Mission

Welcome to this blog which is dedicated to providing a forum for a civil discourse on a variety of issues to try and make our society a truly better place for all. While the views expressed are strictly my personal opinions, please feel free to join in on these conversations accepting the premises that every attempt will be made to ensure that nothing but the truth be spoken and the truth be heard.




Thursday, December 15, 2011

Was It Worth It?

As the military withdrawal from Iraq proceeds on schedule with the official end of the war declared in a ceremony today in Bagdad, no doubt we all can savor a collective sigh of relief that the major part of that conflict is now over.  But, obviously, it remains to be seen if the government of Iraq will be able to provide a safe and flourishing environment for all of its people and thwart any outside intervention and interference from Iran or other neighbors in the region.  Time will tell.  However, the main question that is probably on the minds of most Americans is "Was it worth it"?    
As we ponder that question, perhaps just a few of the known facts to date about the nine year war in Iraq might be helpful in framing an answer, so please consider the following and decide for yourself.
1.  American soldiers killed - 4,485.
2.  American soldiers seriously injured 32,219.
3.  Tax dollars spent through 2011 - $1 trillion.
4.  Funds lost or unaccounted for funds - $9 billion.
5.  Funds lost and reported stolen - $6.6 billion.
6.  Lost or unaccounted for guns - 190,000.
7.  Missing material provided to Iraqi security forces - $1 billion.  
8.  Funds mismanaged and wasted funds - $10 billion through just 2006.
9.  Portion of $20 billion paid to KBR deemed "questionable" by Pentagon - $3.2 billion. 
10.  Cost of deploying one American soldier - $390,000.
11.  Iraqi police and soldiers killed - 10,125.
12.  Iraqi civilians killed - somewhere between 100,000 and 600,000.
13.  Iraqis displaced inside Iraq - 2,225,000.
14.  Percent of Iraqi professionals who have left Iraq - 40%.
15.  Average daily hours Iraqi homes have electricity - 1 to 2.
16.  Iraqis without access to adequate water - 70%.
So, it is not as if the population of Iraq has not suffered great loss, too.  What is not known is the cost to America's prestige, credibility and moral leadership in that part of the world at the very time we need them the most in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.  And then there is still Afghanistan to worry about.  Yes, a malevolent dictator is gone, but many others still remain around the world.  And even though an elementary form of democracy may exist, strong sectarian and tribal passions still boil underneath that seemingly calm surface which could erupt with a vengeance at the slightest of provocations.  Consequently, it would be very interesting to know if the majority of Iraqis feel that they are better off today than they were nine years ago. 
In any event, with Christmas just around the corner I think we all can at least share the joy of the thousands of American families who for the first time in almost a decade will be able to enjoy this holiday season together with the return of their military members from Iraq.  It is in that spirit that I extend my very best wishes to all for a Merry, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Also, please note that future blogs will be suspended until after the first of the year.

Monday, December 5, 2011

The Other One Percent

With all of the recent publicity about the 1% of wealthy Americans who own 40% of the nation's total wealth but who pay a proportionately lesser personal income tax than the remaining 99%, there is another 1% of our population on whom we need to focus.  They are the 1% who constitute our all voluntary military who are now fighting two concurrent wars in the Middle East, as well as defending our other interests all around the globe.  In the process they are constantly separated from their families for extraordinarily long periods of time which Colin Powell contends even eclipses that experienced by our military during WWII.  Furthermore, they are experiencing more life altering injuries to their brains and extremities due to the preponderance of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), land mines, armor-piercing rockets and suicide bombers.  And, finally, they  often times return home to find their domestic and financial situations in a total state of turmoil, compounded by such difficulty in finding a job that Vice-President Biden felt it necessary to make a public appeal just last week for employers to give special consideration in hiring our veterans. 
By contrast, service in the U.S. military has historically been an involuntary part of our national fabric dating back to 1778 when the Continental Congress first recommended states draft men from their militias to fight in the Revolutionary War.  However, that early draft was not very successful so, subsequently, an attempt was again made to institute conscription during the War of 1812, but it, too, failed.  It was not until the Civil War that there was any success with mandatory drafts when both the Confederate and Union forces employed them in 1862.  But it was President Woodrow Wilson's Selective Service Act of 1917 that corrected most of the flaws of previous legislation by mandating military service for all male citizens for WWI.  After that draft effort ended, another attempt was made by the Army in 1926 to develop an even more workable conscription program.  That initiative became the basis for the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 which created the first peacetime draft in the United States when signed by President Franklin Roosevelt on September 16, 1940.  In fact it became the cornerstone of manpower recruitment following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 which continued throughout WWII, and with some later modifications in 1948, 1951 and 1955 formed the basis for the current Selective Service System.  Oddly, the very existence of a draft prompted an estimated 11 million men to volunteer for military service either through active or reserve enlistments from January 1954 to April 1975.              
However, for most male Americans born after 1973 service in the military became a non issue, as that was the year the mandatory draft ended and the United States went to our existing all voluntary military.  That brings us back to that nagging "Other One Percent%" and whether it may be time to reinstate involuntary military service in America.   Will that ever happen?  Probably not, but there might be a rationale for requiring some form of mandatory service to this country whether in a military capacity or otherwise.  First, it would definitely spread the sacrifices of war among the remaining 99%.  That alone might just cause those in power who make such decisions, and may have never served one day in the military themselves, to think twice about sending our fathers, mothers, sons and daughters into harm's way.  Just last week Mark Weisbrot of McClatchy-Tribune News Service opined in our local newspaper that a majority of Americans now want our troops out of Afghanistan and two thirds think we should have never invaded Iraq in the first place.  I wonder if it would have taken ten years to come to these same conclusions if a broader cross section of America's young men and women had been over there fighting those battles since 2001.  Another plus would be to instill in our youth a deeper sense of responsibility about serving their country and not just take their secure and safe worlds for granted.  There are many other viewpoints on this issue, but please go to http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:_Mandatory_military_service and decide for yourself. 
In just two days we will once again honor that Day of Infamy on December 7, 1941, which, as a direct result of the draft, was met with a huge mobilization of men and material to fight and win WWII.   If nothing else, that terrible four year conflict should have at least taught us the value of not having just 1% of our population fight the battle for the remaining 99%. 
              

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Where Have All the Centrists Gone?

Was anyone really surprised with the recent failure of the "Super Committee" to find consensus on a debt reduction/increased income/tax reform package and move this country forward given the utter gridlock that has taken over and paralyzed the legislative process for months?  With built-in automatic budget cuts of $1.2 trillion scheduled to kick in January 2013, no doubt we will see further jockeying to either postpone, reshuffle or eliminate them entirely.  It makes one wonder what has happened to the elected representative model of legislative compromise that has been the bedrock of our democratic system for almost a quarter century.  Ironically, even in 1776 our founding fathers sought common ground on issues including the very composition of Congress that has evolved into the stagnated body we endure today, which Ben Stein compared on CBS's Sunday Morning show this morning to a group of zombies.



According to a study of voting practices in the Senate over the past thirty years conducted by CBS News and the National Journal, moderates have been disappearing at drastic rates ever since 1982, as reflected by the table below which categorizes liberals as BLUE, moderates as YELLOW and conservatives as RED.
YEAR       BLUE       YELLOW       RED
1982             10                 60                 30
1994             29                 36                 35
2002             45                   9                 46
2010             45                   0                 55

Not only does this study confirm the total absence of any centrists in the Senate today, it also reveals a marked trend toward conservatism during this period which has been obvious to anyone who follows the news.  But even during Ronald Reagan's presidency there was at least a spirit of cooperation and compromise because of the existence of conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans who actually enjoyed socializing on a personal level with their counterparts.  Although they may have fought heated battles in the chamber over policy issues, when push came to shove they recognized the absolute imperative of achieving legislative progress to avoid the very stalemates that have been the norm for the past several months.  However, in today's world such interaction with one another seems to be taboo, and personal assaults seem to be the order of the day.  But the over-riding question is why does this poisoned atmosphere exist?  Matt Cooper, Editor of the National Journal believes it may be a result of:

1.  Redistricting along more partisan divides.
2.  Special interest groups which "pound" Senators to vote a particular party line even if they may represent a more moderate district.  
3.  Influence of highly partisan media which "stovepipe" their message to the exclusion of other views.
Let me add a fourth, MONEY, either through direct campaign contributions, unlimited funding of tax exempt organizations with set political agendas or personal gifts.  So, is it any wonder that the Super Committee was destined for failure from the very beginning?



