Classic Neo-Con theory about libraries

[Screaming Lord Byron]

They've just put in a new library down the road from my house. It's a very nice new library, lots of natural light, high-tech (you can check your own books out, free high speed internet) and a nice big gas fireplace as a focal point. There's a little display at the door with a model of the library and some info about the architects. In all, Calgary Public Library are clearly very proud of their library, and so they should be. It's very nice.
So, I look at the visitor book which is on a table beside the little model library. I wondered what nice things people had to say about their new library. These were the three very first entries.

"Get rid of the fireplace. Waste of gas, money etc. That's taxpayers money"
"There's too much winter sun, lose some windows"
"Do we really need another library?"

Now, these were followed by hundreds of positive entries, but it really makes you wonder about the mindset of our conservative friends, doesn't it?

[Kamika]

1. I agree about the fireplace

You shouldn't "waste" taxmoney



/hides

[WoodrowFan]

6. that depends

If the fireplace makes the library more attractive that in turn may encourage greater use by the public. If the library serves more people then it is arguably performing its funtion better. A more effective library mean taxpayer dollars are being spent in a more effective fashion.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. It's not a particularly big or ostentatious fireplace

It didn't look particularly expensive to me.
The point I was getting at was that here's this nice new library, and the first comments in the visitor book are totally negative.

[WoodrowFan]

10. I know

I understand, I've seen that kind of complaint before. It seems as if anything that is nice or attractive is considered a "waste". The complaintant might have a point if it were some huge blast furnace of a fireplace that required the AC be run even in winter but it sound slike grumpy whining to me.

[liberalitch]

12. What strikes me as Neo-con about...

the negative comments is the fact that any time there is something that benefits the MASSES and not just the elite.... they see it as a waste of tax payer money

[liberalitch]

11. are the taxpayers....

enjoying this fireplace?
Are people around it reading when they wouldn't ordinarily?
If the answers to both of these questions is yes.... why is it a waste?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. The second strikes me as just non-politically whiney. (nt)

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Fair enough. It is really whiny, though

I mean, what does he want? A bunker?

[Sir_Shrek]

4. How do you know their conservatives?

It postively sounds like something my died-in-the-wool Democrat grandfather would complain about.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. Well, I live in a massively conservative area, so the odds are good

The 'that's taxpayers money' comment suggests a con to me.

[Sir_Shrek]

9. Ehhh......

I hear the "taxpayers money" line around here too.

Nothing against you, it just bugs me when people try to discern the politics of someone with nothing else than what's written on a comment card. It might not be politically motivated at all.

[wtmusic]

7. You could use the fireplace to burn all the books

</sarcasm> :silly: