February 15, 2009

A timely topic

The Moline Public Library is featuring a local professor in a presentation about the New Deal era works programs Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

From their press release:
Press release submitted by Moline Public Library

LEARN ABOUT THE WPA AND CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS IN THE QUAD CITIES AT THE MOLINE PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Moline Public Library is proud to present Jeff Hancks from Western Illinois University as presents The WPA and Civilian Conservation Corps in the Quad Cities on Saturday, February 28th at 2:30 p.m. This free program will meet in the Silver Meeting Room and is open to all ages. To register for this discussion, please stop by the Moline Public Library or call 309-762-6883.

The Works Project Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) were federal work relief programs begun under Franklin Roosevelt"s New Deal. These programs were responsible for the creation numerous construction, parks, and arts projects. Mr. Hancks" discussion will focus on the local impact of the WPA and CCC, which included such projects as the Moline Municipal Airport and Black Hawk State Park.

About the presenter: Rock Island native Jeff Hancks is Professor of Regional Studies and University Archivist at Western Illinois University.


In light of the push for public works funding and programs to at least slow the Bush economic collapse, this lecture will certainly be interesting, especially in view of the current effort of some know-nothing Republicans in congress in trying to spread utterly false or distorted information about the New Deal and it's effect in reviving the economy on the heels of the Great Depression.

Republicans are arguing that the public works programs and the New Deal didn't work.

This is pretty funny, considering that FDR was re-elected TWICE afterwards, which indicates to me that the country didn't exactly feel like it failed.

Some of the nicest and most architecturally beautiful places in our area were built by government projects during the FDR era, as was Starved Rock Lodge and many other beautiful public places.

The lecture should be very interesting and will no doubt inform listeners about what these projects really were like, as opposed of what Republicans are trying to sell.

12 Comments:

At 2/16/2009 3:40 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't belive you are encouraging people to go and sit in "those fancy" Moline Library chairs.

 
At 2/16/2009 9:26 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Ahh A fan of gross waste of taxpayer funds. Good to see you. There's so few of you left.

Here's a clue for y'all Chester.

I don't have any problem with the LIBRARY itself. Like most people, I'm capable of separating an issue with buying incredibly expensive chairs and the function of the library itself.

Sorry you're not.

 
At 2/17/2009 11:21 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you plan to sit on the floor or in one of those incredibly expensive chairs? Just asking.

 
At 2/18/2009 8:10 PM, Blogger A Bishops Wife said...

I am intersted in reading your perspective on the latest:

Roland Burris

 
At 2/20/2009 9:00 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

BW...
Ya know, I've been meaning to post something on that crazy topic.

I appologize for not attending to the blog much lately. That surely is something worth discussing.

Burris has always struck me as a guy in over his head. A nice guy, most likely, but just not ready for prime time.

Rick Warren, a former editor at the Trib was on hardball and really let fly on Burris, and essentially said that Burris is just a "goof", and really not up to the job.

I think that's pretty much it in a nutshell.

Burris was some guy who was a relatively minor political figure in IL. Every time he'd run for higher office, he'd be mauled.

Then Blago comes along to use him as a political ploy, and the guy is so damn eager and excited that he JUMPS at it and now we see the fallout.

Should he be tossed out of the Senate? Not sure.

I don't happen to think he perjured himself or that his saying he talked to "friends" about the appointment, rather than naming them specifically is a sin worthy of tossing him out of office.

But he is pretty much a joke, and surely will last no longer than the next election.

 
At 2/20/2009 11:47 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Jackass 11:21.

Really, can't you do any better that your idiotic attempt to suggest I'm a hypocrite?

I sit in the chairs that are in the library when I go there, IF I sit at all.

As you'd know if you had any clue, the chairs provided the public are NOT the multi-thousand dollar Herman Miller chairs referred to in my post from long ago.

No, those aren't for you and me.

Since you're more intent on trying to make some non-existant point than with actually addressing the real issue, you've revealed that you don't even patronize or visit the library yourself.

Otherwise you'd realize that the board or whoever, in their infinite wisdom and stewardship of tax payer funds, decided to buy those incredibly expensive chairs for their use in offices and in the conference and meeting rooms in the back of the building that 99.999% of patrons never see and don't even know exist.

Perhaps you really SHOULD visit the library sometime. You might read up on how to make a valid argument.

Or maybe social skills.

Just shut up while you're behind.

 
At 2/21/2009 1:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you worked your way into the back room would you, could you, sit on an expensive chair?

 
At 2/22/2009 3:35 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Anon 1:45

That's an idiotic question and you know it. Grow up.

One reason I knew what the chairs cost was that I was considering buying one for myself.

Are they great chairs? No doubt. They better well be for that price!

What is it about the fact that the TAXPAYERS paid for these that you don't get?

The issue isn't whether the chairs are good chairs, and it sure the hell isn't about whether I'd SIT in one. Christ you're dense.

The issue is whether it was irresponsible and wasteful to blow that much money on dozens of nearly the most expensive office chair made.

Try to pound that into your head.

 
At 2/22/2009 11:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

According to a new report, librarians who sit in quality chairs are more prodcutive, as well as more comfortable and far less likely to report injuries, when they work in well-designed ergonomic furniture and are properly trained to use it.

A recent study by the indpependnet Office of Ergonomic Research(OREC) found that employers who provided employees with a combination of good ergonomic furniture and training in how to use it realized about $367 per day more income per employee which translates into a 17.8 percent productivity gain.

According to the study by the OERC, Dr. Ben Amick of the University of Texas Health Science Center said, "The link between ergonomics and training to health, employee productivity and return on an employeer's investment is clear. Carpal Tunnel, Tendinities claims, and other workplace related hand, arm and back injuries are reduced by 64 percent."

Fact is,purchasing cheap chairs is an irresponsible and wastefull use of our tax dollars!

 
At 2/22/2009 6:53 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

OK asshole.
Then how come library employees never TOUCH those chairs but sit in cheaper, less comfortable chairs instead?

Just shut the hell up. You're talking out your ass as usual.

 
At 2/23/2009 8:25 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes Dope, some librarians sit on "less expensive chairs" for short periods of time, but when it comes time to "sit for long periods of time," workers generally sit in better chairs. Not only are "better chairs" more ergonomically correct, they are also more handsome, durbale and save taxpayer's money as they last on average "five times longer" than the cheap chairs you prefer. 

Where is your study to refute my facts Dope?

 
At 2/23/2009 10:19 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Anon 8:25

My evidence? Jesus, you said it yourself! The librarians don't even USE the multi-thousand dollar chairs!!! What the HELL are you babbling about productivity and ergonomics and all that crap when they sit in much less expensive chairs, and you're trying to make some dumb-ass point about entirely different chairs??

You make no freaking sense, Chester.

I bet the librarians would be slightly more productive if they recieved an hours full body massage every day too.

You gonna hit up the taxpayers for THAT too?

Go away, you're nothing but a joke.

 

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