Fifteen New Libraries Closed Indefinitely

[Sukie1941]

This should really be on the General-Politics page, because George W. Bush personally vetoed our bid to get our funding back to support our local libraries.

Most of these fifteen libraries are new, having been funded by an overwhelming majority of voters in a previous election. Keep in mind we have no state sales tax here in Oregon.

Unprecented action by a community! First time this has ever happened in the United States! Unfortunately, it won't make the front page of any newspaper other than our own here in Southern Oregon. I am showing a short excerpt from an article from the Mail Tribune (Medford, Oregon) newspaper explaining what has happened.

"By Damian Mann
Mail Tribune (Medford, Oregon)
May 16, 2007

A dejected group of library supporters were stunned Tuesday night by the overwhelming defeat of a levy that would have reopened all 15 branches in Jackson County.

The property tax levy, which would have raised $8.3 million annually, received 31,876 no votes and 21,906 yes votes as of 11 p.m., a 59.3 percent to 40.7 percent split. (for money ballot measures in Oregon, we have to have a double majority--at least 51% of voters must vote and the measure must pass with a majority.)

Jackson County's libraries closed on April 6 after Congress failed to renew the Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act, which pumped $23 million into county coffers annually.

Many residents voted against the levy not because they don't support the libraries, but because they don't support this method (raising property taxes) of funding them.

Library supporters had poured a tremendous amount of energy into the campaign, manning phone banks and placing lawn signs throughout the county.

Organizers say it is too early to determine whether they will attempt another levy in September or November or consider another way of funding libraries."

[IChing]

1. Sorry didn't want to read about this

A lot of the libraries in the west were started by the Carnage foundation
A robber baron that wanted to make amends.

[goclark]

2. There is no end to the Evil this man brings to the World

Now he is messing with the Libraries.
He does not want anyone to gain Knowledge.

Hitler Bush

The Hague for all of them.

[shraby]

3. Some years ago in Michigan,

the libraries were funded with a per centage of fines levied in the courts against law breakers. I don't know if it is true now or not, but it seemed to me that was a good use of the fines.

[man4allcats]

4. This is so sad

especially when you consider that Dubya will ultimately (and paradoxically given his literacy level) have his own "prezidenshul libarry." Hang in there and best wishes.


Impeach the S.O.B.!

[Fresh_Start]

5. Oregon should have a referendum on the libraries

to chose whether they should be named after Bush.

The Bush Library of American Diplomacy (defunct)
The Bush Library of American Science (extinct)
The Bush Library of Civil Liberties (repealed)
The Bush Library of Ethics (fantasy/never existed)

[Faux pas]

6. And the dumbing down of America plan moves forward. n/t

[shenmue]

7. Don't ever mess with librarians.

Trust me. You don't wanna.

:silly:

:wtf:

:argh:

:freak:

:dunce:

:wow:

:grr:

:thumbsdown:

[greiner3]

8. The xtians and the ignorant;

One in the same, are running this country into the ground. When I lived in Richmond there was a LTTE writer who would send in about the same letter regularly; 'Close the libraries as nobody goes there anymore.'