Blabber: Pop Consumerist Middle Class...to SAVE WORLD.

Vali Nasr and John Stewart were discussing on the Daily Show the rise of the Middle East’s Middle Class. In doing so they focused on the role the middle classes have on stability and sustainability of communities. Nasr alluded to the formation of a middle class being the foundational element in creation of the United States. Stewart questioned that if we had helped bolster the middle class and then introduce democracy would we have had better results . This idea of the stabilizing powers of the middle class are not new or elite. An issue finds it legs when it is agreed upon by the middle class. Plans are broadly implemented once it is affordable to the middle class. Social contracts are enacted into law when the middle class embraces it.

It has always been difficult for me to embrace extremes. I have had an uneasy feeling about some of the rhetoric I grew up with in a liberal culture. I realized I had taken for granite much in my upbringing when I moved to a more conservative community and certain sentiments made me bristle. Clearly, efforts on the fringe can pull a culture in alignment. As an growing minority (Atheist) I am pulling for liberal extremes. As fiscal conservatives, I hart blue dogs. But in truth I live in an increasingly middle class reality and I hope to keep it that way.

The further the American middle classes embraces the ideals of a greener social and economic model and the more we expect affordable, efficient, caring healthcare, the more our chances of destroying our planet or suffer while trying will diminish. As China has cultivated a middle class, they have been confronted with facing their human rights and environmental responsibilities. The USSR’s fabricated equality fell like a house of cards and without a stable middle class the vacuum was filled with corruption, but perhaps over time a stable middle class will emerge. India’s class system is the only thing standing in the way of progress lead by their middle class. Pakistan’s stability relies in the expectations of its middle class. We will never be successful in Afghanistan until their poverty is changed to a middle class upbringing. Hope in Iraq and Iran lies in the hands of its growing middle class. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE all struggle with understanding how to transition to a middle class, but know it must be done. With the voices and success of the middle class in Palestine and Israel so goes the region. In Africa, stability only exists in nations that have a middle class. As the middle class grows in many East Asian nations, the tragedies will diminish. In Europe the middle class has created new levels of stability in just decades, despite the issues in the Baltic States and the social intolerance in Italy. The failure in Iceland after the financial collapse has had an upswing in social issues in the small Island nation. World wide and through history we know success exists in the hands of the Middle Class.

Our modern success was built on pre WWII plans, WWII actions and post WWII transitions centered on the growth of the middle class. Despite the efforts of McCarthyism to embed extremist perspective into our middle class envisions established, success was driven by less ideological realities. McCarthyism only bread extremes embedded in the anti-was and social justice movements. The practical elements of both measures, patriotism and equality have held on, but are there less colorful elements that helped keep the middle class going through daunting times and still help us today?

While my family has a long tradition of secular Jewish culture, I do not believe the Jewish rise in the middle class would have been so rapid without the role my people played in American pop culture. I also come from a Christian family and I do not believe their shedding of Christian traditions would have come without the rise of the middle class and the consumptions that were driven by the rise of the golden era of American advertisements and McCarthy Era iconic imagery of a middle class life and home.

Could our guilt of pop culture and consumerism be misguided? Could it be that not just public education, freedom of speech, a judicial/legislative/execu

tive system, patriotism, the pioneer spirit, civil rights, the separation of church and state, walking softly and carrying a big stick have lead to our middle class and our stability (as fragile as it seems at this moment, that seems far to similar the end of the Roman Empire and speaks to accurately to the prognostications of the end of days)? What is it that seems to accompany modern developments of middle class? Could it be that addictive consumerism and delusions of traditions enabled by appetite for media arts have helped sustain and develop the middle class?

As a graduate from a Media Arts School, I do wonder if my interests are not misguided after all. Now if only we could get our businesses and politicians to take a more moderate perspective and our environment, health, and bank accounts into serious consideration, perhaps we could be Regan’s shining city on a hill and inspire stability and not just jealousy and sometimes-righteous mistrust.

Have the Guts to Save the Globe: Make us Paint our Roofs

I am clear on the issues we are facing these days and the global, national and personal consequences they have on all of us. I also understand the unprecedented steps we have taken in these extraordinary times and the potential for more. I understand clearly that while we continue to add more to our plate we have no way to pay for it without great sacrifice and smarter spending across the board. One issue that is currently dominating I have pleaded for here is a revision of Health Care. But in that same note I mentioned an issue that is of higher concern. One that is at a critical stage currently and always. One that is as close to the risk of failure as any we have faced in the past year. One that simply put if not solved will make all others obsolete. I speak of our Environmental Policy and the Global Warming Crisis. So why is there rumor of stalled action on the part of our congress, our nation, our world?

Congresspersons, have the GUTS to do something, or pay the price we all face...

When the world community meets at the end of this year, we American's will either have contributed to potential successes or granted failure. Earlier this year Fareed Zakaria hit the nail on the head, "America's Fatal Flaw: If it's not a crisis, we can't fix it." I would only ask, what does that mean for slow moving tipping points?

There is speculation that China (who have surpassed us as the worst emitters...and ironically we are indebted to on historic levels) is waiting for the rest of the world to make the first move. Gone are the days when we can act un-American and not lead with our Ethical Foundation. We can no longer be selfish, petty and bring action with hubris. We must lead with honor and ethical obligation that is founded in the ideals this nation was built on and developed my in its greatest moments. We must lead!

Much of the actions that most efficiently give us a chance also help greatly to solve our nations other most crucial issues. We have been speaking of this for months if not years or decades. Investment in renewable resources will lead to job opportunities, new exports, independence from foreign energy sources, decrease our contributions to corrupt governments over seas, increase our national security, decrease our citizens health issues helping decrease health care costs. It will also require investments in areas that have long dogged down by local and Washington politics. Success will require new infrastructure, an increase of quality education in the areas of science, math and art (YES ART...how do you think we learn to think outside the box, problem solve and innovate most effectively...in art class), we will need to correct our personal ethics returning to civil maturity, discipline, work ethic, historical perspective, honesty, volunteerism, sacrifice, neighborly behavior, survival techniques, basic agricultural knowledge, being prepared, freedom of thought and speech. There is much to be done and we look for leadership. We have it in our president, but we are being failed by virtually everyone else.

We simply can not wait any longer. We need solutions on the ground. We need resources to help take action in our homes and communities. We do not need you to bail out Wall Street or car manufacturers....we need more practical localized solutions.

Transportation:

The idea of rail transit is wonderful. I would travel to my folks in California from Vermont instead of flying if I could get there by rail. The best idea I have heard late is the Ion battery. If I had a diesel car or truck I would be converting it to Bio. I still don't get why if Brazil can run on ethanol why we can't help the farmers across America and do that. I guess what I am saying is I don't want to drive my SUV, but it is how I survive the harsh New England winter roads. I would love if my Jetta was even more fuel efficient or even better had zero imitations. I would love to travel by public transport, but I live in a rural environment. I would love to get to my Urban friends and family quickly and with reduced imitations. But non of this is happening, because I don't have the resources and they simply are not being handed to me.

Nuclear:

While at time this seems like a viable option. The efficiency is substantial. The potential for clean energy is there, if we proceed the way they do in France; this would be close to a silver bullet. Particularly if we had 100% electrical heating and power, as well as ion battery cars. Given the issues with Yuka Mountain you can see why we must have a smart reprocessing system minimally.

However, you don't have to look far to see the risks. Here in Vermont there have many risks that have come with a privately run nuclear power plant. That coupled with the considerably growing lack of discipline we have in our work force and education systems, I fear for an environment that could produce a Homer Simpson at the local plant.

Wind/Hydro:

There is still great debate here in Vermont over this...not in my back yard. Regardless I know there are plenty of areas in the country that could and should take even more advantage of the wind and water as an energy resource. I personally wouldn't mind one in my back yard.

Homes:

Despite having Energy Star appliances and theoretically being up to date with instillation, because we are a new townhouse, our home is clearly the biggest cultrate of our imitations foot print. I do not understand why every home and building in America does not have plans for solar panels and has painted their roofs white. If we did that alone, we might have a chance. Of course we can't afforded the solar panels. And I would have to get the condo association to agree to white roves...unless you made everyone do it (this one thing should be mandatory today).

Plant:

We need to plant more trees. Everyone…every ware…all the time.

Businesses:

Newsweek ranked the top environmental businesses and it was surprising (well it was surprising how low Apple was and how high McDonalds and Wal-Mart were). Nevertheless, after reading it I began to wonder, why can’t you mandate that business take some of these policies into all of their operations? It will create a level playing field that will still fuel competitions and the survival of the fittest. I am sure there are plenty of small business that are doing these sorts of things were they can. Sure, some businesses will leave the US. However, at the summit you could argue that all countries should be taking these steps to save the globe. In addition, who wants un-American companies anyway? So we should have all companies offer to recycle their products and provide the most efficient way to transport and process the materials with the lowest environmental impact. We should be requiring limited packaging. We should be stopping computers from ending up in Chinese illegal salvage cities. We should be creating products that last again. We should be learning how to fix things, not just, tossing them and getting a new one. We should be consuming sustainable clean organic agriculture. We should be composting and recycling so there is zero waste. We should be operating and producing locally, not globally. These are sustainable business models that help the bottom line and save the planet. Why do I get this the people in charge don’t?

Bottom line, pass something effective, mandate we do something, give us resources to help with the other things. Make us save ourselves. That is what leadership is about sometimes. Forcing the people to improve their lives. It may not be politically expedient. But you, your kids and your grandkids will not mined if you did not get reelected, as long as you all live. If we are teetering on the edge of extinction, because you were gutless…well lets hope you and your ancestors don’t regret it for eternity. Lets hope me and mine don’t either. The prospect makes me glad I am an atheist.

Health Care Bills: Rambaling Perspective from the Wild West

Disclosure: I work in a small family run, nationally respected, innovative, trail blazing, conservative, effective, essential, medical/dental, chronic pain practice, with one doctor/dentist. We serve our entire state and plus parts of our surrounding states. We are the only game in town and this is not by choice. Our doctor will be the president of a national academy concerned with TMD. Primarily we treat TMD (TMJ) and secondarily Sleep Apnea. We are innovators in quality of care, conservative treatment, treatment coverage, patient advocacy, narcotics prescribing, dealing with narcotics abuse and TMJ care under a medical model. We have many patients with private insurance, such as, BCBS, MVP, Cigna, UHC. We have many patients with government run programs, such as, Medicaid, Medicare, V-Hap and Tricare. We have been closely involved in the development of policy that has opened up coverage opportunities for patients and improved the lives of thousands. We are unique in our experience, perspective and success, mostly because of the reality that only one other state has the TMJ law we have.

I am a patient. I am the son-in-law of the doctor. My wife and I are the clinic directors: we are involved in running the clinic, the business, solving technical issues, training staff and we see patients. I have virtually no medical training or perspective out side the context of this office. I did grow up in a household that provided a perspective on Mental Health Care, which I do value, as much as chronic pain care. I know something about both of these areas, do to my father and my father-in-law. I grew up with great healthcare coverage because my father worked for Kaiser and I did not want for anything medical. This lead me to be stereotypically concerned with healthcare in America and for myself…I did not see it as a huge issue until I worked for my father-in-law and I did not take care of myself to any great degree until more recently. I am relatively healthy luckily. I have a masters in fine art and am a licensed art teacher. I am part of a trailblazing generation of cartoonist with an education in cartooning. I am one of a handful of cartoonist with a BFA and MFA in our field. There for I am expert on the unique role comics in American culture and in its role in the essential value of art education (there is a need for more public and governmental support in these areas). But I am not an expert in Health Care. If you want to actually call on someone for advice I would recommend my father-in-law, Dr. Jeffrey Crandall. Who is a Republican. I am a Democrat; emotionally libertarian, intellectually socialist. This brings me to my perspective, which surprises even me.

Partisanship:

This is a Bipartisan issue that does not need Bipartisan support. It is too important to be bogged down in politics. The regrettable manipulation of this issue by Washington insiders has lead to a furry that on some levels speaks to real concerns, but truly has distracted from effective communication.

Co-Ops

On the surface this seems like a great idea, as long as it is divided into small manageable numbers of participants. In other words a national Co-op would be to bureaucratic and take to much away from advocacy. But to small of a Co-Op will be insufficient in negotiating appropriate rates with hospitals. There would have to be mandatory requirements to provide availability to all who want to participate regardless of income level, a member run board with truly transparent process for claims and clear requirements for coverage that approach true concerns of efficiency and effectiveness of treatment that is not discriminatory to body parts or preexisting conditions. If done intelligently I would prefer this option to any public plan.

Public Option

If I did not work in the medical field, I would blindly be in support of this option. However, I must underscore that the three public plans we currently accept in our office are truly not what I consider an acceptable model. They are not good programs. They are broken programs. Tricare is the worsted of the three, in the fact that they treat our veterans and military to a bureaucracy that fails to support their care and hinders our ability to care for patients. I can’t tell you how many staff meetings we have had where we have discussed the option of dropping Tricare and we know the essential need and duty we have to serve our military. At times, Tricare makes it impossible and our patients just woefully agree and accept their fate. Medicaid pays, sometimes late, but at a rate that relies heavily on our charity, which we have in abundance. Medicare is not as bad, but their reimbursement rate governs our rates and we are not seeing the rises in revenue reported in other areas of Medicine. We just raised our rates for the first time in over a decade and it was by less then 10%. I am worried that another public option will be another broken program, made more expensive and inefficient by bureaucracy. By the way, the low payouts are passed onto other patient’s insurance premiums and out of pocket expenses.

Universal Health Care

A single payer system does work for many countries, much more efficiently then ours. And the longevity of life is greater, in part do to this. But the care for chronic illness is poor in these systems, complex issues are miss handled and miss treated. There are benefits in our chaotic, but independent system that meets needs for some patients more effectively then these other systems, unfortunately the numbers of patients that are benefiting in our country is shrinking.

Private Insurance

Don’t by their hype. While some do have well intentioned professionals in their midst. The vast majority of these companies in our experience pay 20% less then they should to doctors. They are just as bureaucratically inept as government programs. They stand in the way of efficient care for patients despite logic. They are just as big a part of government games as any other. They are the corrupt corporation conspiracy they are accused of being. Only government reform can keep them in line, and yet they are in the room making the reform.

Diagnosis v. Procedure v. Results

Our Doctor out of necessity takes more time to collect data and patient information then any other Doctor I am aware off. This results in the correct diagnosis, in what is a very complex issue. If all my doctors did this I would never get in, but on the other hand in our office we are efficient and we are providing a quality of care that is appreciated and has helped reduce redundant expense and avoided misdiagnosis. It is not unusual because of the nature of the complexity of TMD that we are the 7th Doctor in 20 years that has tried to help a particular patient. Yet there are doctors we know of who use this method of note taking to abuse their patients, because of a lack of research and understanding and the nature of victimization in our patient pool. That being said all you have to do is turn on Discovery Health to realize that there is little incentive for Dr. to take the time to discover what the problem is, before treatment. My wife went through this type of experience and we hear it in our practice every day. Dr. need to be reimbursed primarily for their Diagnosis and the validation of this diagnosis. Results are a great incentive, as long as they are not applied in a black and white manner that discriminates against chronic pain and terminal disease. Procedures should be the least important measure of expense. The system as it stands promotes redundancy and unnecessary procedures and has lead to the over payment of surgeons and dentist and the underpayment of PCP’s and TMJ “specialists.” As it stands if you want to make money, become a plumber.

Chronic Pain

While there is plenty of discussion about dealing with life threatening issues and preventative medicine there is virtually no mention of managing chronic pain. This is shocking because of the level of cost it ways on the system and how it affects our economic productivity, let alone our pursuit of life liberty and happiness. Many of the solutions to other problems efficiency effectively lead to discrimination and the care for chronic pain patients. These are problems that deserve efficient and accurate diagnosis, but leave a reality of long-term care that does not always result in fixing the problem, simply managing it and reducing progression of the problem.

TMD (TMJ Dysfunction)

It is time that patients with TMD are no longer discriminated against. The TMJ has always been cared for by dentists, but finally two states require medical insurance coverage for a problem that involves bone, nerves, muscles, tendons, joints, soft tissues, the mind, posture, breathing and yes teeth. I have heard that 25% of our population experiences some sort of jaw pain in their lifetime. We know from anecdotal and empirical evidence that TMD is a complex condition subject to miss diagnosis and requires sometimes coordination between Dentists, ENTs, Neurologists, Physical Therapists, Psychologists, Pharmacists, Orthodontists, Oral Surgeons, PCPs, Sleep Specialists and TMJ specialists (technically there is no such specialty, which is why we are not likely at any table in the room helping form the government healthcare proposal). And yet, only 16 states cover surgery and only 2 cover conservative treatment. Which in our office means that 95% of TMD patients are either paying out of pocket or not getting treated at all. There is a huge correlation between, domestic abuse, poverty, chronic head ache pain, TMD, drug abuse and borderline personality disorder. Yet, there is little communications between practitioners who deal with these issues that affect our communities nation wide. In Vermont, once we started offering effective care and there was insurance coverage we became a practice that helped solve virtually all the problems the health care bill is concerned with. We have a waiting list of 250 people all the time. We have serviced 1% of our states population to date. That is one Doctor for the entire state.

Dental Care

Should be covered under Medical. It is time the Dental Community start being respectably included in the care for the human body and at the same time not be able to get away with price gouging and elitism.

Malpractice

This is such a small issue. Important, but small in the context of inefficiency.

Narcotic Prescriptions

Our practice is particularly skilled and experienced at appropriate effect prescribing of narcotics for chronic pain. When other means are insufficient, it is appropriate to prescribe opioids, if they are effective in reducing (not necessarily elimination) pain. But you must have what we have in place a well written Opioid Contract, an effective Prescription Monitoring System, clear communication between law enforcement, Doctors, pharmacists, substance abuse programs and patients. With out this we have over prescribing, under prescribing, fear and abuse.

Staffing Shortage and Training

We know there is a staffing shortage first hand. Our state has been trying to recruit PCP’s, Dentists, Nurses and PA’s for a long time. Our office has searched far and wide to find a competent dentist to join us, and we had one of the worlds best ready to, but he decided to stay closer to home and stay at the Military hospital in Bethesda. We need another TMJ “specialist.” But we have exhausted most hope. It could be very likely that my father-in-law will be forced to retire or die before we find a replacement. Where will our state be then? We need more trained professionals. The problem being that the best Dr. are working with patients, not students. There are not enough schools and not enough teachers. There needs to be an effort to fix this issues. Canada is having the same issue, so it does not matter if it is universal or not, if you don’t have the doc you don’t have a shot.

Staffing

I am reasonably compensated for my work. When and if I am lucky enough to get a teaching positions (another subject) I will get a pay cut. We need hardworking, empathic, professional, intelligent staff…there’s your job growth…oh wait you can’t hire teachers of my caliber, because of the ones that are already there so there for our educational system cannot produce the type of staff we need to run the system.

Research

The elephant in the room ir research. I cost us a lot, but brings us untold benefit. It should the included in the cost and the costs should be shared in a system that is efficient.

Pharmaceutical Companies

The amount they pay on research is substantial and relates directly to the amount American’s pay for prescriptions. But it is marketing that is the most expensive part of their operation. Marketing prescriptions is ethically immoral and should be stopped. Then prices should be lowered. But there should be some effort on our part to support increasing prices over seas for our pharmaceutical products sold to those nations that can afford it, why should we have to pay. At the same time we need to increase the availability of cheep prescriptions for nations that cannot afford it, particularly African nations.

Electronic Medical Records

There should be a universal system, that is made affordable for both hospitals and small individual practices like our. We would benefit greatly from Electronic Medical Records that could be manipulated easily to serve our clinical, scheduling and insurance needs. It would increase efficiency and quality of care greatly. We have tried to convert our self, but the expense and effort is to costly on our own.

Administrative Cost

I have heard that administrative cost accounts for 30% of health Care costs. This speaks to the problem with both government run and privately run insurance.

Supplies

Supply cost are just as bad as Rx. I can get the same quality tool from a jewelry catalogue as from a dental supply catalogue for 20% of the price.

Conclusion:

I am sure I am forgetting points I would like to make, but this is certainly enough to chew on. Some of this is already being considered and some may be new to you, but old in the on going discussions of healthcare. This is a major issue, above the importance of Art education and education in general, and certainly a developed respect for comics as America’s visual/literary cultural art form. But all of this is interconnected. And in my mind honestly is secondary to the more prudent necessities regarding the intertwined issues of global warming, energy independence, our security and our economy…oh wait there we have it healthcare and education again. All I know is if we can solve global warming we can save more lives and more money then we would solving healthcare. But I have little faith in either, because as Fereed Zacaria recently pointed out if it isn’t a Crisis, America can’t fix it. Still I show up every day and try to solve issues on my end, it would be nice to have better help. More TMJ docs, better insurance coverage, electronic medical records, better training and communication, a full time Art Ed job for me, more funds to reduce my carbon foot print, a health insurance plan with no deductible (I didn’t even get into that, but I do have personal story there too), and some pay for all my cartooning work. But I know you are facing impossible odds and constant bickering. Makes you whish our for fathers dreams of a Republic had come to fruition sometimes. That’s coming from someone who wants government to leave me alone and stop embarrassing me, but paradoxily provide all the help I need to pursue my potential, life, liberty, happiness and a future for my daughter and her kids.

Dicllairing War on Dean Foods...

Declaring War on Dean Foods...…Sorry Berkeley Farms.

A story on VPR the other day was the last straw for me ( http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/85513/). For those of you who do not live in Vermont and listen to NPR you may not get your regular “maple and milk” news, we are having an agricultural crisis. Dairy Farming and Maple Sugaring are the backbone of our communities, economics and traditions here in Vermont. It is much more then Cabet Cheese and “real” Vermont Maple Syrup here, but around here every one knows a farmer and/or a sugarer personally. While global warming makes the sugaring season shorten and slowly drift into Canada, this summer all the news has been about milk and farming. In 1985 there were 3000 farms in Vermont (not all Dairy). Now there are just 1000, and with IBM loosing hundreds of jobs every year not all farmers have become computer scientists.

Dairy farmers work longer hours then you and work seven days a week without vacations, often. They do it because of as Tevye says “tradition.” Well it is not for the money. Today Dairy farmers in VT get $11.00 per 100 ibl’s of milk. It cost them $17.00. Recently a government proposal was suggested that would bridge that gap by a dollar or two…that is not a bridge. This business middle is not stainable, so there has been an effort to get Dairy Processors to share their larger cut of the pie more with the farmers. The Vermont Milk Commission set up a meeting and all the local processors attended to help. But the largest processor, Dean Foods, was not present, or was represented by an organization that they are a member of not an actual representative from the company, unlike the other processors. Dean does not see the point, when government regulates milk prices and rates for farmers. And government already subsidizes framers. First off the congress last made the rate change 5 years ago…things have changed since then. Second it is bad business to leave your suppliers without a livable business structure…So why is it so important that Dean’s come to the table…they have a monopoly (which is now likely to be investigated thanks to the efforts of VT Sen. Burney Sanders (I) ), Dean controls 70% of the market.

