Pun Salad

A close second to that, though: the alarm libraries make over federal funding cuts. As revealed by this story in my dreadful local paper, Foster's Daily Democrat: Seacoast-area public libraries sound alarm over federal funding cuts.

True enough! Apparently the Word Went Out, because Portsmouth (NH) Public Library (the one I frequent most often) chimed in on Facebook:

To be clear:

• I love libraries.
• The librarians I deal with are pretty much wonderful people.
• The $90 I pay yearly for a Portsmouth library card is a bargain.
• The other library I use is the University Near Here, where I retained borrowing privileges when I retired; there, my use is mostly via their Interlibrary Loan service, which may be impacted by the IMLS cuts.

So I'm somewhat arguing against my personal interest here. But this is (yet another) example of (what I've called) the D.C. Shuffle (expanded version):

1. Our Federal Government takes our money in taxes.
2. After skimming some off the top, it sends some of it back to "us". (In this case, local libraries.)
3. Strings are attached, applications must be filed, giving plenty for bureaucrats on both ends to do (and be paid for doing).
4. The Federal Government pretends it's done us a favor.
5. And so do your local bureaucrats.

It's amazing how many people are bamboozled by this dance move.

But, really, it gets worse:

• New Hampshire is a rich state. It is #4 on the list of states ranked by median household income: $96,838.
• Portsmouth is even better off, with a median household income of $100,169.
• And it is a virtual certainty that Portsmouth library patrons are disproportionately well-off compared to the average Portsmouth resident.

All this adds up to a reverse-Robin Hood system: money gets transferred from Joe Average Taxpayer to provide goods and services to the relatively affluent. (And, to repeat: that includes me.)

Really, is that such a good idea? If local residents really want to fund the worthwhile library programs currently supported by IMLS, it's perfectly within their means to do so. Stop being fooled by the D.C. Shuffle!

Also of note:

• On the Jake Sullivan watch. Just a few days ago, we linked to an irate letter from the "Council on American-Islamic Relations" (CAIR) requesting/demanding that two University Near Here officials (President Elizabeth Chilton and Carsey School of Public Policy Director Stephen Bird) revoke the appointment of Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden's s National Security Advisor, to a "Senior Fellowship" at UNH's Carsey School. Why were they so upset?

  Mr. Sullivan coordinated the Biden administration’s unwavering support for the Israeli government's indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Gaza. He oversaw arms shipments, provided diplomatic cover, and repeatedly affirmed Israel’s human rights abuses despite overwhelming evidence of systematic violence against Palestinian civilians.

  CAIR also claimed that Jake "brazenly violated federal laws" and "disregarded U.S. policy banning weapons transfers to countries engaged in war crimes and blocking humanitarian aid."

  Geez, who knew?

  But was Jake really such an Israeli toady? At the WSJ, Elliot Kaufman begs to differ: Trump Threatens Iran With the End of ‘Obama’s Law’. He looks at the record vis-a-vis Iran:

  There’s always a reason not to see through Iran’s proxy strategy. For the Biden administration, it was “de-escalation.” National security adviser Jake Sullivan made it a mantra after Hamas death squads invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Already on Oct. 8, the Biden team was distancing Iran from the attack, rushing to declare there was no evidence of its involvement. The message to Israel was clear: You can chase the puppets, but not the puppet master.

  But apparently that was not enough to appease CAIR.