While you gathered with friends and family to ring in the New Year, President Obama signed into law HR 1540, more commonly known as the National Defense Authorization Act. The meeting in which Obama graced 1540 with his signature was held in secret, and few media sources have publicized the event. Not unlike the Patriot Act that preceded it, the NDAA uses deceptive, but appealing language to obscure its intended purpose. Despite signing the bill into law, the president confesses to having reservations over a clause that calls for the unchecked detention and interrogation of suspected terrorists. Procedure for determination of guilt does not seem to be properly outlined in the legislation, which has led a number of groups to suggest that officials might abuse their newfound power.
To what extent will Americans feel comfortable speaking out against injustice when the punishment for exercising their liberty might be indefinite detention? Does HR 1540 violate the Bill of Rights? Should security be prized higher than the freedom that makes it possible to, through deliberation, arrive at the best possible resolutions?
The 4th amendment of the Bill of Rights states that:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
In addition, the 6th amendment of the Bill of Rights states that:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
If our military is given the power to detain American citizens without probable cause, it strips them of rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, the very thing that made it possible to enact the U.S. constitution in the first place.
While the future is uncertain, your voice can make all the difference. If you have reservations, put them in writing. Urge the Supreme Court to evaluate the actual legality of the NDAA. Talk about it. Many people who were unsettled by the power the Stop Online Piracy Act would give to copyright holders spoke out against it. As a result, some organizations who at first expressed support for the measure have changed their stance. NDAA can be overturned if enough people openly express their disapproval of it.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Friday, November 18, 2011
Public libraries in Danger?
Public libraries across the country get the majority of their revenue from local taxpayers. So what happens when the city has to do more with less due to a decrease in property acquisition, for instance? Where do public libraries fall on the list of municipal priorities?
The truth is that other services are valued more highly. Many public libraries are struggling to stay open. Some have drastically reduced their hours while others have cut back on staff. A few libraries have even privatized their operations. Sometimes I think these institutions would be better off just closing their doors. How do we insure that our collection of physical and virtual information resources isn't biased if a profit-based organization is responsible for managing it?
The fact of the matter is that times are grim. It's easy to think of libraries as a luxury, an extra expense, a burden on the taxpayer. Thirty years ago, real research was difficult to conduct without the valuable and expensive print volumes owned by the library. But we have the internet now, right?
Yes, we have the internet. Instead of having too few information resources at our disposal, we now have too many. FAR too many. We are constantly being bombarded with information. Do most of us really know how to wade through it? Information literacy is addressed in school, but what about home-schoolers? What about those unfortunate drop-outs that don't know where to turn? And what happens when school is out, you need electronic resources, and you don't have access to the internet at home? Public libraries offer redemption to those in our society who have fallen between the cracks. They offer hope for the hopeless. They are a guiding light, more than ever in trying economic times. Public libraries matter--and they provide much more than books.
There are programs and resources for home-schooling parents. There are book clubs to encourage reading and a sense of community. There is free access to the internet. There are databases aimed at offering instruction in foreign language, managing your finances, writing a living will, and replacing a carburetor. Public libraries are invaluable.
Ever run out of ink and desperately need to print off a copy of your resume? What do you do? If you're like me, you go to the library, pay 10 cents a page, and walk out with the finished product in hand. You probably take this service for granted.
The public library is a bigger part of your life than you might initially realize, and once you know the full extent of what the library offers, you'll find yourself turning to it even more. The greatest part of the public library though? The staff.
We're always trying to think of ways to serve you better. We design bulletin boards, display noteworthy books, invite programmers to speak, hold craft workshops, teach you to be an independent, intelligent consumer of information. We partner with schools and other organizations to increase literacy. We use open-source alternatives to help you engage with technological platforms you might not have considered. We're on the cutting edge. We love your feedback, and we love giving you platforms to engage in discussion with your peers. In the public library, you're not rich or poor or middle-class. It doesn't matter what you do for a living, what God you pray to, whether you pray to one at all. Maybe you're liberal. Maybe you're conservative. Maybe you hate labels. You're welcome here.
The public library is about becoming informed, expanding your horizons, meeting others who share your passion. It's about connecting, learning, growing. It is perhaps the greatest hope for our future. Invest in it. This doesn't just mean donating to a Friends of the Library group. It means telling your representatives how you feel about your library. It means contacting the library director and offering feedback. It means telling us what you'd like to see the library do for you. The library is only as good as its users.
So what's my role in all of this? I serve teens. I love what I do. Why, you might ask? I was a teenager once. I hated it. And I loved it. It was a mixed blessing, I guess. We all have to go through this very difficult time. One day I was overcome with a desire to help others through this transition. Ok, ok, so I also love most of what teens are into. Anime? I'm a new convert, I admit, but now I've got a "Bring it on" attitude. Fantasy? Sci fi? I think I'm in love. Technology? Yes, please. I get to have fun conversations, write about the things that interest me, dork out. And I get to help people. I get to turn people on to great books, too. Having once been a reluctant reader, this gladdens my heart. Teens are impressionable. They're not kids anymore, but not quite adults. They still have that healthy dose of imagination. They're thinking about the future. They're on the edge of things. And that's where I've always been.
The truth is that other services are valued more highly. Many public libraries are struggling to stay open. Some have drastically reduced their hours while others have cut back on staff. A few libraries have even privatized their operations. Sometimes I think these institutions would be better off just closing their doors. How do we insure that our collection of physical and virtual information resources isn't biased if a profit-based organization is responsible for managing it?
The fact of the matter is that times are grim. It's easy to think of libraries as a luxury, an extra expense, a burden on the taxpayer. Thirty years ago, real research was difficult to conduct without the valuable and expensive print volumes owned by the library. But we have the internet now, right?
Yes, we have the internet. Instead of having too few information resources at our disposal, we now have too many. FAR too many. We are constantly being bombarded with information. Do most of us really know how to wade through it? Information literacy is addressed in school, but what about home-schoolers? What about those unfortunate drop-outs that don't know where to turn? And what happens when school is out, you need electronic resources, and you don't have access to the internet at home? Public libraries offer redemption to those in our society who have fallen between the cracks. They offer hope for the hopeless. They are a guiding light, more than ever in trying economic times. Public libraries matter--and they provide much more than books.
There are programs and resources for home-schooling parents. There are book clubs to encourage reading and a sense of community. There is free access to the internet. There are databases aimed at offering instruction in foreign language, managing your finances, writing a living will, and replacing a carburetor. Public libraries are invaluable.
Ever run out of ink and desperately need to print off a copy of your resume? What do you do? If you're like me, you go to the library, pay 10 cents a page, and walk out with the finished product in hand. You probably take this service for granted.
The public library is a bigger part of your life than you might initially realize, and once you know the full extent of what the library offers, you'll find yourself turning to it even more. The greatest part of the public library though? The staff.
We're always trying to think of ways to serve you better. We design bulletin boards, display noteworthy books, invite programmers to speak, hold craft workshops, teach you to be an independent, intelligent consumer of information. We partner with schools and other organizations to increase literacy. We use open-source alternatives to help you engage with technological platforms you might not have considered. We're on the cutting edge. We love your feedback, and we love giving you platforms to engage in discussion with your peers. In the public library, you're not rich or poor or middle-class. It doesn't matter what you do for a living, what God you pray to, whether you pray to one at all. Maybe you're liberal. Maybe you're conservative. Maybe you hate labels. You're welcome here.
The public library is about becoming informed, expanding your horizons, meeting others who share your passion. It's about connecting, learning, growing. It is perhaps the greatest hope for our future. Invest in it. This doesn't just mean donating to a Friends of the Library group. It means telling your representatives how you feel about your library. It means contacting the library director and offering feedback. It means telling us what you'd like to see the library do for you. The library is only as good as its users.
So what's my role in all of this? I serve teens. I love what I do. Why, you might ask? I was a teenager once. I hated it. And I loved it. It was a mixed blessing, I guess. We all have to go through this very difficult time. One day I was overcome with a desire to help others through this transition. Ok, ok, so I also love most of what teens are into. Anime? I'm a new convert, I admit, but now I've got a "Bring it on" attitude. Fantasy? Sci fi? I think I'm in love. Technology? Yes, please. I get to have fun conversations, write about the things that interest me, dork out. And I get to help people. I get to turn people on to great books, too. Having once been a reluctant reader, this gladdens my heart. Teens are impressionable. They're not kids anymore, but not quite adults. They still have that healthy dose of imagination. They're thinking about the future. They're on the edge of things. And that's where I've always been.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Dichotomous Human Experience
Dictionary.Com defines a dichotomy as, "a division into two parts," and suggests that the term is often used to refer to, "a division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups" (Dictionary.Com)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Privatization of Public Services
While some have argued that privatization is an economically responsible alternative to public funding of services, such assertions often fail to address all aspects of private service provision. An informative article by Jennifer Light suggests that private operations can seldom serve the public efficiently without the assistance of the state. While it specifically focuses on the private security industry and the state-funded police that are no less burdened by calls for help, Light's argument is applicable to a number of different industries. Light notes that, "While privatization is described as a 'retreat of the state' (Swann, 1988), evaluation evidence...reveals that the state does not retreat" (Light, 2001, p. 25).
What might the world look like if it did? The transition from public to private operation can be difficult, both on staff and the community being served. Operational changes are inevitable. In 1999, the Economic and Social Research Institute prepared a document for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which explained in great detail the conversion of hospitals from publicly-funded institutions to privately managed ones. Most hospitals chose to privatize because of financial difficulties caused by increased competition. The government's refusal to subsidize institutions for those unable to afford medical care left many hospitals with no choice but to privatize. The complications inherent in this transition have been manifold. Notably, "Private organizations that were successful in negotiating agreements to purchase, lease or manage public hospitals were credible partners with a good track record in serving communities, including vulnerable populations" (Economic and Social Research Institute, 1999, p. 5).
Still, at some point we must recall that the primary motivation of a private for-profit organization is... profit. Will service be sacrificed in the name of revenue? While the aforementioned study has the wisdom to suggest that issues relating to access will need to be monitored by the community, the private company operating the facility might decide to label certain information as "proprietary," thereby rendering monitoring difficult if not impossible. While it stands to reason that the financial stability privatization may provide has the potential to insure the delivery of no or low-cost services to the uninsured or under-insured members of society, the decision to privatize should be critically evaluated. Methods of ascertaining that the overall quality of services received is preserved should be available at all times.
The privatization of insurance companies serves to complicate the issue even further. Those citizens who cannot afford to purchase coverage, or those denied coverage due to a "pre-existing condition" as determined by the insurance company, often find themselves disenfranchised. While these individuals cannot be denied service, they can and are billed-and that debt can negatively impact credit, limiting the individual's options for growth.
A final example serves to illustrate the possible dangers of privatizing an industry that has traditionally been funded by taxpayer dollars. Public libraries have long depended upon tax revenues to operate. In an uncertain economic climate, funding becomes a challenge. Conversely, library services are usually in higher demand. The twenty-first century public library provides a wide array of services, including but not limited to internet access, assistance with resume writing and the job application process, reference, programming, and readers' advisory. In essence, the public library is a community center, a public good meant to insure free access to the information whose unfettered flow is essential for the successful functioning of democracy.
While a number of library operations have been outsourced, none of these has had a significant impact on the realization of the library's mission. The American Library Association stresses the significance of the specific process being outsourced, insisting that, at times, outsourcing is in the best interest of the library. Privatization, however, suggests that the management of the library will be driven more by profit than by an interest in the public good. A report published by the ALA provides a thorough checklist for those considering privatization. Central to the ALA's position on the privatization of public libraries is the role of the community in library operations. A privatized library system might refuse to allow the public to attend meetings on the grounds that the information disclosed therein was "proprietary" in nature. Furthermore, collection development would likely be managed from a single location by individuals who knew little about the actual needs of the community.
Privatizing the public library might also introduce bias into a system that strives to avoid it. The political orientation of the managing company might make it difficult to access information on certain topics, which could have the effect of making informed decision-making difficult. Accurate historical research might also be rendered impossible by the omission of certain information. Additionally, if the governing company chose to impose a fee for membership, the less fortunate members of society might quickly find themselves disenfranchised; excluded from matters in which they ought to have a stake.
In conclusion, while the strengths of capitalism have long been recognized and exploited, its machinations have also created deeply-felt divisions within our society. Efforts to privatize services essential to the protection and well-being of all citizens, and to thereby eliminate or reduce the need for state involvement, have financially polarized communities. Furthermore, they have seldom achieved their stated aims. Privatized entities are driven by one thing: profit. Income should not have a bearing on the extent to which certain needs can be met. Poverty can best be fought by insuring that basic needs are met,and that ideas on a wide range of topics are accessible to all.
What might the world look like if it did? The transition from public to private operation can be difficult, both on staff and the community being served. Operational changes are inevitable. In 1999, the Economic and Social Research Institute prepared a document for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which explained in great detail the conversion of hospitals from publicly-funded institutions to privately managed ones. Most hospitals chose to privatize because of financial difficulties caused by increased competition. The government's refusal to subsidize institutions for those unable to afford medical care left many hospitals with no choice but to privatize. The complications inherent in this transition have been manifold. Notably, "Private organizations that were successful in negotiating agreements to purchase, lease or manage public hospitals were credible partners with a good track record in serving communities, including vulnerable populations" (Economic and Social Research Institute, 1999, p. 5).
Still, at some point we must recall that the primary motivation of a private for-profit organization is... profit. Will service be sacrificed in the name of revenue? While the aforementioned study has the wisdom to suggest that issues relating to access will need to be monitored by the community, the private company operating the facility might decide to label certain information as "proprietary," thereby rendering monitoring difficult if not impossible. While it stands to reason that the financial stability privatization may provide has the potential to insure the delivery of no or low-cost services to the uninsured or under-insured members of society, the decision to privatize should be critically evaluated. Methods of ascertaining that the overall quality of services received is preserved should be available at all times.
The privatization of insurance companies serves to complicate the issue even further. Those citizens who cannot afford to purchase coverage, or those denied coverage due to a "pre-existing condition" as determined by the insurance company, often find themselves disenfranchised. While these individuals cannot be denied service, they can and are billed-and that debt can negatively impact credit, limiting the individual's options for growth.
A final example serves to illustrate the possible dangers of privatizing an industry that has traditionally been funded by taxpayer dollars. Public libraries have long depended upon tax revenues to operate. In an uncertain economic climate, funding becomes a challenge. Conversely, library services are usually in higher demand. The twenty-first century public library provides a wide array of services, including but not limited to internet access, assistance with resume writing and the job application process, reference, programming, and readers' advisory. In essence, the public library is a community center, a public good meant to insure free access to the information whose unfettered flow is essential for the successful functioning of democracy.
While a number of library operations have been outsourced, none of these has had a significant impact on the realization of the library's mission. The American Library Association stresses the significance of the specific process being outsourced, insisting that, at times, outsourcing is in the best interest of the library. Privatization, however, suggests that the management of the library will be driven more by profit than by an interest in the public good. A report published by the ALA provides a thorough checklist for those considering privatization. Central to the ALA's position on the privatization of public libraries is the role of the community in library operations. A privatized library system might refuse to allow the public to attend meetings on the grounds that the information disclosed therein was "proprietary" in nature. Furthermore, collection development would likely be managed from a single location by individuals who knew little about the actual needs of the community.
Privatizing the public library might also introduce bias into a system that strives to avoid it. The political orientation of the managing company might make it difficult to access information on certain topics, which could have the effect of making informed decision-making difficult. Accurate historical research might also be rendered impossible by the omission of certain information. Additionally, if the governing company chose to impose a fee for membership, the less fortunate members of society might quickly find themselves disenfranchised; excluded from matters in which they ought to have a stake.
