I guess Reading ISN’T Fundamental April 17, 2008
President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget eliminates all the funding for Reading Is Fundamental’s book distribution program that has, since 1966, provided more than 325 million books to more than 30 million underprivileged children.
“With 13 million children living in poverty in this country, the need for RIF has never been greater,” said RIF CEO/president Carol Rasco, The annually funded RIF program is currently approved through September 2009, but if Bush’s budget is approved, 4.6 million children will not receive 16 million free books the following year. RIF, the oldest and largest children’s and family nonprofit literacy organization in the U.S, has been funded by Congress and six Administrations without interruption since 1975.”- Publisher’s Weekly
Here’s to future illiterate generations.
Here’s the logic, as I see it. If you can’t read, you’ll just have to accept what the broadcast media feeds you as fact. Illiterate masses won’t question their governing officials. They won’t question much of anything. In fact, if they don’t read, there’s no need to burn those nasty subversive books… not with high-def reality TV and game shows to keep the passive masses distracted from any real issues.
Just my theory.
I’m old enough to remember when the RIF campaign started.
GWB is determined to do as much damage as he can before he goes.
But still, the Internet has changed the way people access and absorb information, I don’t think it bodes well for the future of traditional reading of books - sad.