What is interesting about this poisonous divide is the fact that the fastest growing group of voters today is independents, who tend to be more moderate and centrist in their political views.  Also, I find it interesting that you now hear rumblings about the formation of a Third Party and even a newer effort known as Americans Elect whose purpose, as reported by Krissah Thompson in The Washington Post, is to hold a political convention via the Internet to place a third presidential candidate on every state ballot in 2012.  Could this approach possibly tap into that huge reservoir of centrist voters and break the current gridlock in Washington?  I have no idea, but you can learn more about their effort at http://americanselect.org.  In addition a host of really drastic measures may be necessary to mend the current sad state of affairs and restore a sense of true public service for the common good among our elected officials, including:
1.  Forbid lobbying on Capitol Hill altogether.  Elected representatives with the help of their paid staffs should be able to figure out for themselves what legislation is best for America. *
2.  Outlaw paid staff members from ever becoming lobbyists. *
3.  Outlaw gifts of any kind to elected officials.  Simply put, the ethics law can be written in two words:  "ACCEPT NOTHING"!
4.  Encourage legislators to quit signing silly pledges.
5.  Establish term limits for all members of Congress. 
6.  Shorten campaign periods.
7.  Fund campaigns with tax dollars.
8.  Eliminate the Electoral College. 
9.  Somehow temper the partisan media. 
10. Enforce the laws against tax exempt organizations funding political activities, or write new ones.
* Even Jack Abramoff, the former king of lobbying, agrees something has to be done in these areas (re: his fascinating November 6th interview on CBS's "60 Minutes" at http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57319075/jack-abramoff-the-lobbyists-playbook/).


In short, until major reforms, whether those listed above or others, are established to create a more level playing field for all who desire to run for office the opportunity to do so, nothing will probably ever change to break the current gridlock and allow for the return of the centrists to help balance the political extremes that exist today.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Success with Honor

Two weeks ago I had the occasion to discuss with friends the relative merits of various athletic programs around the nation which provided me the perfect opportunity to praise one of my long time heroes and programs, Joe Paterno and Penn State University.  My argument was how could you not laud a man who had spent almost a half century of his life as head coach at the same university compiling a winning record unmatched in college football totally free of scandal and sanctions, all while achieving a 90% graduation rate among his players.  In fact I had planned to make that remarkable graduation rate the subject of a separate blog.  However, all of that well deserved record of achievement came crashing down with the subsequent revelations this past week about alleged child sexual abuse by a member of his coaching staff over a period of several years dating back to at least the late 1990's.  If ever there was a living example of the adage that it takes a lifetime to build a reputation, but only one mistake to destroy it, this tragedy certainly qualifies.

While there probably will be many further revelations about this situation before it is over, at least the powers that be at Penn State have taken immediate and decisive action to remove all of those individuals connected with these horrendous acts, including even those who committed sins of omission by not contacting the proper authorities at the time they supposedly occurred.  No doubt everyone involved in this particular incident will eventually pay a heavy price for the misdeeds that have revealed a darker side of major college sports which Susan Page of USA Today terms a "conspiracy of silence".   In fact "Buzz" Bisinger, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Friday Night Lights and columnist for the The Daily Beast, minces no words in his opinion of this "closing of ranks around their own", going so far as to call it the "evil" within college sports and comparing it to the Mafia's code of "omerta".  You can read his column and the various responses which followed at http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/11/10/joe-paterno-and-penn-state-s-code-of-omerta-in-the-sex-abuse-scandal.html.  He also has proposed a total separation of sports from academics in which collegiate athletics would be licensed to schools that would pay a set fee for teams playing under their banner.  Under this arrangement players could even be paid for their services, something I have heard others suggest.  Frankly, I do not know how all of this would work, but if nothing else comes out of this mess, maybe there will be a re-evaluation of all major college sports and the potentially corrupting influence of the hundreds of millions of dollars that flow into these programs each year.

One thing that should be remembered in all of this is that Penn State University has a long history of following the motto of Success With Honor.  Adherence to that motto was never more proudly displayed than last night's student prayer vigil on campus for the victims of this past abuse, and continued through today's difficult, emotional and heartbreaking 17 to 14 loss against Nebraska.  The game began and ended with a huge outpouring of support from 100,000+ students and fans for their home team and coaching staff, even including a gathering at midfield of both teams and staffs before the game to pray together instead of apart.  Coming back from a 17 to 0 deficit, the Nittany Lions fought back and actually had a chance to either tie or win the game, but time simply ran out.  So, in the end, this sordid affair is not about one person or even a group of people, as they all can and will be replaced.  Rather, it is about a storied institution, its history, heritage, traditions and the manner in which they plan to move forward.  From what I observed today watching that game which ended about a hour ago, that healing process has already begun and Penn State will emerge much stronger as a result, further achieving that Success with Honor.    

   

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Thank God for Mississippi

Growing up in Arkansas in the 40's, 50's and 60's, it was not uncommon to hear the declaration "Thank God for Mississippi", as it was always made in defense of our state for at least not being the very last in per capita wealth or education.  In that context it was not a very complimentary expression.  With the advent several years ago of casino gambling to that state in places like Tunica and Gulfport, hundreds of millions of dollars flowed into Mississippi's state coffers that brought about major infrastructure improvements, new factories, increased jobs and improvement in education, all of which pretty much made that expression fade away.


Now, all of a sudden, a new draconian legislative initiative comes along that makes one wonder what has happened to all of that progressive thinking and notable achievement.  Specifically, it is Amendment 26 - The Mississippi Personhood Amendment which, if approved, would amend Article III of their state constitution to define a person or persons to "include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof".  In short, every fertilized egg would become a person with all of the rights, privileges and protections now afforded all of the other living, breathing and functioning humans in Mississippi, including criminal  prosecution of anyone who destroys that egg whether intentional or not.  As reported on ABC News on November 4th, this definition "....goes beyond what most anti-abortion politicians and groups advocate, which is to define life at conception and limit abortion only to cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is in danger", so it is very clear what the true intent of this initiative is and where it's headed.  In fact their own website at http://personhoodmississippi.com/amendment-26/what-it-says.aspx admits that if this amendment is approved then "...abortion will be outlawed in our state; cloning and other forms of medical cannibalism will be effectively stopped; and a challenge will be set up to Roe v Wade".  In a more drastic practical application of this ill-conceived law, if a couple engages in sex and then use a morning after pill as a form of now legal birth control, they could be prosecuted for murder.  More problematic is what happens in cases of in vitro fertilization procedures when unused eggs are destroyed after a successful pregnancy is achieved.  So much for a legal lifeline that medical science has created for otherwise childless couples.           

This issue was discussed at great length during the Diane Rehm Show this past Monday, October 31st, so go to http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-10-31/consequences-granting-legal-status-fertilized-human-egg listen to the entire discussion.  And you thought the spooks and goblins of Halloween were scary?  It would almost be funny if the implications weren't so serious.  Some of the more interesting reactions to this topic have ranged from wanting to claim such eggs as dependents for tax purposes, to wanting to know if a mother dies during childbirth could the egg be charged with manslaughter, to why there is not as much concern for the living children of Mississippi now unwanted and living in foster homes, to wanting to know if a mother who miscarries can be charged with murder, to personal injury attorneys having a field day with the accidental death of that fertilized egg.  Ever heard of unintended consequences?  Well, this initiated act is chocked full of them, not the least of which is an absolute assault on the rights of women to make their own determination concerning family planning.  Furthermore, forget about innovative medical procedures being developed in Mississippi to aide women in that planning, which is one of the reasons why almost every medical group in that state is against this measure.  I had held out some anticipation that Governor Haley Barbour might bring some reason to this ballot question, but I noticed in an AP article yesterday that he has already voted for it, so I can only hope that the good people of Mississippi will come to their senses and vote this bad boy down next Tuesday.  If not, then "Thank God for Mississippi.  

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Cheer Them in the Middle East, Arrest Them in America

All of the recent publicity and rhetoric about the Occupy Wall Street movement just begs a comparison with the Arab Spring protests of several months ago when most western democracies including ours were cheering the courage and bold action of thousands of citizens in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Libya.  Besides risking beatings, imprisonment and torture they were also placing their very lives in jeopardy to achieve the same democratic liberties we enjoy here in America, among them the freedom of peaceful assembly and expression which Occupy Wall Street exemplifies.  Setting aside for the moment whether you agree with the OWS message, do you not find the police reaction of forced removal and arrests in some cities (most notably Oakland, Denver and Nashville) to be similar to the police conduct in the Middle East?  It's as if we are becoming them instead of the other way around.  I thought riot gear, tear gas and over-whelming police force were part of our past, not our present.  And for Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain to label the demonstrators as "un-American," "anti-capitalism" and "anti-free market" just shows a total ignorance of history, as well as what this initiative is all about.      

So, exactly what is driving this Occupy Wall Street movement?  Well, you can start with the huge income and wealth disparity between the top one percent of our population which has grown by 275% over the past generation while the remaining ninety-nine percent has grown only 18% during that same period.  One of the reasons cited for this disparity by the Congressional Budget Office is the lack of college degrees among our young people who, in this climate of ever-changing globalization, are simply unable to compete with the more educated Chinese and Indians who will work for much less.  Compounding the problem of those diminished job opportunities for our youth, which robs them of their dreams for the future, is the mountain of student loan debt incurred by those who do seek to achieve that very college education that is being sold as the key to one's economic success. Then there is the loss of existing jobs which has caused financial devastation among millions of adult Americans who are unable to pay the mortgages on their homes, as well as just meet day-to-day living expenses for their families.  And, finally, there are the ethical lapses and criminal activities within the financial community that almost brought down the major economies of the industrialized world which have gone largely unpunished.  Conversely, our masters of the universe seem to have gone right back to the same questionable practices and exorbitant personal enrichment of the past that are further widening that income gap and creating an elite economic imbalance which Alexander Stille of the New York Times calls "....one of the most unequal democracies in the world".  Frame all of these concerns within the context of a feckless and paralyzed congress that seems either unable or unwilling to address these systemic problems in a bold and meaningful way and you've got yourself the platform for all of the dissatisfaction, frustration and anger now being expressed by Occupy Wall Street.  

One of the main criticisms being leveled at this movement is its lack of common theme or central voice.  Those of us old enough to have lived through the Vietnam War and the anti-war demonstrations that raged across America in the late 60's and early 70's will recall a somewhat similar critique in the early stages of that initiative, but it did not take very long for those disparate anti-war actions to meld into the central message of  "End that war".  We all know what happened as a result - it ended.  The same thing happened with civil rights abuses.  It's all about raising the national consciousness and public debate to the point where corrective action is forced on our policy makers.  I suspect that as the Occupy Wall Street movement spreads and gains support, both moral and financial, we will see a more effective organization that may well play a significant role in the 2012 elections not unlike that of the Tea Party in 2010.  In fact, Elizabeth Warren's senatorial race in Massachusetts may well be the bell-weather test of this possibility, as evidenced by the outpouring of support from OWS sympathizers at one of her recent rallies.  Surely, these impassioned citizens will at least be allowed to exercise their lawful right to peaceful protest and expression without fear of intimidation and arrest at these legal assemblies, if not public parks and spaces.     

Monday, October 24, 2011

Pedaling Across America

Yesterday's New York Times Travel section featured a wonderful article by Bruce Weber as he completes his second 4,000 mile cross-country bicycle trip which began this time from Astoria, Oregon on July 20th and is scheduled to end on the Isle of Manhattan, New York soon, if it hasn't already.  What grabbed my attention to his journey was not only the sheer physical accomplishment of the feat at age 57 versus eighteen years ago when he first made the trip at age 39, but the almost de Tocqueville quality of his observations of Americana along the way made from a middle-aged perspective of not being in a hurry.  Also, it was relevant to a couple of personal cycling experiences, which I will get to in a minute.   
Contrary to his first trip as a younger man, he admits that his current trans-continental trip has a much more contemplative quality, as this time one's mortality factors into the equation.  Gone is the drive to ride at break-neck speed from sun-up to sun-down with a fearless determination to cover as many miles as possible in the shortest period of time.  Also, there is now a deep appreciation of the risks involved in such an adventure in terms of traffic and road conditions that has triggered much more caution and awareness.  But the trade-off is a heightened consciousness and appreciation of this nation, generally the kindness of its people, which he terms "the default temperament of decency" and the spectacular beauty of the countryside.  From the River Gorge of Oregon, over the majestic Rockies, across the plains of Montana and North Dakota, to the headwaters of the Mississippi in Minnesota, through the heartland of Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio to the Great Allegheny Passage in Pennsylvania, 300 miles short of his final destination when his chronicle was written, one just cannot be anything but awed.  In his words "This was an American journey by a New Yorker who became more American as he went along". 
While he also confesses that the physical demands of this trip almost took its toll, his defining moment was on August 13th, the day he crossed the Continental Divide.  After seriously considering taking a lesser route to avoid a grueling 11-mile climb to the top, he was persuaded by a stranger in Whitefish, Montana that it would be "awfully silly to be so close to one of the justly celebrated rides in America and not taking advantage of it".  And I just loved his equating the exhilaration of the moment with that when as a 17-year old boy he got kissed by his 17-year old girlfriend - "It was exactly like that".  His journey is unquestionably a metaphor for life that can be summed up by his own conclusion to live in the present.  To learn more about it and see images from this amazing trip, go to http://nytimes.com/travel
Now, let me share those personal experiences.  On April 2, 2010, a friend and I were at the Toltec Mounds Museum between Scott and Keo, Arkansas when we crossed paths with a man from California who was in the seventh year of an on-going bicycle journey across America.  It happened to be his 64th birthday, so I persuaded him to let me take his picture and e-mail it to his wife just to let her know he was alive and well.  I filed that encounter away and had almost forgotten about it when out of the clear blue last December 14th I received an e-mail from Joel thanking me for that picture, and letting me know he made it to Memphis OK, but flew back to California.  However, he had resumed his trek last September riding from Rapid City, South Dakota to Sioux City, Iowa, thus completing the final leg of his "across-America" ride which he admitted his wife only allowed him to do in "little pieces each year".  Just like Bruce Weber's journey summarized above, what started out as just riding a bike soon morphed into weaving a quilt of personal encounters that became his main focus of interest, and just by happenstance my friend and I had become a part of that fabric, for which he again thanked me.  And then, once again out of the blue Joel e-mailed me on May 16th of this year voicing his concern about the recent storms and flooding that had occurred across the south last spring and wondering if we were OK.  I greatly appreciated and thanked him for his inquiry and concern, as our house had been a victim of a fallen tree the prior month.   Obviously, that "default temperament of decency" cuts both ways.
And, finally, within the past ten days it has been my true pleasure to take two mini bike rides, the first through the vineyards of Napa Valley, California with my wife, children and their respective spouses, and the latest this past Saturday, which was an individual ride through Two Rivers Park here in Little Rock, a place about which I first wrote on August 14, 2011.  While both were leisurely and soulful rides through pristine and beautiful places with little physical agony, I can only imagine what strength and commitment it must take to pedal across America, particularly during middle age, whether all at once like Mr. Weber or piecemeal like my new found friend, Joel.  Gentlemen, I applaud you both!   
      

Sunday, October 9, 2011

History Comes Full Circle

Almost one year ago to the day, I included in my October 24th blog POTPOURRI III mention of meeting one of America's foremost artists, Will Barnet, at a screening of a documentary film on his life in New York the previous week.  That opportunity was a direct result of going to Maine two months prior and reconnecting with a dear high school friend who lives there (re: my RECONNECTIONS blog of August 29, 2010) and who, along with her husband, was involved with the production of that film.  Unbeknownst to me at the time, those two events helped plant the seeds for what has now blossomed into the current spectacular showing of a collection of Will Barnet's drawings at the Arkansas Arts Center which are on exhibit from now until January 15, 2012.   

