Decide already!

With regard to “Deal ends coalition crisis over public broadcasting” (March 31), what is being overlooked is not that there was a crisis, but that our leaders do not know what they want.

All too often, we read about a proposed bill. Most of us immediately agree with it or disagree with it, although politicians know that to pass legislation, deals often have to be struck. Bills become watered down, sometimes unrecognizable. That’s politics. But when a decision is made, that should be it (unless it’s deemed illegal).

In this case, we were told that the Israel Broadcasting Authority had become too unwieldy and overly expensive primarily due to a bloated staff and archaic work agreements. There was also the unpopular broadcasting tax and threats of televisions and radios being impounded for non-payment.

So an alternative was agreed upon and set up. People were hired and contracts were signed. We were told that the new entity would offer us at least some of the quality programming that public broadcasting entities are known for, and less of the commercial pap we get from Channel 2 and Channel 10. Fine!

Then what happens? Some of our leaders have second thoughts. There’s talk about whether they can properly control the new entity. There’s worry that a political rival will be able to take more credit.

Who remembers the initial natural-gas outline? Decision were made. Contracts were signed. Then our leaders started having second thoughts. For a while, who would have wanted to do business with a country led by people who have no idea what they want? ARI BEN-SENDER Jerusalem