Post by Roughneck on Feb 4, 2003 23:25:09 GMT -5
Got this recently, figured with how much we love the Bush dynasty, this was more gas to throw on the fire.
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Subject: Florida Politics and History
From: Dr. James V. Holton
Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Scholars:
A recent and drastic turn of events threatens to undermine decades of
historical collections as well as the future of history in the state of
Florida.
This past November, Florida voters approved Amendment Nine, the so-called
"Class-Size Amendment" mandating smaller classes in Florida public schools.
Incumbent Governor Jeb Bush opposed the amendment. At one point during the
election campaign, Gov. Bush was recorded telling Republican supporters he
had "devious plans" to circumvent the Amendment if approved. Gov. Bush has
been working to decimate the state's social programs even while he reduces
taxes.
Earlier this week, Gov. Bush proposed a budget that would dismantle the
State Library, Archives, and Museum and disperse the collections to other
bureaus of the state. This move would set back five decades or organized
historical collection in this state. Some people have called Florida the
"state without history," and Gov. Bush is working to make that happen.
Anyone who does historical research in Florida would be
affected--preservationists, amateur and professional historians, museums,
schools and county governments. Historical collections would be dispersed
and decentralized to either the Department of Environmental Protection,
or
to the Department of Management Services. Such a move would cripple public
access since none of these agencies have the necessary archival or library
experience to handle such collections. More than 1 million documents and
250,000 historical artifacts are at stake. Over 200 librarians and
archivists would be out of work, the state robbed of their collective
knowledge.
State newspapers are condemning this proposed wasting of the state's
historical patrimony. Florida State University, a proposed recipient for
the
State Library, has already voiced its opposition to the plan. Within the
historical profession, opposition to Gov. Bush's proposal is coalescing
fast. Florida's history predates any of the traditionally regarded American
colonies. The State Library, Archives and Museum have been at the forefront
of preserving this vital link to our past. Floridians' sense of collective
identity is threatened by Gov. Bush's move.
Anyone interested in defending historical research and enlightenment in
Florida is urged to participate in order to stop Bush's political
vindictiveness For more information, see:
www.libraryplanet.com/edit/mt/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=2041
Information about reaching Florida's legislators can be obtained through
links at:
www.leg.state.fl.us/welcome/index.cfm
...Dr. James V. Holton
Assistant Professor of History
Warner Southern College
Lake Wales, Florida
holtonj@warner.edu
______________________________________
Professor David Herr
Editor H-South
History Department
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Florida Politics and History
From: Dr. James V. Holton
Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Scholars:
A recent and drastic turn of events threatens to undermine decades of
historical collections as well as the future of history in the state of
Florida.
This past November, Florida voters approved Amendment Nine, the so-called
"Class-Size Amendment" mandating smaller classes in Florida public schools.
Incumbent Governor Jeb Bush opposed the amendment. At one point during the
election campaign, Gov. Bush was recorded telling Republican supporters he
had "devious plans" to circumvent the Amendment if approved. Gov. Bush has
been working to decimate the state's social programs even while he reduces
taxes.
Earlier this week, Gov. Bush proposed a budget that would dismantle the
State Library, Archives, and Museum and disperse the collections to other
bureaus of the state. This move would set back five decades or organized
historical collection in this state. Some people have called Florida the
"state without history," and Gov. Bush is working to make that happen.
Anyone who does historical research in Florida would be
affected--preservationists, amateur and professional historians, museums,
schools and county governments. Historical collections would be dispersed
and decentralized to either the Department of Environmental Protection,
or
to the Department of Management Services. Such a move would cripple public
access since none of these agencies have the necessary archival or library
experience to handle such collections. More than 1 million documents and
250,000 historical artifacts are at stake. Over 200 librarians and
archivists would be out of work, the state robbed of their collective
knowledge.
State newspapers are condemning this proposed wasting of the state's
historical patrimony. Florida State University, a proposed recipient for
the
State Library, has already voiced its opposition to the plan. Within the
historical profession, opposition to Gov. Bush's proposal is coalescing
fast. Florida's history predates any of the traditionally regarded American
colonies. The State Library, Archives and Museum have been at the forefront
of preserving this vital link to our past. Floridians' sense of collective
identity is threatened by Gov. Bush's move.
Anyone interested in defending historical research and enlightenment in
Florida is urged to participate in order to stop Bush's political
vindictiveness For more information, see:
www.libraryplanet.com/edit/mt/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=2041
Information about reaching Florida's legislators can be obtained through
links at:
www.leg.state.fl.us/welcome/index.cfm
...Dr. James V. Holton
Assistant Professor of History
Warner Southern College
Lake Wales, Florida
holtonj@warner.edu
______________________________________
Professor David Herr
Editor H-South
History Department
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
