Books not Glocks

Trump can find the money to put on an expensive $30 million dollar military parade where he wants Americans to stare at weapons of war but he can’t seem to find the money to keep libraries open. How is that different from ISIS that loves weaponry and destroys any evidence of knowledge or culture? Do we really want to join the children of the Middle East who only know war in their lives and do not have schools or books? Sure you can buy a book on Amazon or download a copy on a tablet but that costs a lot of money if you like to read and have a thirst for knowledge. Toys R Us is closing their wonderland of fun and games for children stores forever but they can buy a gun in a gun show. Those places aren’t closing. Am I the only one that thinks something in society is very wrong now?

In Roseburg, Oregon and the Douglas County Library System the town voted to close the libraries instead of having to pay a $3 dollar tax increase. Half of the County used to use the library. America needs to maintain our quality of life organizations. We need libraries, museums and  public playgrounds to make our lives better. Douglas County spreads over 5,000 square miles of Southwest Oregon. It is about the size of Connecticut. Years ago the region was known as the timber capitol of our nation. The logging industry used to pour millions of dollars into the County budget. Conservation efforts led to tougher restrictions. Logging then dropped by 90%. The Federal Government stepped up to pay for County Social Services but three years ago that safety net went away too.

The previous $50 million logging industry income vanished from the tax basin there. Oregon voters pay for some of the lowest taxes in the country. There is no State sales tax and there is a cap on property taxes but the budget is still shrinking. Trump got elected with his Make America Great slogans but no greatness has been happening here. The average household income is only about $40,000 per year. It costs $3 dollars to throw away a can of trash at the landfill and $4 dollars to use the public parks. It cost $6 dollar a month to keep the libraries open. 55% of the residents there voted against the Library tax. It is the typical reaction from all Americans when property taxes rise and services continue to fall.

Trump and all Americans need to re-evaluate what is important and what is frivolous. Knowledge is power and contributes to a civilized society not more weapons of destruction. Now the libraries in Douglas County are closed for good. One of them was called the Rosenberg Library. Closed. We need more libraries and less weapons.