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Some quotes from:Reading Rockets: 12 Ways Libraries Are Good for the Country ·Libraries inform citizens.
“Libraries make democracy work by providing access to information so that citizens can make the decisions necessary to govern themselves. … [A library’s] existence indicates the extent to which a democratic society values knowledge, truth, justice, books, and culture.” ·Libraries level the playing field.
“By making all its resources equally available to all members of its community, regardless of income, class, or other factors, the library levels the playing field. Once users have access to the library's materials, they have the opportunity to level the playing field outside the library by learning to read, gaining employment, or starting a business.” . Libraries build communities.
“Each community has its libraries and its special collections. Libraries validate and unify; they save lives, literally and by preserving the record of those lives. Community-building means libraries link people with information.”
·Libraries preserve the past.
“Libraries preserve the record; a nation, a culture.”
I don't think the question is whether libraries are good. The question is whether the public, many of whom are losing their homes, should have wealth confiscated so that others may enjoy a free benefit that is clearly a luxury. The answer, of course, is no.
Libraries aren't just freebies for the elite who can afford to pay. They have (as well as books) music, movies, research help, and special programs. They have children's sections that help civilize the young. They have large print books for the old, braille books for the blind. They are safe, positive places for kids to spend their free time. They are one of the basic community centers in every town that makes life there more attractive, and hence they help keep up property values.
Libraries already seek private support. I'm perfectly willing to admit that libraries can make some cuts and beg the public to step in even more. But the idea of their becoming gated culture centers of the wealthy while poorer kids and families are shut out because they can't shell out annual dues is sickening. Kids don't pay dues - they would be excluded because their parents don't see the point or don't have $50 of "luxury money" lying around.
We lose a lot more than books if we start restricting public access to libraries.
I'm willing to let the libraries take a huge hit due to the Christie bully budget program.
This is exactly what we need to get people angry at the fat bully. If and when these cuts go through and the libraries reduce hours and services and, better yet, charge for borrowing privileges, that will anger enough of the people who had been supporting Christie until this.
It's an awesome example of how the man who will "make painful but necessary cuts" is really just attacking the average middle and lower class person while making no cuts that affect the wealthy. It's perfect; over what is a small expense compared to the bigger budget problems he's going to sink himself. It's like telling a room full of people that everyone has to give something up, and going right after a little kid's cheap 3-dollar toy as opposed to a wealthy adult's 20-dollar bill.
I don't think the question is whether libraries are good. The question is whether the public, many of whom are losing their homes, should have wealth confiscated so that others may enjoy a free benefit that is clearly a luxury. The answer, of course, is no.
Nobody is having wealth confiscated; that's about the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Stop whining.
I'm willing to let the libraries take a huge hit due to the Christie bully budget program.
This is exactly what we need to get people angry at the fat bully. If and when these cuts go through and the libraries reduce hours and services and, better yet, charge for borrowing privileges, that will anger enough of the people who had been supporting Christie until this.
It's an awesome example of how the man who will "make painful but necessary cuts" is really just attacking the average middle and lower class person while making no cuts that affect the wealthy. It's perfect; over what is a small expense compared to the bigger budget problems he's going to sink himself. It's like telling a room full of people that everyone has to give something up, and going right after a little kid's cheap 3-dollar toy as opposed to a wealthy adult's 20-dollar bill.
This is really helpful to the working man.
Make sure that the environment for someone who wants to make a job for the working man as hostile as possible. Makes a lot of sense.
Stop with the soak the rich rhetoric, they are responding to by taking their dollars and leaving the state. Guess who is going to have to take up the slack?
The ones who overextended themselves and bought home they couldn't afford in the first place due to creative financing? Too bad. Spend within your means and this would not have happened.
I'm willing to let the libraries take a huge hit due to the Christie bully budget program.
This is exactly what we need to get people angry at the fat bully. If and when these cuts go through and the libraries reduce hours and services and, better yet, charge for borrowing privileges, that will anger enough of the people who had been supporting Christie until this.
It's an awesome example of how the man who will "make painful but necessary cuts" is really just attacking the average middle and lower class person while making no cuts that affect the wealthy. It's perfect; over what is a small expense compared to the bigger budget problems he's going to sink himself. It's like telling a room full of people that everyone has to give something up, and going right after a little kid's cheap 3-dollar toy as opposed to a wealthy adult's 20-dollar bill.
Christie has been in office for 5 months and you are expecting to see a tax cut? We are $11 billion in the hole you should be happy your taxes haven't gone up.
I agree we have to make NJ more business friendly, we now rank dead last due to our tax structure.
"New Jersey often plays second fiddle to neighboring New York, but a new survey of the 50 U.S. states shows the Garden State bested New York in having the least favorable tax climate for business."
And which taxes are those? God knows the Dems didn't raise them the last 4 years! LOL
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