A public library is a public trust. And the “trust” in that old-fashioned phrase is, has to be, mutual, reciprocal. The public trusts the library not to censor, change, or withhold valuable books or information, as the library trusts the public won’t force them to censor, change, withhold, or destroy books or information. And if the library, at the request of the public, does withhold some material from some people (as in finding ways to keep exploitive pornography from children using the library) this is done (if it’s rightly done) openly, with knowledge and consent on both sides.
But a great corporation, even one sworn to do no evil, makes no such bargain with the public. There is no reciprocity. Trust is not mutual. It’s understood that the public interest, if considered at all, comes second to the interests of the corporation — profit, growth, and power. So the corporation can and will keep its secrets, even though what it is dealing in is information, even when its business is making knowledge accessible, open, free — the very opposite of keeping secrets. From Ursula K. LeGuin's blog
I'm asking you, give me one good reason that this dreadful tax bill should be passed. It obviously favors the corporations, big business and billionaires which from the reading above all have no real interest in helping out the little middle class people at all. There is no trust here. In the last ten years there has been a 300 to 1000% increase in the CEO's pay---- none of which has been passed down or benefited their workers. How could we possibly be fooled into trusting that this tax cut is beneficial to the middle and lower classes of these corporations. Trickle down revisited. A hood wink a first time around and a con the second time. How sad is that?
As for consumer protection, the White House just put in place a man who's sole purpose is to destroy the agency.
One only has to look to two states, California and Kansas to see whether slashing taxes on business is helpful. California has thrived with a growing economy, and they raised taxes on corporations. Kansas has had nothing but economic trouble since it's Republican politicians slashed taxes on corporations. Minnesota is another successful state that raised taxes and has flourished.
I also, while I'm at it, I implore anyone to give me one good reason to respect #45 and his bizarre method of governing. It strikes me that even a four year old could grasp that he is the ultimate Robin Hoodlum, stealing from the poor and giving to the rich. Any takers to prove me wrong?
Where is the caring for our citizens? Remember this is a person who has defended the White Supremacist as "really fine people." Since when. See below. And is doing all he can to export the Dreamers.
It's time to stop complaining and start acting. Encourage the people who either didn't vote or who voted for a third party or who, shudder, voted in this current administration to stand up for goodness, truth, trust, kindness and the American way. That is the American way.
Susansmagicfeather copyright 2017 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved.
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