Bush Budget Would Eliminate RIF (Reading is Fundamental)

[XanaDUer]

http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/860000286/post/1300024530.html

And who doesn't love RIF? Since 1966, it's been a dynamic program providing books to underprivileged children and encouraging them to read; now its very existence is threatened.

According to Kevin Howell of Publishers Weekly, RIF's CEO and president Carol Rasco tells us that if Bush’s budget is approved, 4.6 million children will not receive 16 million free books in 2009. RIF has been funded by Congress and six Administrations without interruption since 1975. It is the oldest and largest children’s and family nonprofit literacy organization in the U.S...


To help save Reading is Fundamental:

http://capwiz.com/rif/issues/alert/?alertid=11150206&type=CO&azip=20010

:grr:

EDIT: To add pissed-off smiley.

[AlCzervik]

1. Because children living in poverty have had it too good for too long.

and Bush's war on education continues.

[XanaDUer]

2. This has pissed me off to no small extent

Of course, the upside is they can always enter the military for jobs now.

[AlCzervik]

4. they just cut the funding on the book mobile program in one of the counties here

because of budget cuts. Just unreal, and uneducated public is Bush's best friend.

[Tim4319]

25. Is that a direct quote from Barb?

Remember her quote about the victims of Katrina in the Superdome?

[villager]

3. if you read too much you might start having, you know, "thoughts"

n/t

[XanaDUer]

5. Exactly.

Bastards.

:mad:

[OffWithTheirHeads]

21. You mean thoughterisims, he, he, he,

nt because Bush is the dumbest fuck in the known universe.

[XanaDUer]

6. Kick for the evening crew.

nt.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Leave No Book Behind

[AlCzervik]

8. you mean--Leave all books behind.

[AspenRose]

9. Aw sh*t.

:nuke:

[XanaDUer]

10. While here on DU, I know our sometimes-dysfuntional family

has fueds and arguments, etc., I know I can count on all of us to call bullshit on stuff like this.

When I was a small kid, one of my favorite gifts was getting a new book! How dare Bush and his minions take that small joy away from a child, any child.

[InkAddict]

42. Mine was giving a new book...

We had a birthday program when I was in elementary school in which the birthday child would purchase a book for the library. When the book came in, a presentation plaque was placed on the inside cover. I think one of the books I gave was Misty of Chincoteaque by Marguerite Henry. Wesley Dennis, the illustrator, visited at the school and left behind a colored sketch of a horse that hung near the inside front door.

[babylonsister]

11. Dumb 'em down further, the younger the better.

:grr:

[DangerDave921]

12. Who needs books?

Books are, like, so 1970's. We now live in a world of computers, ipods, Hi-Def TV, gameboys, X boxes, and downloads. Who needs books?

:)

[Iris]

29. I hope you're kidding.

[DangerDave921]

33. Of Course!

I love books, and read to my kids every day.

Sadly, I wonder how common reading is in a lot of households. I know one mom who puts her daughter to bed with the TV on in her room. No reading at all.

[Iris]

36. poor little girl.

That's akin to child abuse in my world!

[Donnachaidh]

13. kicked to the fifth!

FIGHT this nonsense!

[Mind_your_head]

14. And what do we hear from 'Laura the Librarian' (bush)

or her supposed 'teacher' daughter about this?

:crickets:

One would THINK they would have something to say about this? Maybe someone should ask them!

[Iris]

30. But they teach/taught in schools on the "right" part of town, so this is none of their concern.

[MR. ELECTABLE]

15. Dumbass George proved RIF is unnecessary

You too can become leader of the free world without being able to read, or even speak proficiently!
All you need is inside connections, a propensity to do great evil, and maybe a few hundred thousand from defrauding taxpayers.

No reading required!

George Bush-- our first mentally retarded president.

[Jack Bone]

16. K&R..This needs alot of "sunlight"!!

:grr: :kick:

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. I love RIF but our district stopped it several years ago

It got too expensive.

[XanaDUer]

18. Kick

nt.

[Elspeth]

19. DONE

Thanks for posting this

[XanaDUer]

32. You're welcome!

Kick!

[MiniMe]

20. A really great organization

They used to be funded under the Smithsonian, they were put on their own in the last 10 years. I know a lot of the people there. NCLB my ass.

[MiniMe]

34. I got this from RIF about a month ago

RIF eAlert - March 9, 2008

URGENT
Have your members of Congress signed in support of RIF’s FUNDING?
FROM CAROL H. RASCO, President and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental
Please ACT NOW and help RIF build support for our funding. Send an e-mail to your members of Congress asking them to sign the RIF Dear Colleague letter. We are fast approaching the March 12 deadline for your members of Congress to sign RIF’s letter.
We are asking Congress to appropriate $26 million to fund RIF’s book distribution program for some 4.6 million underserved children and families in fiscal year 2009. The funding is critical to support our reading motivational programs at nearly 20,000 locations nationwide.
Many people have responded to our alerts. Because of your action, many U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators have signed the letter as of March 7, 2008. But many members have not yet signed. We are being told by several members that they will not sign unless they hear from at least one constituent.
Just one more e-mail to your legislators can make the difference. Please e-mail your members of Congress today and ask them to sign the letter. If you have already written your delegation, please write again showing your strong support for RIF. Find out if your Representative or Senators signed on for FY09.
Please share this message with six or more friends who will also contact their members of Congress. Thank you for your support.