For those like me who until last year were unfamiliar with Will Barnet, allow me to briefly acquaint you with this most remarkable man.  Born 100 years ago in Beverly, Massachusetts on May 25, 1911, where he began painting self-portraits in the basement of his parents' home, he then progressed to formally studying art at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in his teens during which time he added seascapes and family cats to his portfolio.  In 1931 he left for New York and began his 50 year association with the very Art Students League where I was privileged to see the documentary film mentioned above, as well as meet his lovely wife of 59 years, Elena.  As revealed in Robin Finn's article in the New York Times last October, the city became his muse where he began "sketching the forlorn and angry faces he saw on every corner" developing his style of "stark, brooding social realism".  At the same time he focused on and mastered print techniques at the Art Students League where he taught Mark Rothko in that process.  In addition he has taught at Cornell University, Cooper Union, Yale University, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Montclair State University in New Jersey where he was a visiting art professor from 1940 to 1945, and where his son, Peter, has taught art for forty years.  His body of work has been featured over the years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the National Gallery in Washington D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Whitney Museum of American Art, so the Arkansas Arts Center is in very good company. 

Over the last eight decades he has constantly elected to travel the road less traveled artistically by opting to pursue that which was neither popular nor easy.  As noted in Finn's NYT article, his work "morphed from social realism to a nuanced abstraction that used flat planes of color to convey emotion and depth".   A clear example of this unusual technique is demonstrated in the lithograph "WAITING" depicting a group of women forlornly awaiting the return of their husbands from the sea, a recurring theme of Mr. Barnet's, which you can see at the Arts Center alongside his prototype pencil drawing of that very scene.  In fact color is so important to him in his paintings that he has been known to experiment for months if not years trying to blend the precise shade and hue of a particular color to achieve those artistic dimensions.  He also prides himself in saying that "I love moving on and finding fresh ways to use color and form.  That's been my excitement".  

Even though as a centenarian he still continues to engage in his passion of art by spending three to four hours a day creating it, albeit from a wheelchair, he is not oblivious to his mortality, as related in a story he told for the same NYT article about his grandfather's impending death at the age of 96.   At the age of six, Will was taken to say goodbye to his grandfather who said to him at that time:  "Do you think it's easy to die at the age of 96?"  Consequently, we in Central Arkansas are truly blessed to have this marvelous 85-piece collection of Will Barnet drawings at our doorstep which are beautifully arranged chronologically from 1928 to 1990 to show the evolution of the style and content of a truly amazing artisan who refuses to quit.  To get a glimpse of his remarkable range and talent please visit the Arkansas Arts Center between now and January 15, 2012.  You will not be disappointed.

As a late PS, there is a featured article on Will Barnet in the Arts and Leisure section of today's New York Times, so our exhibition here in Little Rock is very timely.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

"Let Them Eat Cake"

Recent news stories and studies about the plight of the young, poor and hungry in America caused me to reflect on the French Revolution (1789-1799) which, essentially, was prompted by a growing disparity between the rich aristocracy and the peasantry who sought equality and rights as a result of a shortage of their main food staple, bread.  Whether you believe the famous quote of "let them eat cake" actually came from Marie Antoinette is irrelevant because it generally reflected the selfish attitude of the French upper class at the time, of which she was a most prominent member.  What is important to remember is that things did not turn out very well for her or the aristocracy in general, a historical lesson that may well apply today.
Fast forward two hundred years and we see alarming trends in our society which seem to mirror 18th century France.  Let's start with the growing inequality between the rich and poor in America and how it is infecting our national soul and purpose.  As reported last May in VANITY FAIR in an article by Joseph Stiglitz entitled Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1%, the top one percent of Americans now earn 25% of all income and control 40% of all wealth, a situation he compares with Russia and Iran, as well as some countries in the Middle East where less than 1% of the population controls the majority of wealth.  He further contends that such income and wealth inequality shrinks opportunity, undermines efficiency and lessens investment in infrastructure, research and education out of reluctance of the wealthy "to spend money on the common needs" of society.  As the rich become richer, they lose their sensibilities toward government helping the less fortunate with things like parks, education, medical care and security because they (the rich) are able to pay for all those things themselves.  It's just the classic mindset of "I've got mine, now you get yours".  The main goals of many wealthy people always seem to be to lower taxes and reduce regulation.  But perhaps the greatest cost to our society in Mr. Stiglitz's view is "the erosion of our sense of identity, in which fair play, equality of opportunity, and a sense of community are so important".  In fact he notes that Alexis de Tocqueville even observed these qualities as being part of the American fabric and called them "self-interest properly understood".  However, in this context "properly understood" are the key words, as they refer to the self-interest of others, or the common welfare, which is a precondition for one's own ultimate well-being.  Put another way by the author, even though the rich can afford the best of everything, they do not seem to understand that "their fate is bound up with how the other 99 percent live".
Framing this message in current terms, consider the following facts as a confirmation of "shrunken opportunity":
1.  In 2010 the poverty rate of 15.1% (46.2 million people) was the highest since 1933.
2.  In 2010 the rate of those without health care insurance was 16.3% (49.9 million people).
3.  5.9 million (14.2%) young adults between age 25-34 now live back home with their parents in what could be termed "re-filling the empty nest".
4.  Over 14 million Americans (9.1%) are still unemployed.
5.  Only 55.3% of young adults between 16-29, which some now refer to as the "lost generation", are currently employed, the lowest level since WWII.
6.  The poverty level among those under 25 years of age is 37%.
7.  Anywhere between 700,000 and 2 million people are homeless in America on any given night, 36% of whom are families with children. 
Without laying blame for the dismal condition of our national economy, as there is plenty to go around, the question of what to do now looms large over the political horizon.  Currently, the administration's proposed American Jobs Act seems to address a wide spectrum of concerns on both sides of that landscape including tax relief for wage earners and small businesses, increased revenue from the rich, closed tax loopholes for large corporations and "spending money on the common needs" mentioned above (i.e. infrastructure, education and research).  As such, it would seem to be in the best interest of America to learn from history, pass this legislation and hopefully avoid the fate of the rich French and their disconnect with the poor as evidenced by their shouting "Let them eat cake"!    
              

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Day if Infamy - 21st Century Style

Having been born just before December 7, 1941, I grew up with the term "Day of Infamy" sealed in my memory.  Today, 70 years later, we observe the 10th anniversary of another "Day of Infamy", when four hijacked airliners attacked this country, two destroying the World Trade Center in New York, one striking the Pentagon in Washington DC and the fourth being denied reaching its final destination in Washington due to the extreme bravery of the passengers on board who overtook the cockpit and forced the crash landing in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  Just as with those who remember where they were on that day in 1941 when Pearl Harbor among other Pacific locations was bombed, we who are old enough today remember exactly where we were on September 11, 2001. 
While it would be easy to default to the horrors of that day, I will leave those memories to the multitude of programs which have been and will be aired on the many radio and television programs dedicated to what has become known in its abbreviated term as 9/11.  Rather, I would like to focus on the manifestations of what President Franklin Roosevelt termed "the unbounded determination of our people" in his famous Day of Infamy speech on December 8, 1941.   While his commitment to "make certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again" obviously missed the mark, the changes both good and bad that have ensued over the past decade have clearly changed our lives forever.  However, our commitment to memorialize those who made the ultimate sacrifice, pick up the pieces, adjust to the circumstances, rebuild and move on clearly embodies that boundless American spirit in times of tragedy and destruction to which Roosevelt referred.   It just seems to be part of our national DNA. 
There is no better symbol of that quality of persistence than the construction of the World Trade Center Memorial being dedicated today, as well as the new Freedom Tower presently under construction.  Not only does the new tower reflect what one person connected to the project termed a "visible symbol of survival and strength", it does so in a truly magnificent and beautiful way.  It is also a tribute to our country's engineering genius in that it will withstand any future attack such as that which destroyed the twin towers ten years ago.  See for yourself at http://www.nyc-tower.com/category/videos/.  
And as if all that has been achieved at ground zero and the spectacular repair of the Pentagon in one year is not enough, the courage and bravery of the passengers aboard Flight 93 that caused it to plow into a Pennsylvania field instead of hitting its intended target is also being remembered with the dedication of a memorial this weekend.  Thanks to childhood friends whose son was responsible for raising funds for that memorial, you can hear about it in their own words below which are included with their full permission and consent.
Dear Relatives and Friends,
 At 10:03 am on September 11, 2001 United Flight 93 became the fourth plane, out of the quartet of four hijacked passenger jets, to crash in a rural area of Pennsylvania. Forty passengers on the plane made a decision to storm the cockpit in hopes of taking back control of the aircraft. Instead, through their valiant efforts, the hijackers were forced to crash the plane, killing all on board, thus bringing to a close the horrific events of 9/11/2001. At the time of the crash the plane was less than 200 miles from its intended target, our Capitol Building in Washington DC.
Next Saturday, September 10, 2011, the first part of the Flight 93 National Memorial will be dedicated near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. For the last few years our son, King Laughlin II as an employee of the National Park Foundation, has been responsible for the national effort to raise funds to complete the Memorial. Linda and I will be in attendance on September 10th and 11th at the Dedication.
For those of you who may be interested in following the Dedication events on September 10th the event will be streamed live at www.history.com/flight93 or http://www.honorflight93.org/remember/?fa=anniversary  beginning at 11:30am CDT. In addition CBS News will be broadcasting from the Flight 93 Site on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 6:00-9:00am CDT. It is very likely that all the other networks, CNN and Fox News will carry extensive coverage of the Dedication.
You can see more about the Memorial at www.nps.org/flight93 or www.honorflight93.org or www.flight93memorial.org  or www.foxnews.com/freedom  August 25, 2011 program.
Fly your American Flag next weekend to honor all who gave their lives and especially to honor the Forty Souls on Flight 93 who struck the 
first blow against the terrorist and saved our Nation’s Capitol.
Thank you,
Linda and King Laughlin
“God Bless America”  

