Duhmockery
The Republicans, ruled by the Tea Party, have brought on the next recession, and nobody knows how bad it will be. Of course, Obama will take the blame, which is partly true, in that he didn’t fight them hard enough. Now we could end up with Mitt Romney, who will do anything the corporations tell him to do, including calling corporations people, which he did this week.
Or, maybe our next emerging nightmare Rick Perry, who is more steeped in corporate dollars than I have time to write about today, and could run on ending the separation of church and state, or God only knows what Michelle Bachman will come up with.
I’m no fan of the S&P that allowed the mortgage scam to go on way too long. However, I’m sort of glad that someone did something that could move President Obama towards addressing our unfair distribution of wealth. It’s astounding to me that public servants can run on the platform that the masses have to pay more taxes and the super rich do not. How in heaven’s name do they convince people to vote against themselves?
I’ve been saying that our country is in deep trouble for some time now, at the same time wishing that I’d be wrong. But hang onto the railing folks, because this roller coaster has no seat belts. Digging deep to find something positive to say, I found one thing: as the market falls, the President and those in his party that have some knowledge of government may be moved to govern. I know this will sound old-fashioned, but our “representatives” are supposed to represent us, not their wallets. I’m not asking for their souls to awaken, because that seems impossible, unless. . .no, the Karmapa isn’t going to speak in the House. So back to the positive spin: the coming financial hardship may help to save the environment in a small way, in that we will have less purchasing and discarding of useless items. Of course, Tiffany’s will continue to flourish, but maybe we’ll have less “bling” and tattoos, because they don’t come for free. They’ll still charge us for water, and many will spend what’s left of their 401Ks on anti-depressants, but wait, that’s not really a positive spin, is it?
So, here’s my thought: why don’t they ask some of “us” to find solutions? Like for instance, regarding the corporate jet loophole, why not let the corporations that use their jets to bring business and jobs back to our country keep their loopholes, and then charge the corporations that use their jets to bring our manufacturing jobs to other countries? Then, we can go on from there. If we can’t pull that one off, I believe that the day will come when we, the people will get up and stand together against the BOGIs (the Big Oil and Gas Industries) that are poisoning us, and the banksters that have stolen our money. I only hope that it will be sooner rather than later. Remember, democracy is not a spectator sport, but duhmockery is.
Jill Paperno
Glenford
Without a government
Fresh from his prayer rally asking God’s help to solve the country’s problems, Rick Perry has thrown his hat into the Republican three-ring circus of anti-government rhetoric. Perry’s pledge if he was president is “to make Washington as inconsequential in our lives as it can be.” Wow! Just think about what that would mean and what you could do for yourself in the absence of the federal government.
1. You could insure quality control of the drugs you take by making them in your basement just like meth makers do.
2. You could have all able-bodied tea partiers maintain the highways and get the networks to create a reality show where contestants show their true grit by hanging beneath bridges to check for structural problems.
3. You could practice the head-between-the-knees-kiss-your-behind-bye-bye technique in case your plane accidentally collides with another.
4. You could move away from rivers, oceans, gulfs which might flood or build your house on stilts.
5. You could invite a terrorist for tea and congratulate him for being off the freedom-infringing watchlist.
6. You could run to the southern border states and buy lots of guns and ammo and play war for real if we are attacked.
7. You could buy lots of candles which are helpful if the power grid goes down. And romantic too.
8. You could go to your pool supply store and buy water test kits or buy lots of bottled water with the money saved by not paying taxes.
9. You could put away a few extra shekels each paycheck for retirement and hope you don’t live too long.
10. You could save another few extra shekels to purchase health insurance when you are older or get a Kevorkian machine for when the money runs out.
11. You could build up your immune system so e-coli, parasites, salmonella don’t make you sick.
12. You could have the coal companies invest in a lot of cages and canaries.
13. You could ask a cadre of Homer Simpson wannabes to oversee our nuclear power plants.
14. You could buy an extra mattress to stash your money under when the pesky government no longer insures your bank account. 15. You could save a few more coins from your massive paycheck to buy more gas for your car when those infringing pollution and mileage standards are done away with.
16. You can wear a mask while driving in thick smoky air of freedom. 17. You could support giving Wall St. back all the freedom it had when the economy collapsed.
18. You could save some more of your dollars to pay for all the cost of you kids’ education if they are not either geniuses or athletes.
19. You could put away a little extra in case of a hurricane, earthquake or tornado and make sure your bootstraps are strong and intact.
19. Most of all, according to Rick Perry and friends, you can pray to a God who says “government, shmovernment, who needs you when you have me on your side?” The fact that it hasn’t worked in Perry’s Texas where the prayers for rain have gone unanswered doesn’t really matter. Faith is like that. That’s why its called blind, and sometimes deaf and dumb. Just saying.
M’Lou Sorrin
Hurley
WSA Says Thanks
On behalf of the Board of Directors of The Woodstock School of Art, Inc., I extend my heartfelt thanks for an overwhelming show of support from the Woodstock community at large for the Building Fund Auction which was held Sunday, August 14.
To our many donors, co-signers, and bidders and the terrific Tom Fletcher and amazing Amy Freeman from the Fletcher Gallery, the sure-I’ll come-into-work-on-a-Sunday-staff at the WSA, Eric Angeloch, Pam Murnan, Mandara Calderon, Mimi Aburano, led by the best thing since
sliced bread, Nancy Campbell, volunteer coordinating maven Carol Davis, the genius and unflappable bookkeeper Kim Lockrow, first lady and maker of wonderful sustenance, Sarah Stitham, and the ever faithful, stalwart yet merry band of WSA volunteers, which includes:
Ian Healy, Merrily Warren, Joan Elliot , Paula Nelson, Janet Siskind, Wilma Miller, Sandra Scheuer, Pamela Wardewell, Pip Merrick, Elizabeth Broad, Mary Yelenick, Dion Ogust, John Kleinhans, Jenne Currie, Mara Angeloch, Mary Ann Malkine, Mike Campbell, Heather the internet wizard, Ron Balsamo and Dennis Gato, I once again offer my sincere gratitude for your cheery dispositions, your constant devotion to the school, and for being a magnificent part of the spirit of the Woodstock colony.
This is truly the best part of my job, and one of the top ten reasons to work in an artists’ colony. Generations of great artists have been supported and collected by their neighbors and friends since the inception of this artists’ colony, and there is an abundance of amazing work in Woodstock waiting for the right new collector or friend. Please keep the excitement in the air and this marvelous tradition alive by sending the same show of support to The 9th Annual Woodstock Fine Art Auction at the Woodstock Artists Association & Museum (WAAM), Sunday, September 4, at 1 pm. I’ll be looking for you there!
Kate McGloughlin
President, Woodstock School of Art
Join the family! 
