
soperj 4y ago
because, while true, it doesn't tell the whole story. There would be a lot more than 4 podcasts being cancelled if it were solely relied on money through taxes.
totetsu 4y ago
Being technically true but also leaving out critical information in order to mislead people is a common practice called paltering

Because it’s true of every single non profit in the US. You can say the same about random churches, but that level of support doesn’t keep the lights on.

kgermino 4y ago

Because while it’s technically true (each American does contribute about $0.40 a year to NPR stations via federal taxes and the corporation for public broadcasting) it’s a tiny fraction of NPRs budget so the statement is misleading. It would be similar to complaining that people are forced to pay Ford via taxes because the government uses F-150s

happytoexplain 4y ago

Factual truth is required, but it is not the only part of human communication by a long shot. "It's true" is a meaningless defense of expressions (past childhood) if nobody is claiming otherwise (downvotes don't mean "I think this is a lie"). The GP leaves the degree of taxation/funding, as well as the broader context of what other entities are tax funded and to what degree, unspoken; and they imply that, whatever those facts may be, it's a bad thing in this case. The parent (and other commenters) then provided some of that relevant information (and, assuming that information is true, you presumably would appreciate such a thing). As for the downvoters, they may reasonably disagree with the parent's implication that it is a bad thing, or disapprove of their omission of details. You may reasonably disagree with this use of the downvote button, but it means they are not necessarily claiming the GP is stating an untruth.

AlbertCory 4y ago
Because it's what you would call "misinformation." Individual contributions to NPR are tax-deductible. That means the public IS indeed subsidizing NPR, far beyond the government's direct payments.
- astrange 4y ago
  They are not tax deductible for normal people in the last few years because nobody itemizes anymore.
  - AlbertCory 4y ago
    The relevant percentage is not "normal people who itemize" but "NPR contributors who itemize." Do you have that number?
    - astrange 4y ago
      I don't but I think they're mostly average people. Wealthy people are too rare to matter. Less true for art museums and things because wealthy people can get more out of their donations, like their name on stuff and cool party invitations.
      - AlbertCory 4y ago
        "I think they're mostly average people" that's an easily-testable hypothesis. I dispute it. As for "Wealthy people are too rare to matter" do a search on the percentage of income taxes paid by the wealthy.
- Retric 4y ago
  Just as they are also supporting the Catholic Church, Atheist organizations, Mormons, Buddhists, etc and anyone else who fulfills the basic requirements to be tax deductible. But the reality is only ~13% of US tax payers itemize deductions so in general there isn’t any such support when the average person donates to anything. It’s really just support for the kinds of people who can itemize their taxes rather than supporting charities.
  - AlbertCory 4y ago
    Irrelevant how many people overall itemize. The question is "how many NPR contributors itemize?" I don't know what your point is in the first paragraph. Yes, we do "support" any 501(c)(3). Are you opposed to that?

soperj 4y ago

because, while true, it doesn't tell the whole story. There would be a lot more than 4 podcasts being cancelled if it were solely relied on money through taxes.

totetsu 4y ago

Being technically true but also leaving out critical information in order to mislead people is a common practice called paltering