Don't Buy Dean Foods

So my first thought was we need to spread the word to other communities and tell them not to but Dean Foods brand milk products. So I went to their website and found a map of their brands (http://deanfoods.com/brands.aspx )…and I look and there is little, always good to me, Berkeley Farms, a subsidiary. I miss Berkeley farms slogan “Cows in Berkeley? MOOOOOO!” My first conscious realization of cool graphic design was a business card cut out like the shape of an iconic BF milk carton, I got from our milk delivery guy from Berkley Farms when I worked at the Mill Valley Coffee Roastery. I have missed Berkeley since the day I left at the age of 12, and now I must demand you stop buying their milk…PLEASE DON’T BUY IT. If you look at the map they are prevalent. In VT we need to stay away from Garelick…which is easy to do…but Check the map carefully…we all have Land of the Lake cheese for example.

So the answer is yes there are Cows in Berkeley…but they are owned by the man.

Thanks.

Ben

In reaction to...

25 years after Black Friday the stock market regained to the level of that day. Times were good (for white America on the surface) post WWII, we had learned how to save, spend wisely and invest in infrastructure and education with it eye on the future pull together as a nation. Productivity was excellent; design quality was high ect…

The Vietnam War came in the 60’s and the new international effect of economy could be felt with poor foreign relations and cheep domestic design and production policy reigned. Environmental, equality and energy concerns began to arise complicating the issue, public business ignores lesson of the 50’s and opportunities presented by current complications. But during the Carter, Regan and Bush I era the middle class and poor wore suffering while the wealthy became richer on deregulation and the infancy of tec innovation, but then…

A more universal economic prosperity reigned created by government fiscal conservatism coupled with practical social consciousness and equality, a balanced budget under Clinton and new public investment in the tec industry…

Then the tec bubble burst when market values came back to earth. While warnings of terror were ignored, taking inspiration from the Regan era, Bush II deregulated to help with growth. We went to war on missed opportunities, and falls Intel. Implementing unprecedented secrecy and repealing of freedoms rivaled only by McCarthyism.

At the same time ignoring infrastructure issues (safe environmentally/economical

/energy efficient transportation systems and building structures), not funding a flawed education bill that failed to invest appropriately in science/math/PE (for innovation in the tec industry to compete internationally, health care that helps improve productivity) and art/English/Language/history (to create innovative products promoted innovatively on and international scale with proper visual and language communications).

While people with bad credit are duped into buying what they can’t afforded, then the mortgage has so called insurance added (because they were risky loans) and they are wrapped up in large package and sold nationally and internationally so called Mortgage Backed Securities (bundling…homes, credit cards and student loans)……the industry goes up…but like the tec industry…what goes up must come down…

During this time most consumers barrowed more and saved less (homes, credit cards and student loans)…while more homes were being built, because the value was so high…foreign investment helped drive this…until we had to many homes and the interest rates of some mortgages fluctuated then surprise people with fluctuating interest and/or poor credit history defaulted on the home they could not afford, and the banks took back the homes adding to the surpluses of homes, making them even less valuable, but just as expensive based on the prices that the Speculators made during the boom.

During this people like Madoff take advantage of the good times and perform Ponzzy schemes, which make matters worse for some investors and effect all of us.

Central banks knowingly have a policy of not stopping bubbles from bursting, but swoop in after...accept due to the Mortgage Backed Securities and Credit Swaps sales they did not have enough capital to do it, because they had stretched themselves thin on these faulty loans.

At the same time our exports to import ratio had changed, because international economies had grown relying on our growing consumption, which we could not support because we had shipped jobs to the foreign nations and we had made bad investments, and were living off credit, just like the government now was due to the war we were losing, because we have refused to use bombs not words, did not have a exit strategy and did not have the support of the international community.

All the sudden investors foreign and domestic investors began calling for their payment on loans, because of the dealings the banks and insurance companies had made and the bottom fell out. Suddenly the banks freeze and we can no longer barrow to buy crappy products promoted by even crappier add campaigns that do nothing to solve our environmental, energy, economic and security issues.

Much of the industries like the Car industry and retail industry were calling for bailouts to support their poor branding, poor designs, promoted by their even poor advertisement campaigns that did nothing to helps solve our environmental, energy, economic and security issues.

The banks could not loan these industries money and some of these industries were having to pay money to the unions to stay true to contracts that demanded healthcare and retirement benefits they could no longer afford, because they had a crappy business model and failed to make good design and promotion choices and keep jobs domestically that would lead to innovation that would solve our solve our environmental, energy, economic and security issues.

The government borrowing more from foreign nations step in to try and stabilize the market filled with bad investments, while the international market beings to collapse in this domino effect. But under Bush II and a Democratic congress they don’t put in the correct oversight and regulations.

Inheriting this environment Obama tries to implement a Buck stops here policy not scenes since the 50’s with transparency in government not seen since our founding fathers and fiscally sound policies circa Clinton era. Reality sets in.

He barrows more to create a budget that is intended to solve our environmental, energy, economic and security issues, by investing in alternative energy, health care, education, infrastructure. But it may not be enough because we say we don’t have the political will to mortgage the next four generations. But the real problem is we are so use to buying crap we don’t know how to deal with this new (old) environment. We are as short sighted as the Stock Market which by this point goes down and up 500 points when you sneeze.

We are told to spend, but what we should be investing has no clear market yet. Industries that are creating quality products designed well, with innovation in mind and smart branding and marketing. Products that help solve our environmental, energy, economic and security issues. Industries that rely on the innovative infrastructure that has yet to be created. All in part because we have done a poor job in investing in education that teaches science/math/PE (for innovation in the tec industry to compete internationally, health care that helps improve productivity) and art/English/Language/histo ry (to create innovative products promoted innovatively on and international scale with proper visual and language communications). And once we are shovel ready will we have preventative, conservative treatment, innovative, sound, affordable healthcare to ensure our productivity. How do we know we are investing in the right future? What do we buy today to ensure tomorrow doesn’t suck.

