[AAACE-NLA] "they" cause confusion and divert attention

[kmccook@tampabay.rr.com]

To a large extent "they"--that is the "they" who objected to 
discussion of new Head Start rules on NIFL lists and called 
that "lobbying"--will use fair means or foul to divert focus. 
They can ban meaningful discussion from NIFL lists and 
water them down until NIFL lists are extensions of current 
government policies only. "They" marginalize anyone who 
asks hard questions and "they" tell us whatever they want to 
tell us about the inappropriateness of topics.
   I am not being paranoid, I am relating facts. IN FLORIDA 
the State Library was slated for closure by Jeb Bush. 
Librarians rallied against this. While Bush could not reach out 
and fire librarians in the field who protested, he has made 
sure that  employees of the State Library who protested have 
either lost their jobs or been reassigned. Others have 
become instruments of the changes he wants (regardless of 
the sense of the changes). People in the Florida state 
government are very afraid. They know their e-mail is 
monitored and phone logs are checked. A few will tell you in 
person what is going on BUT it is only if you promise not to 
reveal the source. I am not talking matters of national 
security here. I am talking about basic operations of a 
library.The crimes are simply disobeying the whims of Jeb 
Bush.   Those who remain tell us they are cooperating to try 
and do good things in spite of the strictures, but they are 
relegated to blandness.
    Posting or participating on filtered or moderated lists plays 
right into the hands of those who would not be challenged.