Problems Caused By Bush - Item 37,492,987,435

[nbcrusader]

Sean Penn can't quit smoking

Actor Sean Penn added to the enthusiasm of the day by stressing that all of the nation's anti-war activism was taking hold and was starting to work—while admitting that the stress of living under the current administration was making it tough for him to quit smoking.

Personal responsibility is officially dead.

 

[the rockin edge]

 

[Justin24]

I was going to post that. So he blames his smoking on Bush, So does that mean I can blame him for not getting an Xbox 360, Tickets to all the U2 concerts.

 

[clarityat3am]

Well if that's the case then I blame him for me not being able to maintain the willpower to exercise on a regular basis!

 

[Irvine511]

firstly, there are well more than 40,000,000 things Bush can be personally blamed for.

and since when did we start looking to Sean Penn as a cultural weathervane?

 

[anitram]

According to some people here,

Posting in here about Robertson is bad because he's just paraded around by the media for their own ends.

Posting in here about Sean Penn is good because he's just paraded around by the media for their own ends. And he's a pinko commie.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

Bush is why I can't stop biting my nails

 

[Dreadsox]

I thought this was a sex thread....slinks back out.

 

[Irvine511]

*** sorry, meant to say 40,000,000,000

 

[nbcrusader]

and since when did we start looking to Sean Penn as a cultural weathervane?

I bet more people know Sean Penn than Pat Robertson

 

[verte76]

I blame Bush for not being able to sell all of my paintings at my studio's last show. It's a government plot to keep me from selling water color paintings.

 

[nbcrusader]

I blame Bush for not being able to sell all of my paintings at my studio's last show. It's a government plot to keep me from selling water color paintings.

If we made the tax cuts permanent, perhaps people would have the money to buy your paintings....

 

[Irvine511]

If we made the tax cuts permanent, perhaps people would have the money to buy your paintings....

or we could actually fund the NEA and verte could receive a stipend to produce art more full time.

the Medici's gave us the Renaissance ...

Elizabethan England gave us Shakespeare ...

i wonder what artistic geniuses are forced to abandon their visions because the US government doesn't care about art? societies are not remembered by how low their taxes are, but by their artistic contributions to mankind.

besides, i'd be willing to bet that tax refunds will go towards plasma flat-screen TVs, not to patronize the arts.

 

[nbcrusader]

besides, i'd be willing to bet that tax refunds will go towards plasma flat-screen TVs, not to patronize the arts.

Sounds like you've described the general public's hunger for art.

 

[melon]

Personal responsibility is officially dead.

It's true. It's like when gays are blamed for why Christians are getting divorced and/or not having enough children. When will people start taking responsibility for their own problems?

Melon

 

[Irvine511]

Sounds like you've described the general public's hunger for art.

a natural side effect in a society where businessmen are worshipped and artists are mocked for daring to rock the boat.

 

[verte76]

Sounds like you've described the general public's hunger for art.

People have all sorts of misconceptions when it comes to government funding of the arts. Yes, we get a grant from the NEA. But we also have grants from about 15 companies, I can't remember the exact number. One of these, the Alabama Gas Co, Engergen, bought one of my paintings in April of last year and donated 5,000 to the studio. For every public dollar for art funding, there are about $15 privately donated contributions. So it's not like you're "paying for art", as some people think.

 

[nbcrusader]

corporate support

 

[melon]

Regardless, the amount funded to the NEA is miniscule when compared to the total amount the government spends each year. You'd probably get more saving slashing the salaries, benefits, and pensions of congressmen. After all, if everyone else is being told to do with less, why can't our elected officials? Maybe they should also be contributing to their health care costs and pension plans like everyone else.

Melon

 

[Irvine511]

corporate support

however, ALL support for the arts should be commended.

yet, corporate support makes me a bit nervous -- that might put pressure on the artist to make work that is pleasing to the intended audience, perhaps even propagandize for the corporate client, and if one is creating art for the corporation, it cannot offend the sensibilities of the corporation. corporations can censor in ways that our government could never, ever dream. there are checks and balances on governmental power that corporate america never has to deal with.

 

[nbcrusader]

Valid concerns, but there are certain hurdles to clear. First, the degree, if any, of prior restraint imposed by a corporation. Contributions may be funneled through an independent commission or foundation. Second, to the extent there is corporate influence, the influence is not necessarily aligned. Arguably, toy would have a multitude of influence - potentially increasing diversity in art.

 

[hiphop]

yet, corporate support makes me a bit nervous -- that might put pressure on the artist to make work that is pleasing to the intended audience, perhaps even propagandize for the corporate client,

the problem is that it´s the same with state support. that goes very far... 20 years ago, when you were in a band, you could be in the socialist party or in the conservative party: if you were a member of the socialists, you could play gigs (really!!) in the "red" districts (the districts of Vienna with socialist majority), and if you were a member of the conservatives, you could not play in red districts but in the black ones (with conservative majority) and vice versa.

ok, that has changed, but still, you know..

however,. there are very independent artists everywhere, be it in Austria, in the U.S. or the rest of the world, and they will never adjust their art to the wishes of economy or politicians. it is the artist´s duty (if you want to see it like that) to stay free from such influences, not the corporations or the politicians one - sure they want to buy what they can..

 

[Irvine511]

the problem is that it´s the same with state support. that goes very far... 20 years ago, when you were in a band, you could be in the socialist party or in the conservative party: if you were a member of the socialists, you could play gigs (really!!) in the "red" districts (the districts of Vienna with socialist majority), and if you were a member of the conservatives, you could not play in red districts but in the black ones (with conservative majority) and vice versa.

i think things might be a little bit different over here, but i still think that if a state-funded artist was pressured to make, say, Pro-Labor art by politicians, he could and would raise a stink over it, and would gain lots of attention and support since no one wants the government to tell artists what they can and cannot make.

however, if an artist were to complain by saying that such-and-such a corporation threatened to revoke his funding if he, say, created art that was, say, critical of oil companies, then your average citizen might just say, "well, gosh, ya can't blame 'em! it's a corporation! of course the only thing that should ever matter to a corporation is the bottom line, the only reason corporations exist is for the benefit of the shareholders."

 

[hiphop]

i think things might be a little bit different over here, but i still think that if a state-funded artist was pressured to make, say, Pro-Labor art by politicians, he could and would raise a stink over it, and would gain lots of attention and support since no one wants the government to tell artists what they can and cannot make.

however, if an artist were to complain by saying that such-and-such a corporation threatened to revoke his funding if he, say, created art that was, say, critical of oil companies, then your average citizen might just say, "well, gosh, ya can't blame 'em! it's a corporation! of course the only thing that should ever matter to a corporation is the bottom line, the only reason corporations exist is for the benefit of the shareholders."

that´s true.