Enough said.


Sunday, September 4, 2011

North by Northwest (Arkansas, that is)

Sometimes life will unknowingly hit you with a spate of pleasant surprises when you least expect them.  Such was the case last week when my wife and I made a spur of the moment road trip to the bustling region of Northwest Arkansas to meet and have dinner with our son, who had flown in from California for a business meeting.  Since we rarely travel to that section of the state, even though we both graduated from the University of Arkansas in the early 60's, we had decided to take in some of that area's sites and attractions, some already known to us, some unknown.
First, we took advantage of its proximity to visit the new Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art presently under construction in Bentonville through the generosity of Alice Walton, one of the heirs of the founder of Wal-Mart.  As many already know, millions of dollars are being spent to construct a spectacular facility to house and display one of the great collections of works by American artists.  But the real surprise was the beautiful walk through the woods to get to the observation deck to view the building itself which is scheduled to open this November 11th.  When completed, it is expected to draw people from all over the world to enjoy this great body of work, but to see for yourself the status of this endeavor, please go to http://crystalbridges.org.
Next, of course, was the obligatory visit to the U of A campus in Fayetteville to seek out old haunts and memories.  One of the first things to grab our attention was the face of the campus.  With the exception of the area of green space that still exists in front of Old Main, virtually every square inch of land seems to have some sort of new structure on it including a library, dorms, fraternity houses, sorority houses, parking garages and, of course, the huge athletic complex which is soon to undergo another multi-million dollar expansion.  Another thing that caught our eye was the undergraduate dress code, or lack thereof.  Long gone are dresses, slacks, khakis, button down shirts and blouses.  Boys now wear baggy shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops, and girls go for short shorts, T-shirts and ball caps and all are perennially linked into their tech gadgets, be it cell phones, smart phones or I-pods.  Think beach.  Naturally, as the old folks searching for our chiseled names in our respective senior walks, we were the object of their humorous entertainment, but we persevered and actually found them.  But thanks to the digital age, those names have both been recorded for posterity, so, thankfully, we will not have to suffer that embarrassment again.  
Our last stop before leaving campus involved a trip to my wife's old sorority house, Kappa Kappa Gamma.  Three young members greeted us on the porch, one of whom escorted us through the downstairs and brought my wife up to date on what was happening within the "Kiss Kiss and Giggle" crowd, including the fact that 135 had just pledged, so they both were happy about that.  Additionally, they got a kick out of comparing notes on life in KKG now verses then, including no date call, pledging freshmen instead of sophomores, many members living outside of the house due to shortage of space and having to conduct chapter meetings elsewhere for the very same reason.  In bidding our goodbyes, I asked the girls why they weren't upstairs studying, to which one held up her I-Phone meaning, I guess, that in fact she was. 
As we were leaving the campus, we happened by Underwood's Jewelers on Dickson Street, which held some fond memories for me.  For one, Bill Underwood, an old friend, had played an instrumental role in my acing one of my senior business school classes which I have never forgotten.  For another, he had been the source of several purchases through the years, not the least of which were the wedding rings that adorned both my wife's and my fingers.  Hers had grown tight over the years, so I thought this would be a perfect time to get the original creator to fix the problem.  As it had been twenty-five years since I last dropped in to visit with Bill, I fully expected him to have retired, but lo and behold he was not only there but was still doing what he had always done - creating unique and beautiful pieces of jewelry.  What was intended to be a fifteen minute visit turned into over an hour of enjoyable quality time with an old friend and one talented guy still plying his craft.  And, yes, we left her ring to be fixed by the old master.
And, finally, on the way home we detoured slightly to the north and east to see what was going on at the Medieval Castle currently being constructed outside of Lead Hill, Arkansas, which presented a true contrast to all of the new and modern structures we had been exposed to above. No one is in a hurry here.  Started in 2009 on sixty acres of donated land, these committed artisans are doing it the old fashion way from making the tools they use, quarrying the stone, chiseling and laying the sections in exact patterns, constructing ancillary structures true to that period in support of their work (e.g. a blacksmith shop, horse stable, working farm, etc.) and actually dressing the part.  Unlike many modern construction projects, this one has a twenty year time frame, so the investors are not in it for the quick buck.  You can learn about it all at
http://www.ozarkmedievalfortress.com/en-us/visit-the-medieval-castle.
Having done the "north by northwest" bit, perhaps our next trip will be south by southwest area of the state with which neither of us has a history or any knowledge.  In the meantime Happy Labor Day weekend to all!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

At Least One Fat Cat Gets It!

Watching eight of the sixteen declared Republican presidential candidates in their faux debate in Ames, Iowa last week for some reason reminded me of the children's rhyme Ten Little Indians.  You remember, "One little, two little, three little Indians, four little, five little......" with reverse counting back to only "One little Indian boy".  The telling moment came when they were all asked if they would reject any proposed compromise on new revenues even if it were a 10 for 1 deal - i.e. $1.00 in new revenue for every $10.00 in spending cuts.  True to form they all raised their hands as one would expect, but it was the way in which they did it that caught my attention.  After exchanging glances among each other to make sure this was a question they all really wanted to answer, the first to raise his hand was Rick Santorum, followed by Michele Bachmann (who dropped hers only to raise it again later), then Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman (who was more than evasive in explaining his reason for doing so, calling it a "nonsense question" on ABC's This Week program this morning), Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty and, finally, Herman Cain.  A ten for one deal is one any rational person would take in a heartbeat, but not one came forth in this extraordinary display of group think.  With that kind of intransigence, do we really think things will get better?  Well, maybe there is a possible solution to our current deadlock. 
As you might recall from my post Dysfunction in DC two weeks ago, I raised the question of where is the business community in all of this madness.  Well, one of the most powerful single voices in that community finally reiterated his long felt belief that taxes were way too low in a powerful Op-Ed piece in the August 15th issue of the New York Times entitled "Stop Coddling the Super-Rich".  In it he lays bare the notion that increased income taxes should be off the table for consideration by the congressional super committee of 12 and argues that they should in fact be raised on those making over $1 million a year including dividends and capital gains.  Why?  Because, as he further explains, most wealthy people are taxed at a much lower 15% rate (if at all) because of the way in which they earn money.  Instead of receiving a payroll check each period that is subject to automatically deducted payroll taxes, they earn it from investments which allow them to qualify for the much lower rate.  By contrast most wage earners are subject to those mandated payroll taxes which can drive their tax rates up to above 33% or, in the case of the 20 people he polled in his office, as high as 41%.  Read his entire treatise at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html?_r=1&ref=opinion.

