|
Of course libraries are 1) still needed and 2) the government's job to maintain.
Libraries promote literacy. It's great that some people can afford 100$ e-book readers and 500$ (or more) computers, but some people can't. A library is a simple, cost-effective way to make information available to everyone, because poor people can (and should) vote, so wise people want them to have access to information about the real world.
And poor people's kids need more than just school books to learn to read, and learn, and love learning--to go after that harder-for-them-to-get-but-vital education that might lift the next generation out of poverty.
Not to mention that it is becoming more and more common for public information to be available *only* over the internet, making libraries a twice-vital line of connection for an informed voting public.
And yeah, of course people have to pay their fair share of taxes to make that happen. People used to consider that normal, grown-up behavior, like washing the dishes. For some reason it has become fashionable in some groups of people to lie around whining you don't want to take your turn dishes.
I got no sympathy.
Whether there is a more fair way to tax is a different can of worms. But of course we pay taxes for roads, hospitals, libraries, schools, etc. In the end everyone prospers when people can get from place to place, can learn what they need to know, can get the health care they need, and so on.
|