I'm starting to love C-SPAN. I often think, at least the parts of it that I see, that it's more like what government sponsored TV oughtta be. Yes, I've heard the complaints that there's a bit of liberal bias in the morning call-in show. Perhaps that's true. But I've also noticed that it's one of the best outlets for conservatives on television.

For example, I learned of John Lott's thesis, More Guns, Less Crime by seeing him in a debate on C-SPAN. I learned who Bernard Lewis is. I've heard what conservative governmental officials, often ignored by the media except when saying something lampoonable, think about various issues. In a left-slanted world, this is valuable to me.

But here's the first catch: C-SPAN isn't right-biased. Tonight I watched an hour-long program on conservative women. But the only reason I saw it was because I had previously watched a lecture by radical postmodernist feminist and Buddhist Bell Hooks. See? A balance. How refreshing.

Now here's the second catch: C-SPAN receives no governmental funding! Says CEO Brian Lamb:

No, sir. Don't want it. Wouldn't take it,,. It's a deeply felt belief on my part and certainly others here that taxpayer money and media do not go together -- that it works better in our society when the media and the government are not working hand in glove. When you get money from a source, that source has a certain proprietary interest, and I would not be comfortable getting any of our money from the government or from the taxpayer.