Fred Portnoy: Horrified at proposal to ax State Council on the Arts, State Library

To The Daily Sun,

I recoiled in horror this afternoon reading about Rep. Joe Sweeney’s legislative proposal to ax the State Council on the Arts and the State Library; then I heard about the Legislature also wanting to drain the renewable energy fund, and close the offshore wind energy program.

For myself, I am already driving a fuel efficient car, using renewable electricity and enjoying passive solar heat and firewood to keep my home warm. Outside my own bubble, I value very much the concerts and plays that I attend as part of New Hampshire’s cultural landscape. I value very much the collection, programs and activities of our fabulous local library, and the opportunity to use the state wide interlibrary loan system. Sweeney said that the federal government was also planning to ax funds that support interlibrary loan, as if that could be a reason for New Hampshire to be equally short sighted.

I will not be around for the final act of the climate change story. I don’t know how soon we’ll experience the effects of erasing our cultural life. Don’t these legislators have children and grandchildren? Don’t they want a decent life for them? Do they think that continuing to move wealth to the top 1% is going to take care of their grandkids? These miserly proposals come about only because New Hampshire insists upon cutting every possible state funding source in favor of the wealthiest residents and businesses.

Fred Portnoy

Canterbury