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For a slant on the truth, tP&tP invited MAGA Elementary Principal Dick Johnson to explain his decision to close the school library. We’ve transcribed the response he left on our answering machine:
School libraries are a disgrace to capitalism, okay? It’s not just the free books, it’s the whole library way of doing things. I’m witness to it every week at MAGA ES47. Here’s what happens:
A curious kid goes into the stacks, finds a book that will expand his horizons, teach him something new, spark ideas and emotions inside him, strengthen his powers of observation, yada yada yada.
That alone should make anyone cringe, but here’s the real kicker. Instead of having to buy that book, the library ‘lends’ it to him for … wait for it … FREE.
Seriously? Ludwig Von Mises must be turning over in his grave — a grave he paid for, by the way. Let’s not forget that. Nothing is free, people! Ever work with a bank or mortgage company that offers you a ‘free loan’?
When you lend out books for free, the message is clear: Socialism is good. Socialism works. Only some evil, snickery-doo communist could design something this socialist – or vice versa. Whatever. It’s just really bad.
But it gets worse. Consider the silent message the Library whispers to its patrons: Come on in! Roam free! Explore what you want! Think what you want! Imagine what you want! And before you go, take the free gifts you’ve collected from the stacks. Ugh.
The Plum and the Prune offers this slice of silliness as a humble salute to librarians everywhere and to the PBS documentary “Free for All: The Public Library.” While Dick Johnson won’t watch it, tP&tP hopes you will.