In conclusion, while the strengths of capitalism have long been recognized and exploited, its machinations have also created deeply-felt divisions within our society. Efforts to privatize services essential to the protection and well-being of all citizens, and to thereby eliminate or reduce the need for state involvement, have financially polarized communities. Furthermore, they have seldom achieved their stated aims. Privatized entities are driven by one thing: profit. Income should not have a bearing on the extent to which certain needs can be met. Poverty can best be fought by insuring that basic needs are met,and that ideas on a wide range of topics are accessible to all.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Nuances of Drug Illegality (and why they don't make sense)
Many would openly admit to relaxing in front of the television with a beer or glass of wine after a rough day at work and the ensuing drive home through rush-hour traffic. It's called unwinding, and there's no law against it so long as you're the proper age. Morally, the act of drinking becomes reprehensible only when done in excess. Yet, many who enjoy their drinking look at other drugs with unease or disgust. In some cases, the reaction is warranted. Some drugs can damage the cells of the human body beyond repair. Drug abuse can also be linked with a number of violent crimes. Yet, ironically, when taken in excess, alcohol fits snugly into both of these categories. While not as addictive or dangerous as some other substances, heroin for example, studies have repeatedly shown that it is more dangerous than some other substances, substances which are illegal to consume. One of these is marijuana.
Cannabis is naturally-occurring and poses few threats to the consumer. While smoking it can irritate the lungs in the same way that smoking cigarettes does, marijuana contains no harmful carcinogens, which have been linked the the development and proliferation of various cancers. Furthermore, it creates no physical dependency. Research even suggests that marijuana stimulates appetite and fights cancer cells. Why should such a substance be illegal?
The answer is simple-and alarming: it is politically convenient. While an article published by D.A.R.E. argues that medical marijuana dispensaries' profit margins undermine their premise of compassion for the terminally ill, nothing is said about the profits enjoyed by the operators of privatized prisons who have taken in thousands for possessing even negligible amounts of cannabis.
Cannabis is naturally-occurring and poses few threats to the consumer. While smoking it can irritate the lungs in the same way that smoking cigarettes does, marijuana contains no harmful carcinogens, which have been linked the the development and proliferation of various cancers. Furthermore, it creates no physical dependency. Research even suggests that marijuana stimulates appetite and fights cancer cells. Why should such a substance be illegal?
The answer is simple-and alarming: it is politically convenient. While an article published by D.A.R.E. argues that medical marijuana dispensaries' profit margins undermine their premise of compassion for the terminally ill, nothing is said about the profits enjoyed by the operators of privatized prisons who have taken in thousands for possessing even negligible amounts of cannabis.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Wikileaks, OpenWatch, and the move toward accountability
In a democratic society, elected officials must be held to the highest standards of accountability; they must serve the people and the state-not themselves. Yet, few would declare after a thorough scan of the current political and economic landscape that this is the case. There is a deep divide between what should be and what is. Corporations clamor for the same rights and protections that have been extended to individuals. Those whose duty it is to lead us through financial crisis betray our trust and pursue their own agendas. Appeals to pathos are at an all-time high, and, as essentially emotional beings, we are easily swayed to believe that we are somehow morally superior to our neighbors who may hold values that are at odds with our own. With our time divided between wrongfully placing blame on "the other side" and thoughtlessly consuming on every possible level, those who govern us are free to do as they please. They must only insure that two basic needs are met: the populace must be fed and they must be entertained. This appraisal is not meant to suggest that we have no responsible leaders, but merely to suggest that, in general, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The government we know now is little more than a corporatocracy dressed as democracy. Accountability, I feel, is the key to the restoration of a truly democratic system. The people must unite and they must adopt a vested interest in the fate of their nation. But, assuming these conditions had been met, how should we demand accountability? What potential do emerging technologies hold for our mission? Is it possible to go too far? Is it acceptable to do "the wrong thing" if it accomplishes something good? Is it necessary?
