Choose your own reading adventure about Gov. Nixon’s efforts to defund the public library system:
Okay if you want a nice and polite run down of what’s going on with $6 Million in funds for the public libraries in Missouri — visit this lively link to Chris Arnone’s piece at BookRiot:
http://bookriot.com/2015/03/27/missouri-governor-nixon-putting-libraries-peril/#
Missouri teens got a real fact check in how politicians operate and how much they rate on the Missouri Governor’s value scale on March 18, 2015 when the Governor’s staff lied to them about the governor being out-of-state and threatened to have them escorted out of their offices by State Troopers. You can read all about that shindig at BookRiot.
If you’re pressed for time, Chris Arnone has these suggestions for voicing your support for the libraries without threat of State Trooper escort:
- Sign the two petitions on iPetition and Change.org.
- Call Governor Nixon’s office at 573-751-3222.
- Send letters or postcards to Nixon’s office: Office of Gov. Jay Nixon, P. O. Box 720, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
- Head over to http://www.governor.mo.gov/ and click “Get Involved.”
- Use the hashtag #SaveMOLibraries on social media.
Now for the not so nice and not polite reading adventure.
Damn how I love being able to connect with people everywhere via the internet. I’m lucky enough to have my own damn computer and private access that I can use any time I want 24/7. I’m also aware that there are many people in my local area who are not so damn fortunate. I’m reminded of this fact every time I visit the Kansas City, Missouri Public Library and see a fully packed computer room offering access to the internet for people who are not so damn lucky as myself. There’s always a waiting list and there are always people waiting for their online time. Many of them are looking for employment. Someone is always using the computers designated for creating resumes. Others are doing the exact same thing you are right now without giving it a second thought–enjoying surfing the net and flying around in cyberspace. In addition to these people there are those who bring their laptops to take advantage of the wireless access on site. My award wining public library is one damn electronic hot spot.
Why would anyone who values an informed and literate population want to deny people access to electronic information?
Yikes–conspiracy theories abound! 1984 anyone? Hmm? No need to ban books, just deny internet access.
For now I’ll fly with the people who deny access to others are people who prefer an ignorant, uneducated, uniformed bunch of dumbed down voters who are easily manipulated and controlled.
Am I suggesting that Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is this ilk of politician?
Am I?
Well why else would he deny first $2,789,225 million in 2014 library funding then follow that up with withholding all of the state appropriated library funds of 2015 to the tune of $3,109,250 million?
Those funds provide libraries with everything needed for remote electronic access aka the REAL Program.
Imagine your life without your electronic connection–the very one you are enjoying right now as you read this on your internet connection of choice wherever you are.
What the fuck is Gov. Nixon up to with these millions of dollars? Does he have a fundraiser in mind? Who is he paying off?
Maybe his staff would like to monetarily thank the Missouri State Troopers for their on call assistance for escorting NON-professional, NON-corporate lobbyists out of their offices when they come, with appointments, to discuss their concerns about what’s really going on in Nixon’s brainbox?
Perhaps Gov. Nixon just can’t stand teenagers with fully functioning minds enabled by equally concerned adults snooping around the state capital looking for some answers and questioning some “family” values.
Aside: Last week I had some of those nice people who like to share the good word door to door. I told them they should go to the state capital and share their words with those folks. The older gentleman escorting and mentoring the two very clean-cut young whippersnappers practicing their word sharing said, and I quote: “They aren’t interested in listening to us.”
Hmm, according to Arnone over at Book Riot some elected officials were interested in hearing what was on the library supporting teenagers’ minds. I guess those might have been the ones who realize these young people will be voting in a few years and possibly becoming engaged in political issues as adults.
Clearly Gov. Nixon doesn’t give a rat’s ass about what book reading, literate, computer savy teenagers think or do–unless it involves sex education,. Oopsy daisy–can you get that kind of info on the internet? Hell yeah, you can.
Shit! The clock is ticking and I have an event to attend at the local library branch where, in addition to the wonderful group of people who work there, I’ll meet some of the other people who participated in the adult reading program face to face. I’ll come back to cyberspace later–after library hours, in the wee hours of the morning or late at night or in the middle of the day. Any time I want electronic access I’ve got it. Not everyone does. They ONLY get it from the public library.
What are you up to with all those millions that belong to the public libraries, not just the big ones but the little ones too where someone is searching for everything libraries offer in this electronic age, Gov. Jay Nixon? Hmm? Nothing good, says my cynical mind, nothing good at all.
Please share the word about this monetary crisis threatening the public libraries in Missouri via your electronic devices and favorite social media vices. You don’t have to live in Missouri to share the information. Heads up, your public library funds may be on the funnel tunnel to somewhere else too–if they haven’t already gone done that pipe.
Visit the Kansas City Public Library at http://www.kclibrary.org/ to get a gander of what they’re doing soooo very very right.
Tweet Away!
Thank you for sharing.
I’ll be back.
Yeah, Bear, I will. 🙂
om mani padme hum jewel in the lotus wahupa qi prana universal life energy
47whitebuffalo's Blog 
geo said,
June 26, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Dude, trust me. I won’t tell anyone our secret. Thank you for sharing with as your thoughts about this subject. we appreciate. Geo
bearspawprint said,
April 3, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Wow! What an editorial! Somebody should bequeath you a newspaper .. or put you on a state ballot for office or both.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
47whitebuffalo said,
August 27, 2015 at 3:17 pm
LOL–office? I think not. But a newspaper venue—hmmm, now that’s got possibilities.
bearspawprint said,
August 27, 2015 at 5:19 pm
😀
still a dreamer said,
April 2, 2015 at 10:43 pm
When I read the “median” income bracket in my state – NJ – I crack up, too. No one I know is anyone near that amount. I suspect those are all the people commuting into NYC for the big bucks or to the major pharmaceutical companies in NJ. Still … how many people can be making that kind of $$$? Puzzles me!
BTW, I have “The LibraryCard” in my Mac Bookmarks Bar, so when I find the time I will blog about that – haven’t forgotten! 🙂
still a dreamer said,
March 30, 2015 at 10:07 pm
You’re right – we who have access 24/7 tend to forget that many, many people depend on their pubic libraries for internet access, not to mention books needed for classes, reference, enjoyment and just plain learning stuff. I’m guessing your governor has more “important” things in mind than an informed population. What a shame – we’ll be looking for updates that hopefully turn this around. Good luck!
47whitebuffalo said,
April 1, 2015 at 9:45 pm
Hello Crow Lady. You were on my mind when I wrote this piece.
Gov. Jay Nixon often seems quite the closet conservative Republican at times like these. Nothing good will come of this defunding–including job loss for the library staff.
Feel free to share widely simply to spread the desire to spread illiteracy in the electronic age for those who are not in that MIDDLE income bracket that starts at the $250,000 mark. LOL…NO one in my neighborhood gets close to that yearly income. I guess that makes us ALL lower class wanker?