RE: [TCMetro] FW: Protest Library Closures

[John M O'Neal]

Forwarded with Stephenie's permission ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Stephanie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>   I agree with your observation of this restriction of public access to libraries as being the beginning of something unknown cuts somewhere else.  It is very Animal Farm and what better way to have a submissive society than to restrict access to knowledge and opportunity to learn and become productive.  The Catholics kept the serfs illiterate as long as they could and made up their own rules not unlike the Bush Administration's totalitarian actions across the board especially his disregard for democracy at its core.    (Why fix something that ain't broke like his overhaul of Head Start, why do judges have to report to Ashcroft now if they deviate from federally mandated sentence guidelines, why perpetual dependence on oil when we have non-polluting alternatives-wind will never die...no windfall profits for big oil, why log in pristine forests when we know these are finite resources, what payback for big cash contributions to the machine do these actions not represent.  We little people are pawns an a "one world" chess game made up by Bush Sr.'s cronies who continue their agenda through Jr.  Why do they not want  affordable prescriptions for seniors?  Motive is what??   As protesting shows displeasure of an action, I have to ask myself and everyone affected by these decisions, how do we become part of the solution?  These are "our" libraries and the government has stewardship on our behalf so let's work on an alternative to this dilemma.  For instance, forming a coalition of groups to volunteer much like a food co-op (in concept), get the PTA, and other civic organizations to agree to get involved as we protest.  Be the answer, it takes a village they say...   And I would start complaining to the City Council first and then brainstorm for an alternative to Rybeks tunnel vision thinking.  Perhaps the libraries could come up with a revenue source for some self-sufficiency, despite cutbacks on the federal level.  Community Ed classes?  Room rental for meetings?  Girl Scout sleep over lock-ups, etc......day care or latchkey care?   What do you all think upon looking at the big picture?  The world used to respect us and today...thanks to Bush and his illegal election and subsequent actions we are no longer looked up to but rather viewed as isolationist,greedy, not to be trusted society. We are breaking long standing treaties, NAFTA is a failure for the working class but not corporations who pay no income tax thanks to the federal gov't's decisions. (a big slice of our deficit is our own people cheating our neighbors for self gain)   Gore's speech eloquently put into words what is happening to our society in his speech the other day.  Problems at the federal level are trickling down to all the states and states are loosing the very rights of self governing states, rights of individuals, right to choose, freedom of speech (anti-american terrorist if you speak out), privacy rights, you name it...and we should be getting mad "as hell" and not gonna take it anymore.   Off the soapbox now, thanks for the venting opportunity.   Stephanie Beigbeder West Bank