NPR is not independent of the American ruling class

   Good points here. NPR could- without blushing- ask for donations as long as it tried to be not just independent of capitalist advertising but also intellectually and morally independent of the American ruling class. A number of socialist web sites are independent of the ruling class but not independent of foolish sectarianism. I find writers like George Orwell still to be an excellent anti-dote to HUMBUG on the right and on the left. But Orwell was always writing as a convinced but not fanatical socialist.
In general TRUTH is an orphan in the 21st century. And BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU !