Jim Hightower: No libraries closed in Great Depresion-unlike now

[Democrats_win]

Whacking Libraries

http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/21161/

--snip

In the depths of the Great Depression, not a single public library in America closed its doors. Banks went under, farmers went bankrupt, millions of people were out of work and out of luck—but the American public clung to its libraries, not only because of their inherent value to our society, but also because they are symbols of community strength and hope.


How lame, then, to see public officials today—from George W. Bush to city council members—reaching for the budget axe to whack library funding, forcing branches to close, valuable services to be eliminated, and hours to be cut. In a time of unprecedented wealth in America, in a time when governments dump billions of taxpayer dollars into corporate subsidies and boondoggles, our so-called leaders are failing the people by going after these true public treasures.

Check out Salinas, Calif.—a hard hit working-class city which is now the largest population in America without a public library. Ironically, this is the hometown of John Steinbeck, the prize-winning author of The Grapes of Wrath and other powerful works that chronicled the human spirit during the Depression years. Steinbeck knew that literature has the power to elevate the spirit and help people rise above difficult times, and it is said that he got some of his early exposure to the power of literature at the Salinas library.

More at the link above.

[mhr]

1. A Simple Litmus Test

Do we want a society that supports an economy, or do we want an economy that supports a society?

[Patchuli]

2. A tear in my eye

I am in Libray Information program now...

Just because the Chimp's illiterate, he doesn't think it matters????!!

[mediaman007]

3. Obviously, it would take an indifferent learner to close libraries

and not sense the damage. Its another way to keep the masses in line. Force them to get information through MSM.

(by the way its: library...probably some quick fingers on your part :-) )

[Patchuli]

5. I didn't spell check

and I didn't catch it...with a tear in my eye.

[david_vincent]

4. A friend of mine is a children's librarian

and he is really scared/anxious that the county is about to go after the librarians' pensions. They already won't let him wear a peace symbol button because it would offend some county commissioner, but they told him wearing a US flag button would be fine because that's "not political speech"!