Thursday, June 3, 2010

Sad News From My Small Town

The Gaston County Commission has decided to cut the operating hours of the library system back to three days a week in order to absorb the cost of increases in operating fees. The library system took a big hit in 2001 for the same reason. So, since things are so bad, they must be cutting back everywhere, right?

Not really. The Gastonia Police Department has received funding to add eight new officers to the force under the stimulus bill. So we are cutting services that the poor use and increasing jobs for the people who are going to go out a victimize the poor. Interesting concept.

If you cut these services, kids will find something else to do after school, and I can almost guarantee that the public won't like it. So when the last thread that a lot of kids were holding on to gets cut back to a schedule that is too erratic to keep up with, they will occupy their time getting in trouble. Then you need more cops to keep the new criminals under control.

I don't understand why they don't take the money that would have added eight cops and put it towards public services. Don't take away what little services that our county does offer. But what do I know, I'm just a socialist.

2 comments:

  1. Maybe people with newfound free time on their hands should put it to use constructively? Then they won't be "new criminals" as you suggest.

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  2. maybe they should but it doesn't mean they will

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