Tragedy in Philadelphia: No Love for the Libraries (a.k.a. Saving short term cash by expanding long-term ignorance)

The City of Philadelphia is closing all -- that's right ALL -- of its public libraries. Click here and GULP!

Actually, it seems the city got a stay of execution... click here to read about the reprieve.

Either way...
--Is this not a metaphor for what plagues our nation's literacy ills?
--Is it not entirely ironic that they are considering this a month before the largest convention of English teachers in the country convenes in their city?
--What does it say about a city that finds libraries to be a luxury?
--What does it say about the city's leaders that they allow this to occur?
--Are other cities now going to "jump on the sad bandwagon" and start closing libraries in the shortsighted attempt to save money by expanding ignorance?

Being a big Ben Franklin fan, I am quite confident that this past decade has seen him roll over in his grave a few times over. Well, right about now, I am sure he's taking another spin.