Today's Get Fuzzy comic strip reminded me that for a long time I've felt a bit troubled by the art of Francisco Goya.
On one hand he could create some really great portraits like this and scenes like this.
On the other hand he could use myth and his own nation's history to create paintings with nightmarish qualities like this and this. And perhaps it is something in his style that makes it more real to the senses than something like Hieronymus Bosch.
Mood: Thoughtful
Music: Grand Funk: "The Locomotion"
2011-11-01
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2011-07-20
Changing Politics
Perhaps it is because of the people I work with and live with and play with, or perhaps it is because of where I now live, or perhaps it's a combination of these and other reasons. As I continue to read about the political situations in this state and in this country at large, and the take over of the Republican party by the Tea Party, I find myself leaning slowly but undeniably toward the left of the political spectrum.
I am not the only one who has seen the Republican party leave behind its roots and become the party of conservative fundamentalist Christians. Roger Ebert has noticed as well, and Newsweek has noticed as well.
I recall remarking a few years ago that I was surprised that the Republicans would choose to nominate someone so far to the right of the political spectrum instead of someone nearer the middle that might be more electable by moderate voters. The reply to that from one of Maryanne's coworkers was that she thought each party should nominate someone who best represents the platform of the party. In retrospect this somewhat makes sense -- hold the hard-line extreme position and any resulting negotiations with opposing views might be nearer your own, or at least in the middle. However, despite the Republicans' staunch support of small government and Second Amendment rights, I find this takeover of the party by willful and seemingly ignorant people to be very disheartening.
The only time I've ever voted a straight ticket in any election is during a primary when there is no alternative. I hope I can continue to vote for my ideals, but the changing politics of the Republican party is certainly making me take a closer look at the Democrats.
Mood: Thoughtful
Music: Dave Edmunds: "Information"
I am not the only one who has seen the Republican party leave behind its roots and become the party of conservative fundamentalist Christians. Roger Ebert has noticed as well, and Newsweek has noticed as well.
I recall remarking a few years ago that I was surprised that the Republicans would choose to nominate someone so far to the right of the political spectrum instead of someone nearer the middle that might be more electable by moderate voters. The reply to that from one of Maryanne's coworkers was that she thought each party should nominate someone who best represents the platform of the party. In retrospect this somewhat makes sense -- hold the hard-line extreme position and any resulting negotiations with opposing views might be nearer your own, or at least in the middle. However, despite the Republicans' staunch support of small government and Second Amendment rights, I find this takeover of the party by willful and seemingly ignorant people to be very disheartening.
The only time I've ever voted a straight ticket in any election is during a primary when there is no alternative. I hope I can continue to vote for my ideals, but the changing politics of the Republican party is certainly making me take a closer look at the Democrats.
Mood: Thoughtful
Music: Dave Edmunds: "Information"
2011-03-01
Politics
Most people familiar with my political ideology know I'm pretty much in the middle. I consider myself an Independent, and consider myself to be moderate.
Last night while channel surfing I happened upon Fox News and some of their coverage regarding the tense political situation in Madison. They were misreporting the protests at the Capitol as violent, which is the opposite of the truth. The protesters have been loud, but they have been peaceful, they have been organized, and they have been clean.
The issue is ostensibly about money and balancing the budget, but that is fast becoming a ruse. The real issue is about power and who wields it, and the Republicans that now control the Wisconsin state government want it all. They claim it's the only way to balance the budget without raising taxes, but what taxpayers are they really trying to protect? Their propositions will fill formerly non-partisan governmental offices with appointed stooges, squash clean energy initiatives, and cripple our education system, causing many of our beleaguered schools to have to close their doors or consolidate. Their proposed actions will create a budget disaster like that in California, and will have far-reaching effects on organized labor in other states such as Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Florida, and that's just a start.
Democratic members of the State Senate have left the state to prevent a quorum and thus prevent the Senate from voting on the budget bill. They thought it was the only option they had left to prevent the Republicans from simply ramming through the changes they wanted. The Republicans in turn asked the Democrats to return out of "respect for the process" yet didn't wait long before passing their changes through the State Assembly using questionable tactics. Where is their respect for the process?
The Republicans in Wisconsin have strayed far from the original ideals of their party. They should be embarrassed to be doing so in the very state their party was born in over 150 years ago.
Mood: Thoughtful
Music: The Eagles: "Already Gone"
Last night while channel surfing I happened upon Fox News and some of their coverage regarding the tense political situation in Madison. They were misreporting the protests at the Capitol as violent, which is the opposite of the truth. The protesters have been loud, but they have been peaceful, they have been organized, and they have been clean.
The issue is ostensibly about money and balancing the budget, but that is fast becoming a ruse. The real issue is about power and who wields it, and the Republicans that now control the Wisconsin state government want it all. They claim it's the only way to balance the budget without raising taxes, but what taxpayers are they really trying to protect? Their propositions will fill formerly non-partisan governmental offices with appointed stooges, squash clean energy initiatives, and cripple our education system, causing many of our beleaguered schools to have to close their doors or consolidate. Their proposed actions will create a budget disaster like that in California, and will have far-reaching effects on organized labor in other states such as Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Florida, and that's just a start.
Democratic members of the State Senate have left the state to prevent a quorum and thus prevent the Senate from voting on the budget bill. They thought it was the only option they had left to prevent the Republicans from simply ramming through the changes they wanted. The Republicans in turn asked the Democrats to return out of "respect for the process" yet didn't wait long before passing their changes through the State Assembly using questionable tactics. Where is their respect for the process?
The Republicans in Wisconsin have strayed far from the original ideals of their party. They should be embarrassed to be doing so in the very state their party was born in over 150 years ago.
Mood: Thoughtful
Music: The Eagles: "Already Gone"
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