Blog Action Day - Topic: Poverty

So today is Blog Action Day and the topic this year is Poverty.

As of yesterday I had no idea what I was going to write about. None. I thought maybe I would write about a play that deals with poverty, like Odets' Awake & Sing! or something like that.

Then I realized something when I stumbled upon Americans for the Arts Action Fund tally on where the candidates stand when it comes to arts funding. Suddenly the idea of poverty hit closer home.

I have friends who are working artists; my goal is eventually to be a working artist. When I took a look at the Arts positions of the 2008 candidates, I got scared for the future of arts funding in America.

Like a good democrat, Obama supports funding the arts. His campaign has put out an official policy proposal on arts funding that focuses on combining education and arts. At least from his position statement, he see the value of the arts. But will he really follow through on all this or is it an attempt to capture the already leftist artists? Why would he need to do that though, most artists I know would automatically vote left, purely because the Democratic Party has a history of supporting social programs, including the arts.

What scares me though is McCain and Palin. I was in Virginia on Monday, driving through a neighborhood and I forgot what it was like to be in a “red” state. In the course of two long blocks I saw probably 10 McCain/Palin signs, it was scary, mainly because of her, but that’s not what this blog post is about.

McCain doesn’t have published policy proposals on arts or arts education.

He hasn’t made a statement on federal support of the arts, though he has about arts education.

The Republican party platform does not include a statement on arts and/or arts education.

McCain himself has voted to cut funding or terminate the National Endowment for the Arts .

I know I’m not talking about the world’s poverty issue and I didn’t really set out to be political when I wrote this, but I’m concerned about where my country is going and whether or not I will cross that poverty line to pursue my dreams.

I’m not a huge fan of Obama, in fact I gained more respect for the ticket after I heard Biden speak. But McCain scares me and Palin scares me even more. It's the lesser of two evils situation, per usual.

I just ask that when you go to vote in less than a month, you consider what choice you make and how that will affect those you love.

Thanks to Abigail Katz's Katzeye Report for bringing to my attention the candidate's positions on arts funding.