6 p.m.

• Well, this headline sums it all up quite nicely.

Bill Clinton warns of looming disasters

Don't blame me. I won't be voting for your wife.

12:30 p.m.

• So the better half was cleaning the kids drinking fountain when a piece that she removed wouldn't fit back properly. She got mad and went to get a hammer to put the piece back in place. She's now at the pet store getting another water fountain. I'm shocked.

• In my redneck of the woods, there’s a ballot initiative in a few weeks about whether to support the local public library or to take a TAX CUT FOR THE RICH SO WE CAN ALL GET NEW RIMS FOR OUR PORCHES.

North Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin voters will be asked to weigh the benefits of continuing to help pay for the operation of the Norwin Public Library against a tax break in the May 15 primary election.

 

The Westmoreland County Board of Elections approved a taxpayer group's referendum being placed on the ballot last week. It seeks repeal of 1 mill of a current 1.2-mill Norwin library tax.

 

The Norwin School District levies and collects the tax, which is the library's main funding source.

 

The group is questioning the need for the 1-mill portion of the tax, which was the result of a Norwin Library Association-generated referendum approved by school district voters in 2000.

What's at stake?

 

If the referendum passes, the library tax would be reduced to 0.2 mill, effective July 1. The Library Association would lose more than $400,000 a year.

 

The library received $416,000 last year from the 1.2-mill levy, school district Business Manager John F. Wilson said.

 

The association's annual report shows that amount represented more than half of the library's $834,773 total revenue last year.

 

"If the referendum is successful, there's no doubt the library will be forced to close," warned lawyer William F. Caruthers II, a trustee and spokesman for the library association. "That might not happen this year or next. Eventually, though, local funding, endowments and state grants and subsidies that might be available could not support library programs.

 

"The library tax is essential to ensure the library's future. It helps to pay our $11,000 monthly mortgage payment." he said.

 

County records indicate the association has a $1,750,000 30-year open-end mortgage with Irwin Bank and Trust Co.

 

Irwin business owner Mary Lou Patterson, a former borough council member and leader of the taxpayer group, contends the library tax "is a financial burden to taxpayers."

 

"In 2000, trustees said the 1-mill increase was needed to save the library. That's why people voted for it. But nobody mentioned an intent to move the library out of Irwin," Mrs. Patterson said. "They collected the tax for three years, used the money as a down payment to build a new library, then sold the old building downtown. Now they're saddled with a mortgage the taxpayers are paying. That's wrong."

 

"Our group is not against the library," said John Bales, an AARP activist who advocates the taxpayer referendum. "What we're seeking is accountability. Right now, 15 unelected library trustees control over $400,000 in taxpayer dollars annually without public oversight."

 

The library association did not challenge the taxpayer group's petitions, according to county solicitor R. Mark Geasalman.

Yeah, I’ll be sure to vote “No” in this election (A “No” vote means the tax stays in place)… NOT!

Way to effectively manage this public institution, shitheads. If you wouldn’t have moved the library out of the town it was supposed to serve, you wouldn’t be shitting bricks about us yokels with our pitchforks and torches wanting to kick your collective asses to the curb. I got this multi-color brochure in the mail yesterday begging me to support the library, and in it was some testimonials which were funny as hell.

“The Library is the best thing that happened to North Huntingdon since I moved here 30 years ago.” Vicki Rose.

What the fuck? After 30 years of development, the best thing to come to this place is a LIBRARY?! Screw that grocery store, screw the new businesses that sprang up. Screw the new houses and roads. It’s the LIBRARY that keeps my town together. Here’s another one.

“I’m 80 years old. I don’t own a computer. Last year I attended classes at the Nborwin Public Library and learned to use a computer and the Internet. WOW!” Meccy Grapes.

So not only are my taxes going to fund your Social Security, prescription drugs and free mass transit passes, but also I’m now paying for you to download porn? Kiss my ass, granny.

“The library offers the gift of access to all of us. This is its true value.” Dana Krydick, Library Consultant.

Well no shit you would say this. And this “gift of access” is for those too cheap to spring for their own computer and Internet access. I would say “poor” along with “cheap,” but since you people moved from a more residential location to a more business-concentrated area, if someone can afford to drive a car to play around with the Internet then they can afford a computer/internet connection of their own. And if they can’t afford this minor expense, they can use that time they’re spending on-line to get a job.

Yeah, I know I’m a terrible human being, but it’s fun being an asshole to the poor, children, elderly and minorities. Sadly, we haven’t been invaded with ghetto folk from Shittsburgh (that’s probably about 20-30 years down the line), but I can disenfranchise three out of four oppressed groups, and that ain’t bad. Besides, if an AARP activist is for repealing this tax, and the AARP is going to turn out for this vote in lockstep, then it really doesn’t matter how I vote.