‘Public’ won’t have access to books
I’m wondering if there is allowance in the budget to qualify the word “public” on the new signs in front of our libraries. Apparently the concept of public is about to be modified to public-for-a-fee — county residents are going to be required to pay $50 in order to check out books.
Financially-strapped families have always been able to enjoy intellectual stimulation through the library. With books no longer available to them, are those families going to resort to television? Now there’s a great educational venue!
Disheartening is the lack of foresight in depriving our youngsters of the opportunity to learn as well as thwarting their joy of learning. How many of Hamilton County’s children will no longer be able to benefit from the concept of equal opportunity?
Sad, sad, sad.
SUSAN BRANDENBURG
Editor’s Note: The County Commission decided to quit funding the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library.
Citizens not living American Dream
Mr. Mitt Romney should be very careful describing America as a “pure democracy,” which sources define as “a democracy in which the power to govern lies directly in the hands of the people rather than being exercised through their representatives;” i.e.. local self-rule.
The Constitution was written by aristocrats who opposed liberty and equality and denied a voice to agrarian-artisan classes. Federalism by design maintains the aristocratic status quo — do nothing.
Their fear bordered on panic that lower classes would control state legislatures and legislate economic equality.
One old history book states: “It can hardly be denied that the delegates … had little faith in democracy; indeed one might almost say that it was their fear of democracy that had brought them together.”
Judging by the number of very wealthy men in power, America is closer to a European-style oligarchy than a democracy.
Both parties consist of wealthy elite who are both insensitive and willingly ignorant of the people’s needs. If they cared, America would rapidly become a middle-class democracy based on liberty and equality rather than a bankrupt, war-mongering, centralized monster.
That is the American Dream!
RICHARD D. VICKREY