Dear Ttbn,

So how do you like my suggestion: the ABC to remain public, but those who do not want it are not forced to fund it?

I would personally have a hard time without the ABC: I get most of my news from it, especially while I drive, also online. I also listen to ABC Classical FM, I would be quite sad without it. If it's up to me, then I'm happy to pay for this service, but I don't ask others to pay for something they do not use. It's a pity that I also need to also pay for ABC television as I don't have a TV, nor ever watch it, but I suppose that comes as part of the package.

Yuyutsu,

Yes. Subscription viewing/listening would be fine, a la Foxtel, Netflix etc. That is one option put up by people wanting change. Another: simply hand it over to ABC staff to operate as a normal business enterprise. That would save taxpayers $1 billion every year, forever. There is simply no justification these days for a public broadcaster which is funded just like any other government department - with other people’s money.

ttbn,
There seems to be a serious problem with your comprehension, as Belly didn't claim ABC news to be "skewed". Belly's point was that you seem to be upset because ABC news isn't skewed to fit your prejudices.

As for your response to my post:
>Turnbull is not stupid, but you ARE for for referring to an organ of the ABC to defend the ABC.
For people who can think for themselves, linking to a recent comment on the issue which includes a summary of the views of the main critics of the ABC is far from stupid. But I suppose you may regard me as stupid for forgetting you're so biased you'll instantly dismiss something from ABC sources even though it's not the official view of the ABC.

>Opinions are not ‘repugnant’ just because you do not agree with them,
Correct. It's because of your contempt for what I (and many others) care about.

>and your claim that “the vast majority of Aussies consider (my opinions) repugnant” is really stupid. Most Australians do not know my opinions on the ABC’
Whether or not most Aussies consider an opinion repugnant does not depend on them knowing whether you hold that opinion.

>nor do they watch or listen to the ABC themselves
ITYF they do.

Dear Ttbn,

While the concept of subscription is good in principle, this wouldn't technically work with my radio sets, at home and in my car, picking the signal off the air. Note that technological solutions not only complicate life, but also inform big-brother if/when/what you listen to.

So what I propose instead is an honour system: to subscribe through the taxation office (so nobody can say that they didn't know it costs): those who earn enough to pay tax but tick the box that they don't want to fund the ABC, are expected to not access the ABC. Yes, some dishonest people may access the ABC anyway and I am willing to pay the extra cost for that.

Yuyutsu on the ABC, "I get most of my news from it, especially while I drive, also online".

No wonder you have such a strange opinions. You are being fed so much misinformation that you have no chance of forming a reasonable view of the state of the planet.

Dear Hasbeen,

When a piece of information is important enough, I confirm it with international sources. What I am unwilling to do, is to expose my brain to commercial advertising propaganda, so the ABC is the lesser evil.

Also, look at it this way: I am not alone among those who listen to the ABC, there must be some 100,000's if not millions who do: do their opinions match mine?