Martyn is absolutely
right, ‘The idea of using banker's bonuses in this way also
provides a spurious legitimacy for the cuts - and the inequalities of current
public service provision and financing.’
Because economic
events have shown that what bankers do has massive social implications, it
seems sensible to suggest that more of their income should find its way into
the public purse; and from there, subject to democratic processes, perhaps into
the public library movement.
From the conversations
I have with service providers and users (mainly social services and charities
these days), there is at last some growing anger about the exacerbation of inequalities,
and increasing credence given to the view that the cuts being imposed may be far
in excess of what is justifiable. We can expect this trend of disquiet to
increase.
It is in the interests
of people on the right to reverse the equalisation of society. They are taking their
opportunity to trash as much of the public realm as they can. So the time is
coming for defenders of libraries to decide how far they will go in adopting a
political stance in defending those things that are essentially public.
As I write, in a
corner of my screen there are scenes of public anger in
So in case folk are
not aware –
Week of resistance is
12-19 Feb
http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/2011/01/week-of-resistance-12th-february-19th-february/
TUC march for the
Alternative –
kevin
____________________________
Kevin Harris
0773 042 9993
Local Level
Neighbourhoods blog
From:
lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of MARTYN EVERETT
Sent: 29 January 2011 13:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: good idea??? More on
Bankers Bonuses
|
While I support any idea that keeps libraries open,
I do not think that they should should be dependent on the money of a
few people, however altruistic they may be. Community resources should
be supported by the whole community otherwise they will cease to be
responsive to the community, and listen only to the voices of the
well-heeled. The idea of using banker's bonuses in this way also
provides a spurious legitimacy for the cuts - and the inequalities of current
public service provision and financing. Would the cuts be necessary at
all if the government closed tax loopholes and tax avoidance schemes through
which the bankers 'earn' their bonuses, if they stopped the war in
Afghanistan and ceased funding the descredited Trident programme. Funding libraries via bonuses means that the
'crisis' is funding remains on the agenda in the future - we need a fairer
society. Martyn
DAILY TELEGRAPH :Dear
bankers, give us your bonuses, pleads councilsss |