In addition I think it is well past time for Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric, current head of President Obama's Jobs Council and his liaison to the business community, to follow Mr. Buffett's lead and start beating the drum for the business community to publicly decry all of this talk about no new taxes.  (To learn more about the Jobs Council go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/advisory-boards/jobs-council).  As head of a multi-national corporation that is hoarding billions of dollars in off-shore profits and paid zero tax in 2010 despite $14.2 billion in worldwide profits, some might argue if he is the right person to persuade other corporate executives to pay more taxes.  However, if Mr. Immelt would simply lead by example his would be the perfect voice to call upon others to do the same.  Besides paying their fair share of higher personal income taxes, as well as the corporate taxes they are sheltering abroad, these corporate heads should also start spending some of the $2.5 trillion in cash they are collectively sitting on to kick start the economy.  And, finally, in that regard Mr. Immelt needs to set another example for corporations by focusing GE's job creation efforts more in America instead of China, another area in which his duel leadership as head of the Jobs Council could be transformational.  In other words, it's time for other fat cats, as so graphically depicted on the current cover of The New Yorker to step up to the plate.    



ARTISTS - Visual and Musical
Laura Raborn at http://paintingsofhome.com and http://claygifts.com 
Jim Johnson at http://yessy.com/jimjohnson/gallery.html 
Russ Powell at http://powellphotos.com 
Linda Flake at http://lindaflake.com 
Tom Herrin at http://tommysart.blogspot.com 
Matt McLeod at http://matt@mattmcleod.com 
Artists Registry at http://www.arkansasarts.org/programs/registry/default.aspx
Sandy Hubler Fine Art at http://sandyhublerfineart.com
George Wittenberg at http://postcard-art-gallery.com  
Will Barnet at http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=17259,17315,23628,23670,24472,25834,26095,26328,26562,26637,26761,26790,26849,26992,27095,27126,27139,27147,27178&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=will+barnet&cp=9&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=xpfETMT1O4L6lwf66ugE&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CEkQsAQwAQ&biw=1350&bih=501
Barry Thomas at http://barrythomasart.com  
Sherry Williamson at http://meowbarkart.com
Julie McNair at http://juliemcnair.com  
Phoebe Lichty at http://phoebelichty.com



GALLERIES
Local Colour Gallery at http://localcolourgallery.com
Chroma Gallery at http://chromagallery.com
Cantrell Gallery at http://cantrellgallery.com
Greg Thompson Fine Art at http://gregthompsonfineart.com
Red Door Gallery at http://reddoorgalleryonline.com 
M2 Gallery at http://m2lr.com
UALR Gallery Program at http://ualr.edu/art
Gallery 26 at http://gallery26.com 
Boswell Mourot Fine Art at http://boswellmourot.com
       

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Two Rivers Park

As a relief from all of the turmoil that took place within the past week including starvation in Somalia, riots in London, a raging war in Afghanistan that continues to deteriorate and the wild ride on wall street, my wife and I took advantage of the cooler cloudy day yesterday to try out the newly opened Two Rivers Pedestrian Bridge here in Little Rock.

Officially dedicated on Friday, July 8th, at a cost of $5.3 million, 80% of which was paid by federal tax dollars (more on this later) and 20% by Pulaski County, this is the second such bridge to be constructed over a body of water that opens up a whole new range of recreational possibilities for our citizens.  The first, The Big Dam Bridge, completed in October 2006 at a total cost of $ 13 million, again 80% financed with federal tax revenue, was built on top of the existing Murray Lock and Dam on the Arkansas River just east of I-430.  It was the final link to a 15 mile circular bike and walking trail that joins Little Rock with our northern neighbor North Little Rock and its expansive Burns Parks.  In addition it facilitates access to approximately 70,000 total acres of city, county, state and federal park land.  

By contrast, the Two Rivers Bridge spans the Little Maumelle River to connect with Two Rivers Park, a 1,000 acre green space of hiking and riding trails 550 acres of which are owned by Pulaski County and 450 acres of which are owned by the City of Little Rock, including the terminal point.  As an added plus, this bridge also opens up connectivity to Pinnacle Mountain and 200 miles of hiking trails in the Ouachita Mountains.  This was not our first venture into Two Rivers Park, as we have transported our 1972-vintage matched pair of Raleigh bikes out there before for early morning rides that made you feel like you were pedaling in Provance (re: picture below from June 2009 ). 


However, this new access did provide a huge advantage in time and distance in getting there, as it eliminated the need to go all the way out west to Pinnacle Valley Road and then travel back east on County Farm Road.  You now just have to go basically beneath the I-440 Bridge and hop on this new bridge. 

Being a Saturday morning we expected it to be a popular place but as the day wore on it became more so.  In fact by the time we returned from our two hour walk, all parking lots were full, so we were glad we went early.  Besides being an easy and pleasing way to knock off a few miles (3.8 to be exact), we encountered many friends along the way, one of whom we had not seen in several years, which is the reason it took two hours.  Additionally, we spotted four deer in a field toward the western end of the primary trail at County Farm Road, saw a couple doing their birding thing and heard the sound of some wild creature in the distant woods that was totally unfamiliar to us.  All and all it was a most enjoyable and relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors, so kudos to Judge Buddy Villines and all those who made this bridge and park possible, as they are both true assets to our community.  Our only complaint, and it's a big one, is that the attractive restroom facility on County Farm Road at our western turn around point was locked up tighter than a drum, so we, as well as a whole slew of bike riders we saw there, were denied access to an essential public facility with no notice or explanation.  What's with that?  If it is not going to be open for the true "convenience and necessity" of the public for whom it was built, on perhaps one of the most used days of the week, then why even have it?   

That issue aside, I also could not help but wonder how many of the throngs of people who were out there yesterday thoroughly enjoying the day harbored the same belief system as that which is currently strangling our political system - i.e. no new taxes!  Who do they think financed that very amenity they were enjoying free?   Please keep that in mind as this nation struggles to right its financial ship and justify revenue increases.  They really do achieve good things for all of us.


ARTISTS - Visual and Musical
Laura Raborn at http://paintingsofhome.com and http://claygifts.com 
Jim Johnson at http://yessy.com/jimjohnson/gallery.html 
Russ Powell at http://powellphotos.com 
Linda Flake at http://lindaflake.com 
Tom Herrin at http://tommysart.blogspot.com 
Matt McLeod at http://matt@mattmcleod.com 
Artists Registry at http://www.arkansasarts.org/programs/registry/default.aspx
Sandy Hubler Fine Art at http://sandyhublerfineart.com
George Wittenberg at http://postcard-art-gallery.com  
Will Barnet at http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=17259,17315,23628,23670,24472,25834,26095,26328,26562,26637,26761,26790,26849,26992,27095,27126,27139,27147,27178&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=will+barnet&cp=9&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=xpfETMT1O4L6lwf66ugE&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CEkQsAQwAQ&biw=1350&bih=501
Barry Thomas at http://barrythomasart.com  
Sherry Williamson at http://meowbarkart.com
Julie McNair at http://juliemcnair.com  
Phoebe Lichty at http://phoebelichty.com



GALLERIES
Local Colour Gallery at http://localcolourgallery.com
Chroma Gallery at http://chromagallery.com
Cantrell Gallery at http://cantrellgallery.com
Greg Thompson Fine Art at http://gregthompsonfineart.com
Red Door Gallery at http://reddoorgalleryonline.com 
M2 Gallery at http://m2lr.com
UALR Gallery Program at http://ualr.edu/art
Gallery 26 at http://gallery26.com 
Boswell Mourot Fine Art at http://boswellmourot.com
       