Besides no one has bought those bad debts to take them off the balance sheets of the banks so that the banks will give us the money we need to invest in the investment we are unsure of, because no is willing to take a risk and put a value on it…in part because no one taught us how to balance a check book in middle school.

I digress…Enter Chris Dodd (D) under pressure from Bush II (R)…to put bonuses for executives that helped facilitate much of this mess on Wall Street and in the housing market into the law. A new CEO at AIG comes on board after this, so he cannot be blamed for more than fallowing the law as written. Then the Fed authorizes the bonuses according to the law, but does not tell Tim Geitner the full story, who then when he finds out waits a few days to tell the President, making him look like an ass, because Obama wants’ the buck to stop at his desk. So congress who created the bill (all be it by a few different members) decides to create an unconstitutional tax of 90% on the bonuses. Congress is now in a McCarthy like move looking for those responsible (i.e. Madoff-AIG-Geitner). At the same time they are coming up with a plan to share in buying the bad assets at the center of this mess, by creating a reasonable market value set by biding public investors, but insured by the government who will borrow more from China if there is an issue…but now because of the proposed tax law the investors don’t trust the government to keep their word. And I forgot to mention we started printing money to add some lucidity into the banking system lowering the value of the dollar.

During most of this time our media has become more and more concerned with entertaining, telling us what they think/not what they know, being a sounding box for those in power or access to power. Plus they do a poor job of communicating it, despite our best efforts as a nation to educate ourselves with the web…without fundamentals in English, Language, Art, Science and Math.

SO I SAY…look everyone is to blame. There is no scape goat to get. The buck stops at the president’s desk. We need to give him a brake when he hires someone who has had Tax issues (all the qualified people are crooks…so just make it easy to keep an eye on them)…but he needs to do a better job with the transparency…even though he is already doing a hell of a lot better than the guy before him. But we need to give him the wiggle room to fully invest in his plan which is a good one, but takes time and more money. Swallow the pill people. In the mean time we are going to see more Tent cities like the one in Sacramento. I would prefer clear guidance on investment opportunities and it would be nice if John Stewart’s idea of paying down individuals loans with government bailout money would be part of the mix, because it would put lucidity into the banking system and help individuals with their monthly budget directly. But we have to let things work their way out once the plan is in place fully. We don’t need pitch forks, but we do need and active engaged electorate. We have to save the planet, we have to use more efficient energies, we have to support our local economies and neighbors, we have to stop killing each other over god, we have to be better international friends, we have to fix our minds and bodies so we don’t create more nut cases that are dangerous to society and we are more productive, we need to educate ourselves on how to innovate and how to communicate, we need to learn the value of patience, scrutinizing and fix things. We need a media that tells it like it is…not like we want it, they want it, or how it entertains it. We need to spend smartly to get out of this and then save wisely to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Ok now just relax. Obama is keeping a level head...so should you.

Why Art!?!

For weeks, actually years I have been trying to gather my thoughts completely on this subject. To create the ultimate convincing argument…but I don’t think such an argument exists…otherwise there would be no argument. So bellow is my position as best I can state it today with the recollection have currently. I am sure as responses come in it will trigger other ideas I have come across.

Note: most of this argument is in defense of 2D and Digital Visual Art, because this is my area of expertise. But much of these arguments are transferable to Music, Theater and 3D Art. And each of these arts has their own unique defendable positions. I would also off the bat like to clarify I am not asking for funding from math to go to the arts…I am just asking for the arts to not be dismissed, seen as a luxury, used as a prop in political differences. They are just as important, as I will outline. In fact all disciplines of education rely on art and all arts rely on other disciplines.



The typical defense of Arts or Arts Education is delivered in terms that often makes my stomach tern and leaves me without tangible evidence of the necessity. This is often because it involves defending an opaque and shifting product, a product that is not concrete by nature. This is also why it is difficult to defend in these terms the relevance of art education. We are left with defenses centered around “culture,” “personal expression,” and “beauty.” These are subjective positions; what is one persons culture may not have relevance to an others, expression is selfish and can be a waste of time, and beauty can be presented as a fascist utopian concrete definition that really has turned me off at times. I will not leave these positions high and dry in my argument, but it is not the center of it, because it is and has been so easily dismissed on it own. This is why the number one defense against the Recovery Act of 2009 has started with wasted funding for the NEA.



Before we get to the economy, let’s talk about something even more fundamentally patriotic; democracy.

In a democracy it is essential that we understand clearly what is being communicated to us. This is why language studies, English and foreign, reading and verbal are of such a high priority in our education system. But what is the most efficient way to receive information in a democracy…visual communication. If we understand what is being shown we make educated and intelligent judgments. But this only happens if we are taught how to decipher using our visual lexicon. Otherwise we still translate it, but from a position that is easily manipulated and/or misinterpreted. Every student regardless of destination educationally or carrier wise needs to be fluent visually.

Communication in a democracy is a two way street and most people would like to be as effective in their message. As already stated some of the most effective ways to protest or support something is to communicate it through a visual, this takes training and skill to be most effective. The skills can be taught, but even if natural ability is not prevalent and it thus takes more time to teach, there are ways of teaching to the strength of the individual. So they can work within the boundaries of their abilities most effectively. This requires Art education. Not all great artist are great at communicating all the ways you can visually. But they do learn fundamentals that are universal and they use their strengths effectively to communicate what they intend.



