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Contact Me: jacquelyn.k.thompson@hotmail.com

Welcome

Hello and Welcome:

Over the summer of 2010 I began to ask myself, "what do you do if two of our Rights, as citizens of these United States, are diametrically opposed?" I came to the only viable conclusion: you compromise. Our great Nation works when there is compromise.

Right now most of you will agree with me that our political system is broken. What we currently have is: the politics of destruction; special interest groups who have the power and money to dictate policy; politicians who must spend their time raising money for the next election instead of doing the People's business; and, there are those who are so concerned about getting re-elected they cede their responsibilities to the citizenry to those groups making the loudest noises and the greatest threats.

The attacks that we were inundated with during the this election cycle belittled the democratic process. Shame on everyone involved. And, shame on the political obstructionists who are more interested in gaining and maintaining power than doing the people’s business. During these very difficult times all of us should be supporting our President. The challenge for all of us is, how do we improve upon this imperfect union that we call the United States of America? One thing I know for certain...it is not by dividing us.

I can remember when I was sixteen years old there was a day when my father called out to me, "Jackie, come quickly. You have to hear this. It's Winston Churchill. Come listen." I raced to the radio and for the first time heard a recording of Churchill's speech to a Nation standing alone against the greatest evil the world has ever known: "...we shall defend our island no matter what the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; and we shall not surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until in God's good time, the New World, with all it's power and might, steps forth to the rescue and liberation of The Old."

That day my hero was born. Where are our heroes today? jkt

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Our Libraries

We have some of the best libraries in the country. According to Hennan's American Public Library Ratings, by population, in the 500K category Ohio has 3 of the top 10 libraries in the whole country!

-No. 1  Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH
-No. 2  Columbus Metropoliotan Library, Columbus, OH
-No. 8  Cincinnati and Hamilton County, PL of Cincinnati, OH

Wow. In Central Ohio Bexley, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Grandview Heights and Worthington have also made the top 10 list. You can see the entire list, including libraries throughout the State ranked in the top ten at http://www.haplr-index.com/HAPLR100.htm.

This is something Ohio does very well. I personally frequent the Bexley library one or two times a week. I have always loved rooting through the shelves and coming across some gem of a book or magazine that tweeks my curiosity. And I admit, I'm a sucker for a good murder mystery or courtroom drama.

When I got laid off from work many years ago, I practically lived at the downtown branch of Columbus Metro. I learned how to use word processing there and created my resumes on their computers. I searched for jobs using their resources. I learned how to sculpt using the wonderful art books available at Metro

Libraries have expanded my knowledge and introduced me to places and cultures that I would never be able to afford to visit. And the libraries are open to everyone. They are one of the great equalizers in our society. Libraries introduce our children to the joy of reading. They educate, they teach tolerance, they entertain us and we need them more than ever right now.

During this horrible economic downturn people are relying on their libraries, just as I did when I lost my job. And yet the State drastically cut funding to our libraries just when our citizens need them the most. If elected, I will push to restore funding. We need to enthusiastically support what is working, and rid ourselves of what is not. We'll just have to find other ways to balance the budget.

Posted by jkt at Sunday, August 15, 2010