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Dysfunction in DC

Having just witnessed the debt ceiling spectacle in Washington over this past few weeks,  I hardly know where to begin commenting about what is happening in Washington DC where the political environment has become so rancorous and toxic that the Speaker of the House now ignores phone calls from the President of the United States.  Maureen Dowd of the New York Times compared the tactics of the Tea Party and their followers to the horror classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", with a reference to "eating their own party and leaders alive".  Nicholas Kristof, also of the New York Times, called it "the warts of democracy".  And Robert Draper, who is writing a book on this whole sordid affair, likened it to a "WWE SmackDown" (to hear his entire fascinating interview on NPR go to http://www.npr.org/2011/08/03/138922932/inside-the-tea-partys-rising-influence).  With that less than flattering backdrop, consider the following random issues and conclusions that bubbled up as a result of this messy process.    
1.  There seems to be visceral hatred of President Obama that began almost the day after he was elected for reasons that totally escape me.  Is it his education, world view, trying to protect the poor, the color of his skin or his policies?  Take your choice, but it is obviously the avowed purpose of many on the far right to paralyze his administration and make him a "one term president" regardless of the ultimate costs to our country, financial or otherwise.  How American is that? 
2.  Then there is the debt limit itself and whether it is even needed.  James Surowiecki in an article in the August 1st edition of  The New Yorker lays out a compelling argument that it is not, as every other democratic country except Denmark gets along fine without one.  But for some reason we still feel the need for a questionable law that was enacted during WW1, according to an editorial the New York Times on August 8th, "to persuade gullible taxpayers that Congress is exercising responsible oversight over borrowing".  As we have just experienced, it has just become a foil for a game of chicken to showcase partisan brinkmanship that only adds stress to an already difficult situation, which Mr. Surowiecki argues is absolutely the worst environment in which to make such important decisions.  He and the NYT both agree that it is time to remove this self-induced problem of a debt ceiling and deal with the real problems facing this country.
3.  What about the far right's refusal to accept the need for increased revenues when almost all of our nation's economists on both sides of the political spectrum agree that they are absolutely essential to a long term fix of our fiscal problems?  And then for Congress to leave town for a month before formally approving the FFA budget which cost the government $30 million a day in lost income from passenger fees until it was temporarily restored this past Friday was a total abdication of their responsibilities as strong stewards of the purse which conservatives pretend to be.  God help us if this retro starve-the-beast mindset hits the state, county and city levels of our country as they pursue their various tax proposals to make up the loss in federal funds that will result from this by-product legislation.  Normally, it's just a routine matter to approve a new debt ceiling to pay existing commitments of the United States, so is it really necessary (see #2 above)?
4.  With all due respect for John Brummett, a noted local political analyst who writes a weekly column for the Arkansas Times, I'm not so sure there is that much "good" that came out of that deal.  For one thing it seems woefully lacking in size and structure.  In the words of David Brooks, a national political analyst for the New York Times, the conservative right let President Obama's "deal of the century", which proposed $4 trillion in cuts and only $1 trillion in revenues, slip away.  Obviously, the business and financial communities were not impressed, as evidenced by this past Thursday's collapse of the stock market and Standard and Poor's downgrading yesterday of our credit rating to AA+?  Both speak volumes about our true commitment to reduce our debt.  And, speaking of the business community, where were they in this process?   It's as if they had been muzzled. 
5.  And while we're on the subject of corporate America, what about the reported $2.5 trillion corporations are hoarding in cash while many multi-nationals pay no corporate income tax at all through various loopholes including sheltering their foreign profits offshore?  Yet, they are making no attempt at improving the employment rate in the United States by hiring some of the 9.1% unemployed with some of those trillions.  When corporations like Apple supposedly have more cash on hand that the United States Treasury (re:  http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/07/29/apple.cash.government/index.html), then something is terribly out of whack. 
6.  Will forming another bi-partisan committee solve anything?  We've been down this road before with the Simpson-Bowles Commission which did a terrific job in making some very substantial recommendations, which were summarily ignored, to address our long term financial problems.  Even though I seldom agree with Charles Krauthammer, I think his suggestion that this new super committee not "reinvent the wheel" and simply make the hard choices from those outlined in the Simpson-Bowles report is right on target.  Furthermore, to quote the co-chairs of that commission, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, "It's time to go big (i.e. in formulating a comprehensive plan) or go home".
7.  As recently pointed out by both Paul Krugman and Lawrence Summers, GROWTH rather than worrying about the debt ceiling is what this country really needs.  Mr. Krugman proposes a Harry Truman-like campaign to sell a big job creation proposal by President Obama, and Mr. Summers suggests absolutely letting the Bush tax cuts expire next year, extending the payroll tax cuts, adopting an infrastructure maintenance program and continuing unemployment benefits as the easiest ways to achieve badly needed economic growth. 


Considering all the misbehavior and sordid politics that have just taken place which have fueled public angst, worry, disgust and an 82% overall disapproval rating of Congress, one wonders if now might be the time to explore other methods of electing public officials as proposed by Americans-ELECT 2011 at https://secure.americanselect.org/, a link sent to me by an old friend from California.  While I do not necessarily endorse this approach, given the current sorry state of affairs in Washington, something dramatic needs to be done to reform the existing political system if our elected representatives can't get their act together, leave their ideology at the doorstep and compromise on a genuine bi-partisan long term solution to our financial woes .


ARTISTS - Visual and Musical
Laura Raborn at http://paintingsofhome.com and http://claygifts.com 
Jim Johnson at http://yessy.com/jimjohnson/gallery.html 
Russ Powell at http://powellphotos.com 
Linda Flake at http://lindaflake.com 
Tom Herrin at http://tommysart.blogspot.com 
Matt McLeod at http://matt@mattmcleod.com 
Artists Registry at http://www.arkansasarts.org/programs/registry/default.aspx
Sandy Hubler Fine Art at http://sandyhublerfineart.com
George Wittenberg at http://postcard-art-gallery.com  
Will Barnet at http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=17259,17315,23628,23670,24472,25834,26095,26328,26562,26637,26761,26790,26849,26992,27095,27126,27139,27147,27178&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=will+barnet&cp=9&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=xpfETMT1O4L6lwf66ugE&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CEkQsAQwAQ&biw=1350&bih=501
Barry Thomas at http://barrythomasart.com  
Sherry Williamson at http://meowbarkart.com
Julie McNair at http://juliemcnair.com  
Phoebe Lichty at http://phoebelichty.com



GALLERIES
Local Colour Gallery at http://localcolourgallery.com
Chroma Gallery at http://chromagallery.com
Cantrell Gallery at http://cantrellgallery.com
Greg Thompson Fine Art at http://gregthompsonfineart.com
Red Door Gallery at http://reddoorgalleryonline.com 
M2 Gallery at http://m2lr.com
UALR Gallery Program at http://ualr.edu/art
Gallery 26 at http://gallery26.com 
Boswell Mourot Fine Art at http://boswellmourot.com
       

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Rite of Passage

Recently, my wife and I were invited to attend a Quinceanera celebrating the 15th birthday of the daughter of a Hispanic friendBeing our first, we had no idea what to expect and were somewhat apprehensive as to what the exact protocol would be.  More on this later, but first let me provide some background and history on this event of which I had very little knowledge.

Many cultures and religions have their own unique way of celebrating the maturation of their young.  They include events like Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Debutante Balls, First Haircuts, Sweet Sixteen Parties, Baptisms, Confirmations, Hazings and Circumcision, all known to most of us, but less known are the practices of Breeching (Western European), Dokimasias (Greece), Russ (Norwegian), Scarification (many cultures), as well as a whole host of ceremonies from Hinduism, Buddhism and Native American origins.  But it is the Quinceanera from the Hispanic culture that is today's topic.  It usually begins with a religious ceremony to honor God and then progresses to a festive social event that involves family, friends, music, food and dance which can last for hours.  Our experience began with the reception which began at 4:00pm and was scheduled to end at 1:00am the following morning.    

We arrived at 4:30 and were warmly greeted at the front door of the event center where all tables had been elaborately decorated with red and white table cloths, angelic figurines and miscellaneous items which turned out to be favors for attendees.  In addition there was a separate table, obviously for the honoree and her court, as well as a table full of ornately decorated cakes.  At that early hour there were many empty tables so we chose one in the center of one side of the room.   Almost immediately the mother and sister of honoree came over to thank us for coming, after which we were served our own large bottle of soft drink.  Shortly thereafter delicious food began arriving starting with a soup, then chips and salsa and ending with a plate of beef, rice and tortillas.  As the evening progressed, the room began to fill up with family and friends of all ages in an array of festive dress, even including very young children who added a fun element to the occasion because they seemed to enjoy themselves the most.  Throughout the meal soft melodic music played in the background at the direction of the master of ceremonies who manned a very impressive sound system on an elevated stage located at one end of the room.


