Great news. We now have 3,000 signatures on the Save Barnets Libararies petition. Many thanks to everyone who has helped so far and who has signed so far. Of these 2,632 are on paper and 390 are on the electronic version. This has been a great effort by everyone, however we are less than half way to our target of 7,000 signatures, which is needed to compell the council to hold a full debate on the future of the Library service. 2,000 was enough to get senior officer review, which we have exceeded by 1,000 signatures.
Something puzzles me here. I've stood on street corners for the last six weeks collecting signatures. I would estimate that at least 75% of people who walk past and see it sign the petition. How come is it that the people on the street are so receptive, only approx 10% of signatures are online? Since I launched this petition, this blog has had 30,000+ hits. Of these 17,000 are unique. By my reckoning if everyone who was bothered had signed we'd have 10,000 signatures on line. My guess is that the vast majority of people who read this blog, do so because they care about Barnet. How much is it, to ask people to click the link and sign the petition?
If everyone who cared about Libraries had signed this, then emailed all of their friends to sign, twittered it and put a link on Facebook, we'd easily have had the 7,000 signatures on line by now. Then the council would have to listen and would have to take account of our views. The amount that it would cost each Barnet Council Taxpayer to save Barnets Libraries is far less than the cost of one Starbucks coffee a week. Could you spare one coffee to save such a fantastic service for future generations? One the council has flogged off the librarys, they won't come back and the borough will be a poorer place for it. If you have 1 minute spare today, please sign the petition. If you have two minutes spare, forward the link to your friends. If you have 5 minutes spare, please link to the petition from Facebook or Twitter it. If you have ten minutes, have a look at the petition and the comments left by people so far. They sum it up far better than a dyslexic, illiterate idiot such as myself ever could do. If you want a paper copy, please email me, my email address is in my profile bar - Here's the link, what are you waiting for :-
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/39319/signatures.html
Every Barnet citizen, who reads this blog today and doesn't sign is implicitly agreeing with Councillor Robert Rams, the man behind the Library closure program. He's the man who says that these days people can order books on-line from Tescos and Libraries should be turned into Starbucks. That's the company you are keeping if you haven't signed.
Totally agree with this campaign against the CUTS.
ReplyDeleteRoger - do you stand WITH the students against the rise in fees which at £45,000 potentially for a teaching or doctor degree is beyond any poor person?
The liberals will be wiped out by this because they have gone back on their promises for education and the Tories come out of it with nothing.
It seems to me that our country is about to be dismantled and today's riots will be small in comparison to what will happen when a million people are put out of work next year.
Surely the bankers should be asked to pay for their mistakes ? to save our libraries - our children's educational future and the NHS ?
What is the local Liberal and Tory position on all of this.
I can see us all taking to the streets to save the libraries as a symbol of our local anger towards unfair cuts.
Anyone who earns over £200K a year should pay 80% tax on their earnings and the banks should ALL pay 90% tax on their profits for the next 10 years.
I absolutely agree with your comments, BB: I think I am more shocked by what the Libdems have done than anything else. Thye have sold their integrity for a chance to get on the parliamentary gravy train, and in doing so have alienated any electoral support for the foreseeable future.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the whole concept of student fees. I disagreed with Labour when they brought them in and I disagree equally with the Lib Dems and the Tories. I've no idea what other Lib Dems think as I've not asked them.
ReplyDeleteAs to tax rises & punitive rates for the banks. I don't agree with punitive taxation, just fair taxation. Much as we may hate the banks, they have to be successful for the sake of the economy. I'd rather see taxes rise than services cut, however there is clearly waste in many areas of public spending.
I spent 12 years defending the Labour party for crass and bad decisions, Iraq, 10p Tax band, etc and the electorate never punished them. I guess some things never change. When it comes down to it, Labour launched an illegal war based on calculated lies. Until all the people associated with that have gone, I could not associate myself with the party. Much as I hate the education policy of the Lib Dems, at least they haven't started a war which killed 100,000 innocent people.
I see nothing wrong in asking people to contribute to their higher education costs when earning over £21000.
ReplyDeleteAnd speaking of integrity, its very easy to sit on the sidelines and slate someone else's plans without putting forward an alternative of your own, as Labour are doing. Presumably, this was a calculated effort to direct away from the turmoil in their own party where a substantial amount of MPs appear to think it is perfectly reasonable to spread damn right lies about opposition politicians without a shred of basis for them, in the interest of 'free speech'. A lie is a lie and not robust debate.
There is a offence of 'stiring up racial hatred' and Mr Woolas and his campaign team seem to have done just that with emails containing lines such as "If we don't get the white vote angry, he's gone"
Fair play to Harriet for standing up for clean politics (one of the few times I've wholeheartedly agreed with her) and shame on those labour MPs intent on trying to defend the indefensible..
I believe we should invest in our youth through education. Therefore I disagree with fees and good to hear you do as well Roger. It is a small fraction of the budget and should be met. Graduates will give back in many ways if they are successful - why force them into debt. Some want to work voluntarily and some go into caring professions that dont pay well.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that in the general scheme of things nothing will ever match the Iraq War decision. Don;t forget that was voted for by ALL parties though - not just Blair.
As for the Bankers and their ilk - surely the easiest way to get back tuition fees and NHS costs is to tax the massive profits of big business and the banks more. The bank executives earn around £2 million a year which in my view is obscene for a bit of paper pushing.
I think our society needs to re-balance itself and surely the Lib Dems and the tories should be trying to do this ? otherwise we have no hope.
ON Sunday Lord Boetang gave a sermon at my Church ( Southwark Cathedral) and said that LOVE is the answer and I agree with him. A very powerful speech about how we need to look after each other in society. Our current politicians need to consider this and start to invest in people rather than weapons and big business.
I note the Evening Standard has reported on this issue, but not relating to Barnet.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23896635-dont-axe-our-libraries-say-top-authors.do