At no other time in our nation’s history has the economy been more important and more unpredictable. So when money is set aside for the arts traditionalist begin to think…ïs that an effective way of using tax dollars?” My answer is YES, it is just as effective as any other investment being presented, both short term and long term. I heard just the other day that for every dollar invested in the arts it produces $100.oo in tax revenue and $1,300.00 in earned income for American workers.
Reading another story recently it struck me that all the businesses closing their doors are places that have cut corners, been inefficient and ignorant in terms of product design, branding, advertising graphics ect…their aesthetics and design quality are dated or poor…all art related aspects of their business; Mervyn’s, Linens and Things, Chrysler, Circet City, Kmart ect… Also the surest way to not sell a house is to stage it wrong, requiring interior design skills and architectural skills…that relates directly to the center of the credit crisis, mortgage sales. It also relates directly to art.

I have lived in four communities in four of the six regions of mainland US, the Mountains, The Pacific Coast, The South and the North East…my parents are from the other two. Everywhere I have lived has had local economies that rely on the arts. Artists produce products that are sold in retail stores, and produce or showcase arts entertainment and significantly contribute to bringing local customers and tourists to shop. The arts are the nuts and bolts of most local economies, if not in product then in presentation, promotion and store layout. Every sign, every product and every design has artistic principles. The better the design the better the chance of a sale and taxes to be paid into the community and consumers to be shared and more dollars to appear in local pockets which leads to more spending. Now artist are typically low wage workers, who often have to hold town another job to keep in business. But their art sales produce taxes for local and national government coffers.

Many opponents to supporting the arts point to money funneled to Hollywood or the NY City theater district. Both industries bring billions into the local community and pay out hundreds of millions in tax revenue that benefits all American’s. What is even more important is these industries have sought production opportunities and film location opportunities in every region of the US. In every community I have lived in there have been film productions that have benefited the local economy; in fact local community’s campaign to have Hollywood invest in them. This is not just funding that goes to LA.
One of the fundamental strengths we have had in the last 100 years has been our ability to export our culture; through that our products are desired throughout the world. This is significantly effected by the arts, not just through the culture we transmit through foreign consumption of Hollywood productions, but through all visual communication we expose them too. In today’s economy we are obviously a global market. When language becomes more of an issue visual communication becomes more essential in sales. If our culture looses the edge we had in the 50’s on graphic design to European and Japanese graphic designer we can continue to see declines in American international sales. We do not want our products to be lost in translation, a clear and cultural sensitive visual communication can be essential to produce international sales. If we have well trained artists then we can export our culture in the most effective and honorable way to support and produce democracy and our economy.
The principles of design and the rules of design lead to good design, which leads to good products and product promotion. Well trained and talented designers are just as concerned with function as they are form…this relates directly to the closing national and international corporations I mentioned earlier. If your product is poorly designed you can find the root of this occurrence in poor art education or deficient art education.

As with the point about communicating in a democracy and understanding a visual lexicon we need these same skills in being skilled consumers and skilled competitors economically in an international market. Skills every American needs.

Listening to local radio a few weeks ago it was pointed out that there is this perception of artist as people who are bohemians or elitist (some are…don’t get me started), that sit around and wait for inspiration doing every thing from walking in the woods to play video games (nothing wrong with these things…again don’t get me started), or the are taking psycadelics (not a very defensible position)…but the fact is most artist are salt of the earth workaholics. As mentioned most are working poor. In art school you quickly realize you work 3-4 times as hard on in your art classes as you do in your other course work, not because of the joy, but because of the demand the work entails. This is confirmed if you go on to study in other fields as I have. Once you have worked tirelessly at researching, planning, developing and producing your art you are subjected to intense critiques to help improve your art (often in the midst of the process). This can be a brutally honest experience that builds character and intelligence (it is based on steadfast rules, circumstantial rules, personal opinion and abstract sentiments). Once you start working in the “real world” the work ethic you have developed leads you into a pattern of intense economy of time management and productivity. Time is money and long hours are inevitable.



All of the above have directly or indirectly inferred the necessity for quality art education for all to support consumers, citizens and industry. There are some additional, if not direct, reasons to support arts education as a high priority. When you are learning the arts you are working on abstracted problem solving skills that go hand and hand with developing innovation. This is the purest way to develop Piaget’s Cognitive Development stages. When working with a balanced problem that includes abstraction and concretive principles you are working cognitively in a way that leads to solutions that are innovative; outside the box. These skills are the most basic of what America’s economic success has always been about. This is the American way, as a Californian I can attest this is the reason we are the successful as a state; innovation. New thoughts, new ideas, new products. The most effective way for students to learn to think this way is through arts education. That is why the most successful students in the world often have an artistic focus that compliments their success in Math, Science, Language ect… You can incorporate art education into all other discipline, to help with relevance, multiple inelegances, clarity ect…that lead to higher retention for all students in these other areas. Any artist will also tell you that it is essential to have basic knowledge in all subjects, and be inquisitive, and be able to research to inform your art. Otherwise what you are saying is ignorant. The arts are an integral part of quality education and part of the solution to help improve our education system. To not fund it is precisely how you would undermine the success of our education system.



One of the vague arguments mentioned above does deserve a mention here in the context of art and art education. The cultural and societal element of art has allowed humans to state, we are here, this is who we are, this is what we think…these are important statements that are shared with each other and with future generations. Art history can put things in perspective and help with lessons learned from the past. Without art we would not fully grasp the reality we face today as we reflect on the great depression. On a personal anecdotal note, my wife has always said that she did not understand history at all until she took a sequential art history course. This has as much to do with the sequence as the visual communication that made it relevant to her as a student. Storytelling is fundamental, and visual art is fundamental to storytelling.



As for Personal Expression another vague area mentioned previously, it is not entirely selfish. I do know there is a huge role for improved psychological conditions through the arts. With this opportunity comes improved productivity of our workers and the area we mention as a culture as a right but often do not fund…the pursuit of happiness.



The third vague area I will leave alone, but it should be noted. As a secular Jew I am not too focused on the spiritual side of art, but there certainly is both a personal and cultural relevance of art and art education.




