All That We Need

Over at Community Arts Network the excellent Arlene Goldbard has turned out a skillful sequel to her earlier illustrated primer on the New New Deal.

The essay "The New New Deal Part Deux" is, as we have come to expect, a tour de force. You should read it and share it with comrades.

Here's what I could glean:

1. The New New Deal is coming and we TAs are going to be lucky if we get a dime.

2. Our fearless leaders begged for art-specific language to be included in the first round of legislation and were roundly ignored. HOPE is eternal, but as usual, there is no consensus among the arts community about our priorities or our message. If we don't start pleading in one unified voice, we'll get nothing. So, join Americans for the Arts why don't you?

3. In the plan put forth, the NEA is set to get $50 million to "preserve jobs" in the non-profit arts sector that are threatened by the current economic apocalypse. Most of this money is to be regranted to state arts agencies and Ms. Goldbard points out that $50 million is less than it takes to wage two weeks of war without end.

Rolling toward the finale, our muse muses in great detail about possible models for public service jobs to round out the age of Aquarius, but that's just utopia talking. Besides, I'm too old to sleep in a dorm with the other cultural workers while eating ramen.

I think our new slogan should be:

TEACHING ARTISTS OF THE WORLD DEMAND A LIVING WAGE!

HEALTHCARE!

AND A PENSION PLAN!

I know, HOPE was definitely much tastier and easier to put on a button.

Sadly, I've already eaten mine.

I was so hungry for it.

Also: Eric B. & Rakim Paid In Full (youtube)