Jackson County, Oregon is one of 700 counties in 39 states that are now struggling with the failure to renew the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. We here are looking to, along with the termination of law enforcement officials and roads workers, but completely shutting down our entire system of 16 libraries.
People have been hesitant to point the fingers up 'til now, but I'll be happy to say what I think-The War on Terror has come home, and the terrorists have managed to shut down our libraries, aided by mismanagement in all levels of our current federal administrations. No airplanes required this time around....
I'm gonna try a different angle with this diary. Are there people in any of these other counties facing simlilar measures, and would they be willing to share what they're gonna be sacrificing?
Here's an Op-Ed piece that more coherently explains the nature of the cuts, and their repercussions:
http://www.oregonlive.com/...
I'd laugh, except the one point he makes is that The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act was created in a time of national budgetary surplus.
As well as the links specific to our to be shut-down library system:
http://www.mailtribune.com/...
http://www.mailtribune.com/...
http://www.mailtribune.com/...
http://www.mailtribune.com/...
http://www.mailtribune.com/...
To be fair, Our republican Senator Gordon Smith and Democrat Peter Defazio did attempt to extend funding in Oregon and others in the most recent Senate budget session, but were thwarted. The only way they could have done it effectively would have been to filibuster the entire national budget, one which was given up on middle of last year by the then republican Majority House and Senate.
One wonders, is this congress going to be do anything about, if they notice at all?
I myself already recieved an e-mail from a gal in Dallas Fort Worth where they have already shut down their entire library system.
I really am curious about these other 700 counties, though, though I doubt their cuts will be nearly as drastic as the ones we are looking at here, owing to Oregon's larger percentage of subsidy monies which they used to recieve.
Thanks for your time.