Wikileaks has released documents pertaining to a number of sensitive operations, and startling classified information has been put directly into the hands of the people. The tech-savvy have their techniques for avoiding detection while downloading these files. It is easy to argue that we have a right to know, and yet, how many lives are endangered by what we know? If we are entitled to knowing everything, then why do we place such a high value on the protection of privacy? Can the people be trusted with what they learn? Furthermore, knowledge is but the first step. Assuming that we learn things that we feel should be public knowledge, What do we do with this information? Must we first insure that the majority of people are knowledgeable about sensitive data before making public demands of our government? What protections do we have when we arm ourselves with information that was denied us by our government in the first place? The government must be held accountable, but so must the people.
Another movement that warrants consideration is Open Watch.
Library Resources
The government we know now is little more than a corporatocracy dressed as democracy. Accountability, I feel, is the key to the restoration of a truly democratic system. The people must unite and they must adopt a vested interest in the fate of their nation. But, assuming these conditions had been met, how should we demand accountability? What potential do emerging technologies hold for our mission? Is it possible to go too far? Is it acceptable to do "the wrong thing" if it accomplishes something good? Is it necessary?
Wikileaks has released documents pertaining to a number of sensitive operations, and startling classified information has been put directly into the hands of the people. The tech-savvy have their techniques for avoiding detection while downloading these files. It is easy to argue that we have a right to know, and yet, how many lives are endangered by what we know? If we are entitled to knowing everything, then why do we place such a high value on the protection of privacy? Can the people be trusted with what they learn? Furthermore, knowledge is but the first step. Assuming that we learn things that we feel should be public knowledge, What do we do with this information? Must we first insure that the majority of people are knowledgeable about sensitive data before making public demands of our government? What protections do we have when we arm ourselves with information that was denied us by our government in the first place? The government must be held accountable, but so must the people.
Another movement that warrants consideration is Open Watch.
Library Resources
Monday, February 7, 2011
Revolution
No one's gonna take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive
-Muse
On January 25th, 2011, thousands of Egyptians were inspired by a successful revolution in nearby Tunisia. They took to the streets for the first time since the 1970s, intent on driving President Mubarak out of Cairo. Egypt's leader usurped power in 1971, granting himself emergency powers. This is the environment in which more than 72 million Egyptians have lived for the past 30 years. Poverty, unemployment, and a corrupt government have proven powerful motivators for revolution.
The world has been watching with great interest, in large part because we're all going through the same thing. It all comes down to degree: how much are we willing to tolerate? How far can we be pushed before we're left with no other option but to push back?
Indeed, the measure of comfort most of us enjoy probably puts us at greater risk. The people of Egypt, on the other hand, have been aware of their situation for awhile now. It's time we become familiar with our own.
Below, you'll find links to a number of articles and stories that illustrate what's going awry--in the United States and beyond its borders. Enlighten yourselves. Take nothing at face value.
What you need to know:
Startling Statistics
A Conflict without end
The War for Resources
The economic fiasco
The health care dilemma
The Disproportionate distribution of wealth
Big Brother and the Patriot Act
Know your Rights
Take Action Today
Library Resources
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive
-Muse
On January 25th, 2011, thousands of Egyptians were inspired by a successful revolution in nearby Tunisia. They took to the streets for the first time since the 1970s, intent on driving President Mubarak out of Cairo. Egypt's leader usurped power in 1971, granting himself emergency powers. This is the environment in which more than 72 million Egyptians have lived for the past 30 years. Poverty, unemployment, and a corrupt government have proven powerful motivators for revolution.
The world has been watching with great interest, in large part because we're all going through the same thing. It all comes down to degree: how much are we willing to tolerate? How far can we be pushed before we're left with no other option but to push back?
Indeed, the measure of comfort most of us enjoy probably puts us at greater risk. The people of Egypt, on the other hand, have been aware of their situation for awhile now. It's time we become familiar with our own.
Below, you'll find links to a number of articles and stories that illustrate what's going awry--in the United States and beyond its borders. Enlighten yourselves. Take nothing at face value.
What you need to know:
Startling Statistics
A Conflict without end
The War for Resources
The economic fiasco
The health care dilemma
The Disproportionate distribution of wealth
Big Brother and the Patriot Act
Know your Rights
Take Action Today
Library Resources
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