Sometime around 6:30pm the honoree and her court, which turned out to be four young men, made their entrance to the delight of all who had gathered by then.  She was dressed in an ornate full-length ball gown and they in formal attire.  At that point the flavor of music changed to Latino, to which they made a grand entrance that was beautifully choreographed with intricate steps and precise movements, ending with her being elevated on the shoulders of two members of the court as confetti inundated the room.  At that point she was presented with a large box containing gifts from her many girl friends who were there.  Then the honoree was seated in the center of the room where her fraternal grandmother placed a tiara on her head, followed by the gift of her last doll (dressed similar to the honoree) from her maternal grandmother which was then taken away by her maternal great-grandmother all in a very precise and ceremonial fashion.  A sparkling beverage was then poured into champagne glasses for everyone to toast the honoree.  Her father began to dance with her to the wonderful music which had continued throughout all of these proceedings,
followed by an arranged set of relatives all individually announced as they tagged in (think wedding reception).

After the above dancing segment, the honoree and her court left the room which by now was full of friends and guests.  Sometime later they all re-appeared in informal clothing and began another choreographed dance sequence with the honoree dancing separately with each of the members of her court to entirely different music and steps.  How she was able to persuade four young teenage boys to master all of the moves they showed beginning with their grand entrance is beyond me, but I do know that they all practiced for many weeks prior to the evening because I asked one of them how they mastered everything.  By then the music was getting louder and more youthful, so my wife and I bid our goodbyes and quietly left.  I understand that the celebration did in fact continue until 1:00am, but for the four and a half hours we were there we had one of the most fun, entertaining and enlightening evenings we have ever had, including being warmly welcomed by everyone there. It just goes to prove that one should always welcome the opportunity to engage in experiences outside one's culture and comfort zone.   To learn more about this amazing celebration in the life of a young Hispanic girl, go to http://www.quinceanera-boutique.com/quinceaneratradition.htm.


ARTISTS - Visual and Musical
Laura Raborn at http://paintingsofhome.com and http://claygifts.com 
Jim Johnson at http://yessy.com/jimjohnson/gallery.html 
Russ Powell at http://powellphotos.com 
Linda Flake at http://lindaflake.com 
Tom Herrin at http://tommysart.blogspot.com 
Matt McLeod at http://matt@mattmcleod.com 
Artists Registry at http://www.arkansasarts.org/programs/registry/default.aspx
Sandy Hubler Fine Art at http://sandyhublerfineart.com
George Wittenberg at http://postcard-art-gallery.com  
Will Barnet at http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=17259,17315,23628,23670,24472,25834,26095,26328,26562,26637,26761,26790,26849,26992,27095,27126,27139,27147,27178&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=will+barnet&cp=9&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=xpfETMT1O4L6lwf66ugE&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CEkQsAQwAQ&biw=1350&bih=501
Barry Thomas at http://barrythomasart.com  
Sherry Williamson at http://meowbarkart.com
Julie McNair at http://juliemcnair.com  
Phoebe Lichty at http://phoebelichty.com



GALLERIES
Local Colour Gallery at http://localcolourgallery.com
Chroma Gallery at http://chromagallery.com
Cantrell Gallery at http://cantrellgallery.com
Greg Thompson Fine Art at http://gregthompsonfineart.com
Red Door Gallery at http://reddoorgalleryonline.com 
M2 Gallery at http://m2lr.com
UALR Gallery Program at http://ualr.edu/art
Gallery 26 at http://gallery26.com 
Boswell Mourot Fine Art at http://boswellmourot.com
       

Sunday, July 17, 2011

The Moment of Truth - A Missed Opportunity?

As the current discord over debt, taxes, budget and jobs goes on, it makes me wonder what certain members of our congress think they were elected to do.  Obfuscate?  Destroy?  Play games?  Position themselves for the 2012 election?  How about they just do their job and protect the true interests of all Americans by passing a comprehensive bill to put our country on long term sound financial footing that would eliminate the confusion and angst that now exist, and position the United States to expand its economy and regain world confidence.  Right now we are being compared to Greece because of rampant political posturing and paralysis in Washington.   Yes, it will require compromise on both sides which is at the center of all landmark legislation.

From all I have been able to glean from very knowledgeable journalists including Ezra Klein, Paul Krugman, Nicholas Kristof, David Brooks and Henry Blodget (yes, that Henry Blodget), it is without question time we address these issues head on in a comprehensive manner and not "kick the can down the road" which seems to be modus operandi of some in congress.  My concern is that it may be too late.  However, before that process can begin each side needs to quit blaming the other for being the responsible party who created this mess.  In truth, both Democrats and Republicans did, so admit it and move on.  The next step is for both sides to realize that there are merits to both cutting spending and raising revenue, and for those 236 Congressmen and 41 Senators who signed that silly pledge to never do the latter to tear it up.  The Economist magazine called such a position "economically illiterate and disgracefully cynical".  And, finally, if bi-partisanship is what will make a comprehensive plan acceptable, then there is one on the table right now that should be adopted and passed as written - i.e. the proposal submitted last December by The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, often referred to as either the Bowles-Simpson Commission or the Simpson-Bowles Commission, depending no doubt on one's political affiliation, but take your pick.

In essence this report, sub-titled "The Moment of Truth", minces no words in clearly laying out the challenges of adopting its recommendations, as well as  the perils if we do nothing.  Of course there are things each side will not like which is what makes it so acceptable in my view.  But it really tackles the spending cuts and added revenue divide that has stopped all progress thus far and could well be applied to the "The Mother of All No-Brainers" conclusion David Brooks wrote about in the New York Times on July 4th, wherein he also labeled a White House proposal to cut $4 trillion in spending as "the deal of the century".  In short, this report clearly lays out its mission to address the "looming fiscal crisis" by succinctly outlining the principles and values embraced to meet its mission to balance the budget by 2015 and improve our long-run fiscal outlook by addressing the following six main categories of concern:
1.  Discretionary Spending Cuts
2.  Comprehensive Tax Reform
3.  Health Care Cost Containment
4.  Mandatory Savings
5.  Social Security Reforms to Ensure Long-Term Solvency and Reduce Poverty
6.  Process Changes
It is a remarkable document which should serve as the blueprint for President Obama's written plan the Republicans constantly call for him to submit to congress, and should be quickly adopted by both chambers.  As such, I strongly urge everyone to read about The Moment of Truth in its entirety at http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sites/fiscalcommission.gov/files/documents/TheMomentofTruth12_1_2010.pdf and, hopefully, avoid a missed opportunity.

ARTISTS - Visual and Musical
Laura Raborn at http://paintingsofhome.com and http://claygifts.com 
Jim Johnson at http://yessy.com/jimjohnson/gallery.html 
Russ Powell at http://powellphotos.com 
Linda Flake at http://lindaflake.com 
Tom Herrin at http://tommysart.blogspot.com 
Matt McLeod at http://matt@mattmcleod.com 
Artists Registry at http://www.arkansasarts.org/programs/registry/default.aspx
Sandy Hubler Fine Art at http://sandyhublerfineart.com
George Wittenberg at http://postcard-art-gallery.com  
Will Barnet at http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=17259,17315,23628,23670,24472,25834,26095,26328,26562,26637,26761,26790,26849,26992,27095,27126,27139,27147,27178&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=will+barnet&cp=9&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=xpfETMT1O4L6lwf66ugE&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CEkQsAQwAQ&biw=1350&bih=501
Barry Thomas at http://barrythomasart.com  
Sherry Williamson at http://meowbarkart.com
Julie McNair at http://juliemcnair.com  
Phoebe Lichty at http://phoebelichty.com



GALLERIES
Local Colour Gallery at http://localcolourgallery.com
Chroma Gallery at http://chromagallery.com
Cantrell Gallery at http://cantrellgallery.com
Greg Thompson Fine Art at http://gregthompsonfineart.com
Red Door Gallery at http://reddoorgalleryonline.com 
M2 Gallery at http://m2lr.com
UALR Gallery Program at http://ualr.edu/art
Gallery 26 at http://gallery26.com 
Boswell Mourot Fine Art at http://boswellmourot.com