Public Library votes

[Rhea]

Our community is currently going through a vote that needs to pass or the library could shut down. There are folks who want the library to shut down because it is a "liberal indoctrination center" and a "socialist tax" among other things.

The evil humorous side of me wants to advertise my support of the pro-library vote by spreading the rumor that there is Ebola at the voting places. Only the ignorant anti-library voters will believe it and stay home..... Just humor and I have no intention of deliberately spreading fear, even ridiculous unfounded fear that only the most paranoid will take seriously, but the humor corner of my brain can't help but think it.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

Where the hell do you live that this ever made it on the ballot?

 

[Rhea]

Where the hell do you live that this ever made it on the ballot?

East Teahadist Dumbfuckistianity Libertarianville.

They believe libraries are a socialist tax "I've never been to a library and I don't need one - why should I pay for your hobby?" and that the library should be closed (again, they had it closed for two years before) and only opened as a for-profit, member only private institution. Because that's true capitalism. It is not in the constitution that government should be involved in libraries, therefore it takes away our freedom.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

Well if it is true, add some "plausibility" to your story like library drug drops by illegals, the Koran and how a Texan caught ebola from a copy of The Hot Zone. Plausibility makes any lie more potent.

 

[Rhea]

Well if it is true, add some "plausibility" to your story like library drug drops by illegals, the Koran and how a Texan caught ebola from a copy of The Hot Zone. Plausibility makes any lie more potent.

Plus, once you're vomiting, Obama will take your guns.

 

[laughing dog]

Where the hell do you live that this ever made it on the ballot?

East Teahadist Dumbfuckistianity Libertarianville.

They believe libraries are a socialist tax "I've never been to a library and I don't need one - why should I pay for your hobby?" and that the library should be closed (again, they had it closed for two years before) and only opened as a for-profit, member only private institution. Because that's true capitalism. It is not in the constitution that government should be involved in libraries, therefore it takes away our freedom.

Try reminding those dummies that one of the founding fathers - Thomas Jefferson - donated his private collection to the US gov't which immediately started the Library of Congress.

 

[braces_for_impact]

Only gay socialist Furriners use libraries ---->Obama is a gay socialist African furriner----->Ebola comes from Africa as God's judgement------>Obama is trying to kill all God-fearing Tea baggers so he can take their guns and their freedom------->Ebola will be at the polling centers.

The logic is inescapable.

 

[Jarhyn]

Only gay socialist Furriners use libraries ---->Obama is a gay socialist African furriner----->Ebola comes from Africa as God's judgement------>Obama is trying to kill all God-fearing Tea baggers so he can take their guns and their freedom------->Ebola will be at the polling centers.

The logic is inescapable.

But it will only infect God fearing Christians because it is satan's weapon against God fearing white Christians. And also god's punishment for entering the gay liberal Marxist facial nazi atheist Jew gubbmint sin dens to tacitly support satanocracy by 'voting' and pledging support to the beast which you mark yourself to by registering to have your gun grabbed.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The '13 election had a pair of things on the ballot. A renewal of taxes for the Metro Parks, one for the zoo, and one for the department for those with disabilities. The Parks fared the best with over 75% approval. The zoo received 3% less than the parks with 72% approval. The Disabilities group only received 68% approval. And the mil rate was small for all of them. So, in general around 3 to 1 in favor. I want to know who doesn't want to support the parks for a pittance.

What was odd is that the total yes vote for the zoo was about the same as the parks, but a few thousand more people voted no.

Library votes are common around here. They do pass. The schools, however, have a harder time. Apparently educating your children is important, but not enough to pay the schools.

It is dispiriting that anyone would want to close a library. Proves that some people will believe anything their right-wing masters tell them.

 

[Bronzeage]

Where the hell do you live that this ever made it on the ballot?

East Teahadist Dumbfuckistianity Libertarianville.

They believe libraries are a socialist tax "I've never been to a library and I don't need one - why should I pay for your hobby?" and that the library should be closed (again, they had it closed for two years before) and only opened as a for-profit, member only private institution. Because that's true capitalism. It is not in the constitution that government should be involved in libraries, therefore it takes away our freedom.

These kinds of people have to be a vocal minority in your town. It's time to organize and inform the real majority and tell them about the tyranny of this small group.

This reminds me of something from years ago. I have a friend who is about 25 years older than me. He was a member of one of the larger Baptist Churches and sat on the board of trustees. One morning, we met for coffee and he says, "I have to leave my church." This was kind of a shock, but he explained. At the previous night's board meeting, the Youth Minister brought a proposal to build a combination gymnasium-youth facility on vacant land next to the church. They had architectural drawings and a preliminary budget. The board voted to table the discussion until a later meeting. The rest of the night was spent discussing the purchase of a 60 passenger bus, which could be used to take church members to Branson, Missouri. The way he saw it, once a church becomes focused on the leisure of its oldest members and neglects the things that serve its youth, the church is dead.

This is also true for a city. Libraries serve the children of the city. Anyone who cannot see that, has abandoned any hope for the future, in favor of their own selfish wants.

 

[Rhea]

These kinds of people have to be a vocal minority in your town. It's time to organize and inform the real majority and tell them about the tyranny of this small group.

