To answer Mr. Hoover's last question: Because there simply is not enough
money. I don't like telling you (and others) that any more than you like
hearing it. But it's a fact, end of story. So, to answer another of Mr.
Hoover's questions: Yes, we may need our libraries to become venues for
branding because that's where the money is. I guess you would rather not
read a book at all in the "AlliantTech Reading Room" than get that reading
room and sacrifice some lofty priniciples about the only things worth being
provided are given us by the benevolent government. Just because a cause or
an issue or "need" is noble doesn't mean that it must be provided us solely
by the government or cannot be, at least, provided in part by a company that
wants to give away money. The idea that the only things worth being
provided are given us by the benevolent government is how we truly become
mindless automatons, not through corporations.
Imagine not reading a book at all, whether it's about "peace" or war or
socialism or Dr. Seuss........... because the local library closed. But at
least your principles are intact.
In my understanding, this proposal is not about the libraries "going
begging" to Target or Walmart or whoever asking for money. This library
proposal is nothing but advertising. We already put advertising on busses
and the Light Rail, and that doesn't seem to bother anyone.
Mike Thompson
Windom
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Hoover" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Jeanne Massey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Minneapolis Issues Forum"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 11:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] RE: Selling Naming Rights to Our Public Librarys etc
Selling naming rights is a part of the strategy known as "branding."
Branding works like this: We go to a ball game at a stadium named after a
corporation. We sing songs and say prayers and parade troops and flags at
the ballgame in order to "brand" our hearts and minds with a powerful
combination of religious, patriotic, and corporatist mythology. This same
process is repeated in large and small ways wherever we go. Do we need
our libraries to become venues for branding? Imagine reading a book on
peace in the AlliantTech Reading Room.
We allow "branding" because we have already been taught to approach the
corporations and the very wealthy on bended knee. The new aristocracy is
as real as the aristocracy of feudal times. The civic religion and
economic superstition nurtured by corporatists are useful tools of
manipulation.
We are forced to "apply for grants" for projects which need to be funded
for the common good -- renewable energy, education for all, health care --
while we are taxed by the government to subsidize the toxic projects of
unaccountable corporations.
Government which represents people may tax people and corporations and
spend tax money for the common good. Government which represents people
makes and administers law for the common good as well (present and
future). When we have to go begging to corporations to pay for books or
libraries or school programs, we have lost democracy. Why must we beg for
what is good for our community, when wealth is extracted from us at every
turn to subsidise corrupt crony pseudo-capitalists?
-- even so, pedaling for peace and ecojustice from Lynnhurst -- Gary
Hoover
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