Replies: 14 Comments
on Friday, October 17th, Hendrik A Baartman said
"You are right"
on Monday, September 29th, walt said
Mark, while we are not officially a two party system we are pragmatically two partied. Most of the alternatives do not seem electable without some extreme circumstances coming into play. So while it is the very nature of a two party system to polarize it is also very disconcerting. Last time we became too polarized we had a civil war...also the definition of polarization to some extent.
But as my friend and I have agreed upon, and by the way we are both leaning towards different candidates, we are both extremely thrilled that for the first time ever we have choices which include someone other than an English, Scottish or Irish ( a black man) and someone other than a male candidate. It is an exciting thing in and of itself no matter your opinion on the individuals. It is the sign of change that has already begun on both sides of the fence. Valerie, I don't know if that aspect is as meaningful to you as it might be to someone in the U.S.. I don't know if that is as meaningful to someone below the age of 50 as it is to those of us who are 50 or older given our historical perspectives. But while it makes the whole process much more exciting than usual it also makes it much more important that folks make informed decisions and not get caught up in the hype itself. Top down change is rarely good in this country with perhaps a few rare instances. Abolition of slavery, certain civil rights decisions by presidents and the supreme courts, the amendment giving women the right to vote are a few that were positive. Far too many decisions to mention have not had particularly good consequences which came from the top down.
But even a congressman or senator is a local election. And it is all too often the case that people don't know who their choices are let alone what party they represent. And while it is true that parties have more power than individual candidates the parties are still made of individuals. There is always a trade off.
Primarily the only people we can change are ourselves. But if change occurs most often it happens at the grass roots level not from the top down. Washington is a dynamic unto itself and it doesn't matter which party is in power generally the same things continue to occur. So, as my friend continues to remind me, ignore the hype over the national election. The real changes happen on the street where you live. So you have to know who is running in your neck of the woods. I'm only just beginning to find out who my local candidates are. And I will be spending the next month or so catching up on these local candidates. The national election for president has, in a sense, already been decided for the most part. There may be only a few people who haven't made up their minds. But lots who don't even know who their local congressmen are, or their school board representatives.
All the best....and vote. Greetings from Germany.
on Tuesday, October 14th, walt said
I don't have a problem with that. They just have to get elected. Slowly, ever so slowly independents have been increasing in number. But it is so hard for them to raise money to run campaigns against the two juggernauts. Often they simply become spoilers which allow the other large party to win the election whether on the local or national stage.
Chances are best that it will happen more often on a local level in races where the big parties aren't paying so much attention. But do be aware that for an independent there is a lot of land mines to dodge. Because they have a tendency to vote against both sides at some point they will have everybody against them when there is an issue that they feel strongly about.
But short of some kind of quota system getting it to happen is the hard part.
on Tuesday, October 14th, learn to draw said
I think the best thing that could happen to party politics is for the house and senate to have at least 30% independents in it. People really are not so nicely split down the middle right and left. I think it would allow much more to get done with a large independent population in government.
on Wednesday, October 1st, walt said
Valerie, that is very interesting to hear. Are you suggesting that it might be possible for someone like Obama to actually have an impact on the current mindset? Or are you talking about something less obvious?
on Wednesday, October 1st, Valerie said
Yes absolutley re: US history and what the current Democratic candidate represents! I wouldn't overstate this but it is also having some positive impact on how people in this region (ie Middle east) view the US. Given more recent history this has to be a good thing.
on Monday, September 29th, walt said
By the way, my examples of top down decisions are a little spurious...for the most part the populace had already let their leaders know what they wanted them to do. Those leaders simply listened and found the political will to follow through even when it might mean political suicide (or in Lincoln's case...assasination.)
on Monday, September 29th, walt said
Mark, while we are not officially a two party system we are pragmatically two partied. Most of the alternatives do not seem electable without some extreme circumstances coming into play. So while it is the very nature of a two party system to polarize it is also very disconcerting. Last time we became too polarized we had a civil war...also the definition of polarization to some extent.
But as my friend and I have agreed upon, and by the way we are both leaning towards different candidates, we are both extremely thrilled that for the first time ever we have choices which include someone other than an English, Scottish or Irish ( a black man) and someone other than a male candidate. It is an exciting thing in and of itself no matter your opinion on the individuals. It is the sign of change that has already begun on both sides of the fence. Valerie, I don't know if that aspect is as meaningful to you as it might be to someone in the U.S.. I don't know if that is as meaningful to someone below the age of 50 as it is to those of us who are 50 or older given our historical perspectives. But while it makes the whole process much more exciting than usual it also makes it much more important that folks make informed decisions and not get caught up in the hype itself. Top down change is rarely good in this country with perhaps a few rare instances. Abolition of slavery, certain civil rights decisions by presidents and the supreme courts, the amendment giving women the right to vote are a few that were positive. Far too many decisions to mention have not had particularly good consequences which came from the top down.
But even a congressman or senator is a local election. And it is all too often the case that people don't know who their choices are let alone what party they represent. And while it is true that parties have more power than individual candidates the parties are still made of individuals. There is always a trade off.
Primarily the only people we can change are ourselves. But if change occurs most often it happens at the grass roots level not from the top down. Washington is a dynamic unto itself and it doesn't matter which party is in power generally the same things continue to occur. So, as my friend continues to remind me, ignore the hype over the national election. The real changes happen on the street where you live. So you have to know who is running in your neck of the woods. I'm only just beginning to find out who my local candidates are. And I will be spending the next month or so catching up on these local candidates. The national election for president has, in a sense, already been decided for the most part. There may be only a few people who haven't made up their minds. But lots who don't even know who their local congressmen are, or their school board representatives.
on Sunday, September 28th, Mark said
I agree Walt. One thing people should also think about: If you do not like what the person who is in office has done, but you are unsure of the 'new guy/gal, don't vote for that person just because he/she is a known evil, the new person might be worth a chance. This goes to your knowing those who are in office and those running.
A thought: To what advantage does the two parties benifit from when we the 'common people' are so divided? A lot I think.
on Sunday, September 28th, valerie said
Hi Walt
Have to say that being in Dubai I am glued to the US election coverage both for refreshing access to any form of open debate and also just as spectator sport! Not being a US citizen I guess I have the luxury of distance from current US realities.
Your opening paragraph is also fascinating from the vantage point of here where eveything has to happen from the top down (or at least be seen to be happening from the top down!)
Hang in there!
on Saturday, September 27th, walt said
Thanks Brad. I just got this info this morning. Google has already said it has plans to use newly orphaned images which they will now get for free. They have noted plans in the past to publish copyrighted literature on the net without seeking copyright permission or paying royalties. So now it is much more out in the open that we are not fighting lowly librarians and historians but internet giants who will use what someone called socialized imagery for privatized profit. That's an interesting twist on the capitalist model. Please contact your congressional representatives. There is no time like the present to practice local politics extending to the national level.
on Saturday, September 27th, Brad Michael Moore said
Walt (and all) Bad News:
US Senate Passes The Orphan Law - Now its Up to the House & Us...
FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP 26 September 2008
Orphan Works: Risking Our Nation's Copyright Wealth - The Senate has just passed their version of the Orphan Works Bill... Now we must try to stop the House Judiciary Committee from folding their bill and adopting the Senate version. We've supplied a special letter for this purpose....
PLEASE EMAIL CONGRESS TONIGHT. USE THIS LINK
h t t p : / / capwiz. com / illustratorspartnership / issues / alert / ?alertid=11980321
-Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner, for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership
__________________________________________________
For ongoing developments, go to the Illustrators' Partnership Orphan Works blog: h t t p : / / ipaorphanworks. blogspot. com /
on Friday, September 26th, Brad Michael Moore said
Walt,
Speaking of politics - here we go again on the Orphan Art Law In Congress - here's the latest - action is needed today...
FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP 26 September 2008
ORPHAN WORKS BILL HOTLINED - Again.
THIS MEANS IT COULD PASS THE SENATE THIS AFTERNOON - PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATORS IMMEDIATELY and ASK THEM TO VOTE NO ON THIS BILL: S2913 THE SHAWN BENTLEY ORPHAN WORKS ACT OF 2008. Also, ASK THEM TO PUT A "HOLD" ON THE BILL: TELL THEM YOU OPPOSE THIS CONTROVERSIAL BILL... ASK THEM NOT TO PASS IT WITHOUT A FULL AND OPEN HEARING - WARN THEM THAT IT WILL DO GREAT HARM TO SMALL BUSINESSES!
To find your Senators' phone numbers go to the Illustrators' Partnership Orphan Works site:
h t t p : / / illustratorspartnership . capwiz. com/ illustratorspartnership/ dbq/ officials/
At the top of the home page, click on "Elected Officials." You'll find a US map: Click on your state,
Then "Senators," Then click on each Senator's name, Then click "Contact." This will give you their phone and fax numbers. Please phone and fax them both immediately.
-Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner, for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership
or visit my site alphasight dot com - find the Orphan Law page for direct links you can click on - along with the storyline... - BradMM
on Thursday, September 25th, pauldouglas49@yahoo.com.au">paul said
Walt rock on, good to see you are still up and at em,Ive tried once more to rejoin aa,but am still waiting for confirmation to be able to post and react to discussion pages,and Ive been waiting a couple a weeks now,its only you and one of the brads from our original cookie crew that seem to be on this site,sad,I wonder if aa know they ruined a perfectly good online artists group,still being so big they possibly dont give a hoot,anyway once my rego comes through,if ever it does,I'll be up and at em too.All the best walt.paul
on Thursday, September 25th, Ellen said
Great images, Walt. I think that voting is a grave responsibility (in these interesting times). Actually it should be a priority for every American.
I’m finding myself rather mute during this political season in the U.S. I think I’ve grown tired of the hype in the presidential elections. I have a friend who says simply that to really change anything politically in the U.S. one must start first at home in ones own community, ones own city, ones own county and finally in ones own state. What happens at the national level is so complicated by party politics, compromise and even corruption that nothing you hear will be true. Most of it is just hype to get elected. I agree that little happens from the top down. 
My friend has another question that always follows this suggestion. Do you know whom the candidates are who are running for school board, city council, and state representative in your district or governor? Do you know who is running for Sates Attorney General, Clerk of courts or who will be on the committee at the state level to fund or defund your local arts council? 
