Congress must protect us from Trump budget
Donald Trump has submitted his idea of a budget to Congress for consideration. Among other things he wants to eliminate federal funding for are the National Endowment of the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The arts and humanities have always enriched our lives with inspiration and creativity. Public radio and public television are a beacon of light among some of the crassness we call entertainment. I suppose we can always carry on with “Two and a Half Men” and the Kardashians.
Trump also wants to cut funding for the National Institutes of Health, the leader in medical research, and other scientific institutions. Science positions in his administration remain unfilled because he said we don’t need them. Our country has always been on the cutting edge of discovery and innovation. It drives our economy.
China is eager to fill the void. They have announced increasing investment in alternative and renewable energy sources, the wave of the future.
I sense a step backward for our leadership in the world. This is the dumbing down of America. Congress cannot let this happen.
Robert Larsen, Fresno
This story was originally published April 7, 2017 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Congress must protect us from Trump budget."