Rep. Steve Rudy (R-1st District) is KY House Budget chair

Word has reached me that the Republican controlled House Budget Committee, under the control of First District Representative Steven Rudy, has declared war on local rural libraries. Rudy sees fit to cut 2.5 million dollars from the Governor's requested state library fund of $7.8 million goal.

Why?

It's all about having access to books, to learning, to crafting knowledge, to seeking the world beyond rural West Kentucky. As the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Rudy is willing to compromise the future of Hickman County to reach out for a better future.

The Hickman County Fiscal Court working with Hickman County Library's Board and with the support of local nonprofits, has directed their voices of support for the construction of a new children's wing of the library.

Why is this important to the well being of our community future? Jobs of the next ten years are being thought of today by men and women who value creative thinking and problem solving skills above all else.

Nashville just landed the Amazon Research Operations Center. This will mean 25,000 new high tech jobs at an annual salary of $150,000 each for Nashville. Meanwhile, the city metro region around Nashville is growing at a rate of 300 people a day.

Yes, I am fully aware of the fact that we are no Nashville. However, as someone who spends his professional time study the dynamics that shape our futures, I will simply state that we are at the perfect spot to (1) take advantage of coming climate change population distribution in the South; (2) construct new aerospace Industrial Parks and (3) enjoy new opportunities for regional-sub national business to locate here.

Our Ace in the Hole is the Mississippi River. We live in the shadow of where the watersheds of four great rivers, Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio merge.

We live in a major future of climate change factors where fresh water may be worth more then oil or even gold. The future taking shape now will define a new world where food, fiber, and fresh water will provide the foundation for a new American Civilization.

To travel into and be a key part of this new future economy, our community must support a strong library for all its citizens, not just the rich and privileged.

• In 1916 through 1920, Clinton had a population of over 4,000. The county had over 12,000 people. This is the age where the horse and buggy world disappeared to be replaced by the age of the automobile.

To be great again, we must send a message to Rep. Steve Rudy to keep their hands off of our right to grow and become a prosperous economy.

The forces of ignorance should have no part to play in making Hickman County reach a bright new place, where we will be proud of our community.