[NLA] Discussion: Should the NCL make Andy Hartman's... (very brief)

[Mary Lynn Carver]

Hi -
I am watching this discussion with much interest, but my politically unsavvy self
has a question.  $5M is a lot of money for literacy, but just a drop in the
bucket to the government. While giving it back would be a "bold and decisive"
strategy, will anyone even NOTICE if we do give it back?  Will they care? My
sense of this administration is that it won't make one whit of difference, I'm
afraid it might not even make the evening news.  Does anyone know Jonathan Alter
from Newsweek? His in-depth reports seem to bring important issues to the
forefront. If we want to be important, giving back any money has to be made a
really big deal of or it will go unnoticed.  Just my humble thoughts,
Mary Lynn Carver
Lake County Adult Learning Connection
Waukegan, IL 60085

PDRNRI at aol.com wrote:

> All:
>
> I've enjoyed this discussion.  I think this is a very important debate.  Two
> quick thoughts:
>
> The strategy being discussed here is indeed bold and decisive, and sends a
> strong message.  Enacting it, however, would create a void in our support
> system that we must be prepared to fill.  I am not in favor of cutting out an
> established government support program, with its many resources, unless we
> are ready to enact a clear and immediate plan for building an alternative.
>
> The proposal we're discussing might be useful as a final strategy, but I
> think in rushing toward it we risk writing off the potential of a movement we
> haven't yet fully developed -- a strong, aggressive grassroots push in demand
> of support for our field.  It seems to me that by moving directly to a last
> resort we admit an inability to advocate strongly enough to shape our field
> while maintaining conditions that enable it.  We need to exhaust the
> possibility of aggressive political action before moving to the proposed
> action. I recognize that the proposal is itself a decisive political action,
> but it's one that will sever a viable connection.
>
> David Hayes
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