I have a feeling that the person I know there put me on the list, but thats fine. I will share any other alerts I get from them.

[fascisthunter]

22. The Right Wing Wants Everyone to Be Dumb Red Necks

who will eat all their shit without questioning. It's their agenda: dumbing down America.

[Canuckistanian]

23. That all changed after "The Pet Goat" incident

Too many painful memories.

[jmowreader]

24. This is a $26 million program

Twenty-six million dollars. To me that's real money, but to the federal budget it's practically nothing. That's equivalent to three of the UH-72A Lakota helicopters the Army's getting.

[Mind_your_head]

28. aw, but them thar Lakota helicopters are soooooooooooo

much "sexier",;-) not to mention more profitable than BOOKS, right?

I don't need to add, but I will: :sarcasm:

[samsingh]

26. he can't read so he doesn't want anyone else to either

[Rex_Goodheart]

35. Well, he made it all the way to the White House, anyway,

so I guess he doesn't see any value there.

[samsingh]

27. he can't read so he doesn't want anyone else to either

[aikoaiko]

31. No Books? Let 'em read Kindles.

:sarcasm:

What an idiot to stop the work of RIF.

[XanaDUer]

37. Response-to-complaint letter from Saxby Chambliss(R) to me

Dear XXXXX:

Thank you for contacting my office about funding for the Inexpensive Book Distribution Program (IBDP). It is good to hear from you.


Every child in Georgia 's public school system should learn to read to their maximum potential by the third grade. This is one of my top priorities because reading is the foundation to our children's academic success and the gateway to knowledge.


IBDP is administered through " Reading is Fundamenta l (RIF) ." It was established by Congress to prepare young children and to motivate older children to read. The program is targeted at the portion of the population that can least afford books, including low-in come children in high poverty areas, children with disabilities, foster children, homeless children, and migrant children. On December 18, 2007, the Senate passed H.R. 2764, the " Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2008 ," which included $ 25 m illion in appropriations for RIF . The President's proposed FY0 9 budget request does not include funding for the program.


I understand your concerns regardi ng the President's proposed FY09 budget request. However, it is important to remember that it is just the starting point in the budget deliberations. As the Senate works through the FY0 9 appropriations process, I will work to ensure that all education programs receive appropriate funding.


Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns with me on this important matter. If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.

My point:

NOT SURE HOW EVERY CHILD WILL BE READING TO HIS OR HER FULL POTENTIAL BY GRADE 3

My reading level and comprehension, at age 42 with one master's degree, is far better than it was when I was 8 years old.

EDIT: Clarity

[XanaDUer]

39. My response to Saxy Chambliss' stupid letter...

Dear Honorable Saxby Chambliss:

Thank you for responding to my letter with such alacrity. However, please clarify one section for me:

Every child in Georgia's public school system should learn to read to their maximum potential by the third grade. This is one of my top priorities because reading is the foundation to our children's academic success and the gateway to knowledge.

I am not sure I understand what is meant by this sentence. How can anyone learn to read to his or her maximum potential by circa age 8?

Are you saying that you believe that the American and Georgia government's obligation to educate its children stops once they reach a third-grade reading level? And, what would you consider, "appropriate funding"? Appropriate is a rather ambiguous word. I am very interested in what your actual position is on the important matter of education funding in general.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[XanaDUer]

40. Auto Response from Saxby Chambliss(R)

Thank you for contacting me. Representing the State of Georgia in the United States Senate is an honor and a privilege.

I appreciate hearing from you and knowing your concerns. This automated response serves as a receipt of your e-mail message. However, if you'd like a response to your question or query please use the 'Email' option located under the 'Contact Us' menu at http://chambliss.senate.gov

Due to the large volume of spam and other commercial mail sent to this address and limitations on office resources I am unable to directly respond to messages sent to this address.

*** If you are having a problem with a specific government agency, the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 requires that I have your written authorization, signed by you, in order to contact the agency about the problem. Since electronic communications do not meet the requirements of the Federal Privacy Act, please call 1-800-234-4208 or visit my website and select "How Can I Help You?" from the menu at the left, then select "Case Work" for information on beginning the process.***

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. I look forward to staying in touch.

Very truly yours,

Saxby Chambliss

:eyes:

[leftyclimber]

43. Oh, good God.

I just read Foucault's Power-Knowledge for a doctoral seminar. Is that asshat saying I should have been able to read it in third grade? Or is he saying that I shouldn't be able to read it at all, because I should have maxed out on my reading ability in 1978?

I'm guessing the latter.

Sorry you have such a cruddy senator. :hug:

[XanaDUer]

44. Thanks.

I think I will bring this to my next meeting of the democratic women in my area.

:)

[alfredo]

38. Leo Strauss didn't believe the mass should have access to higher thought.

Only the ruling elite had the intelligence and morality to handle such things.

[XanaDUer]

41. Kick

nt.