They are a minority and very vocal. Many people didn't believe they existed. Until we had a vote - and they won it, on 5% turnout. Yes we are trying to mobilize. It's a work trying to combat the "but who would vote against the library" reason to not bother vote. They assumed no one would vote no, so they didn't bother to vote yes. But the noes come out unfailingly and will win again in low turnout.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

There really should be some kind of standard where resolutions like this don't pass without some minimal level of turnout. It's easy for single issue campaigns to get voters to turn up at the polls, but that doesn't mean that the results are reflective of the desires of the community.

You should try to add a resolution like that. It would be particularly ironic if a bill to require 20% turnout for resolutions to be valid got passed with only 5% of the people voting. Then the counter-resolution to repeal that resolution would perhaps never get the numbers now required.

 

[Sajara]

If you have kids, libraries are awesome come the winter, especially if there is a play area for the kids. We go to about three different town's libraries to switch it up over the winter, and they are all great.

 

[doubtingt]

If you have kids, libraries are awesome come the winter, especially if there is a play area for the kids. We go to about three different town's libraries to switch it up over the winter, and they are all great.

This highlights an actual issue that reasonable people should consider. The reasonable question is not whether libraries spread liberalism via evil things like "knowledge" and "facts", but whether in our internet age they provide much of the service they were create to provide, and if not, do they provide other services (e.g., indoor playgrounds), and are those the services people are voting to support, and are libraries the best way to provide them?

I'm just raising these questions, not taking a stance on their answers. Like I suspect most people in many communities, I haven't gone to a library in over a decade (and I am an academic), so I do not really know what goes on there these days. I have guesses that in theory the focus has shifted more toward providing internet access to those without it, but how much is this utilized in practice?

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

I think the usefulness of public libraries should be looked at. They definitely don't serve the same function as much as they did years ago before most of us had internet access. There isn't a whole lot I can find at my public library that I can't find online. If they offer play areas or day care that would be great, but then why call them libraries? I do think an argument could be made that not everybody can afford internet access, and public libraries serve a purpose to allow such people access to knowledge, but wouldn't public internet terminals serve the same purpose?

If we want to keep public libraries going, I think a strong onus is on us to justify their tax expense.

 

[Rhea]

Different communities will have different justifications. I spend a lot of time in libraries (3-5 days a week) so I see a lot of the different ways people use it.

Some areas do not have widespread high speed internet. You cannot access the internet on dial-up any more. All the pages are packed with video that takes hours to load.

Not everyone has a device to download content. Our library lends nooks pre-loaded with books that are put on for the patron. E-books are restricted by the publishers to a 14-day reading period with no renewal. Books can still be taken out for 4 weeks and then renewed twice.

Libraries are unique in their research capabilities. Librarians can still find things that many cannot. The ability to be a participant in the demoncracy has no stronger defender, nor tireless searcher. Librarians will get that info you want, and make you a paper copy for a nickel. This one is huge, IMHO, as there is no other place in the community that offers help with research or connections.

Libraries still offer a learning place for children to be on their off hours. Ours does not have a playground, but it has books and chairs. These are filled with children every day.

The adult section has a steady stream of elderly people who come in to read a newspaper or magazine

The computer section is filled with waiting lists every day, and there is a steady stream to the help-desk on how to navigate.

The Young Adult section has teens in it every day, filling every available chair plus the floor.

Tutoring happens there, with resources.

Writing clubs happen there.

The summer school lunch replacement happens at ours, and the kids get a book while there.

many of those above are the kind of thing that lifts up the citizenship of those with least fortune, which, IMHO, benefits the whole society by creating productivity, peace, contentment and safety.


...just some of the justifications that exist.

 

[Bronzeage]

These kinds of people have to be a vocal minority in your town. It's time to organize and inform the real majority and tell them about the tyranny of this small group.

They are a minority and very vocal. Many people didn't believe they existed. Until we had a vote - and they won it, on 5% turnout. Yes we are trying to mobilize. It's a work trying to combat the "but who would vote against the library" reason to not bother vote. They assumed no one would vote no, so they didn't bother to vote yes. But the noes come out unfailingly and will win again in low turnout.

A good "SAVE THE LIBRARY" bumper sticker campaign would sweep these Nazis away.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

If I didn't have the university library, I would use the public one.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Library votes are common around here. They do pass. The schools, however, have a harder time. Apparently educating your children is important, but not enough to pay the schools.

It is dispiriting that anyone would want to close a library. Proves that some people will believe anything their right-wing masters tell them.

Or people don't feel the schools are doing a good job with the money they have. Take an ax to their administration and people might be more willing to vote for school stuff.

Around here there's also the ongoing issue that they love to slip operating expenses into bond issues and that gets an automatic no vote from me. Bonds are for capital expenses only.

 

[laughing dog]

I think the usefulness of public libraries should be looked at. They definitely don't serve the same function as much as they did years ago before most of us had internet access. There isn't a whole lot I can find at my public library that I can't find online. If they offer play areas or day care that would be great, but then why call them libraries? I do think an argument could be made that not everybody can afford internet access, and public libraries serve a purpose to allow such people access to knowledge, but wouldn't public internet terminals serve the same purpose?

If we want to keep public libraries going, I think a strong onus is on us to justify their tax expense.

For many people, reading text online is physically harder. And, of course, for many people, it is less enjoyable. Our local public library has programs on site that encourage reading. Yet, there are people in my region who do not wish to fund the library.