Given the above information it gets my blood boiling these days when I hear a Republican use the NEA as a reason to not support at jobs bill, or a local community vote against a budget that supports arts education. But it is not entirely their fault. This is the mindset they grew up with. We take the arts for granted, we see it as frivolous, be are totally ignorant to the practical tangible benefits it brings us. I was totally in the dark as to why art was important until two years ago, even though it has been the central focus of my life from age four. We live in a society that not only doses a disservice by down playing the importance of art education, but we have become ignorant of what art is communicating and how to communicating with it. This has put our lives in jeopardy in opaque, but no less tragic terms. If we continue to undermine the quality and prevalence of art education in our culture then we face a future of visually ignorant consumers and voters, as well as an economy driven by inferior products and inferior promotion. We simply will take ourselves out of the innovation game. We will become unimportant on the international stage. The alternative of a strong cultural recognition of the important role the arts play in our democracy, economy, culture and personal lives will make true the promises made and defended, freedom, pursuit of happiness, the American Dream.

Thanks for reading.

The Bill

Paul Krugmen has said there is simply not enough in the Economic stimulus plan to solve the issues. Republican’s are instinctively resistant to the size of the bill…I have this instinct as well…But I can see Obama’s position that we have to stop the spiral before we balance the budget. These are extraordinary time and if you are not into revisionist history you know that FDR’s approach was effective. I think there should be some separation of issues here (putting healthcare in a comprehensive health care bill). Also there is the Tarp bill which should be tweaked and can help with much of the same issues. My bottom line is that we should be using the necessity of changing our energy policy as an opportunity to get out of the broader economic issue. I am not alone in this thinking and Obama is attempting to do this. This imperfect bill may do it, but I am worried it is not enough. And then I am also worried it is to much. If we focus on info structure and renewable energy we will create the next great economic opportunity, we will reduce our dependence on foreign oil (an important part of our security needs), we will improve our environment slowdown in global warming, we will revitalize the American Auto industry…on and on…this is a no brainer.
Breakdown of House and Senate bill commentary:
It is scary that the numbers in both the house and senate plans seem so low to provide aid to poor and unemployed. Particularly the only 1 Billion for heating.
The direct cash payments seem much better in the senate bill, but again provide roughly a week to two weeks worth of relief. This maybe significant for those who live check to check and can be disciplined enough to save the amount they are given…this is an unlikely reality. When I was living in this category it would have been gone immediately.

The amount to be spent on Infrastructure is a big chunk at 46-47 billion, but is not significant enough. I know the reality of needs in Vermont is significant. I also realize that there are likely unfunded plans in the Midwest and Gulf Coast that have not finished and are great health and safety concerns. Don’t get me started on Earth Quake engineering needs.

Health care is an integral part of everyone’s economic reality and significant pointing of fingers, corruption and pushing the ball down the road has lead to an even bigger issue. Also I know of potential growth economically in this sector (we have shortage of nurses, dentist and TMJ specialist in our state). But I do wonder if this is not just throwing money out. I would prefer that it was part of a more comprehensive, well debated, thought out bill that was a permanent solution to this growing issue…I have much more to say on this issue.

Education is the foundation of our economic system and never been fully treated as such. There are calls for more efficient, effective and pervasive investment in education of all areas for all students; these calls are coming from rural communities, inner cities as well as the top executives in the silicon valley and energy companies in Texas. This is because they are all concerned about the future…not just for everyone else…but for themselves. Both bills provide some relief, but there have been finance promises dating back to the 70’s that still need to be paid for. This like healthcare is huge issue to tackle and one that cannot wait. It should be comprehensive and extensive. With lively debate. My top concern as an art teacher is the cutting of funding for arts education…which I argue is just as important as science, math and English.

Energy is just as important to invest in this bill as Infrastructure. In fact I think the two have the best option to build for the future while effecting positively the jobs market and individuals income. The senate number at 40 billion sounds better…but I still think it is way low. Every home should have the option to have energy provided by solar power. Every community should benefit from wind and hydro. Every car should have one of the options for alternatives to gas. The car industry should be working on all fronts not just one solution. All the energy providers should be investing in renewable energy. The days of coal, gas and oil should be ending.


Why is Homeland security in this bill. Other then in the context of eliminating foreign oil there should be no security components to this bill. (There I just saved us 4.7 billion). We have spent enough on this military crap…time for them to tighten their belts. Is this not pork.

Law enforcement I think the military budget should take some of their extensive funds and donate it to Law Enforcement so we don’t need it in a stimulus bill…there I saved another 3.5 billion. Is this not pork.

Housing has virtually no difference in the two bills…I side with John Stewart show has been suggesting we take these funds and the Wall Street bailout money and use it to pay down individual debt based on individual needs. This way the banks would get their money the right way and people who are hurting will be helped directly not accidentally if at all.
Tax credits are nice and all, and the plans to move closer to the reasonable tax plan Obama campaigned on. But again comedian John Stewart made a great point…what about a payroll tax…it would benefit workers and employers. From what I know about this bill it does not address it.
Expanded college credit is a nice idea, but again helping reduce student loans would benefit more people. I do think increasing the pell grant is vital.

The Home energy credit is a nice start, but is it enough…see above.

The senate’s Unemployment leaves me conflicted.

Bonus depreciation is out of my league…can someone explain this.

Money losing companies plan sounds good…is it?

Government contractors seem to be getting a brake…do they really need it?

Energy production tax credits are essential, I am wondering if the number is high enough at $13 billion.

Repealing bank credit is a great provision.

Bond subsidies is unfortunately needed, if you are aware of local bond issues nation wide this is a huge issue that needs to be addressed as part of the infrastructure and education needs. The senate version is better, because is includes infrastructure.

I am curious about the benefits of $11 billion to make interest payments on most auto loans and sales tax on cars deductible in the Senate bill.

Any thoughts?