Quote:
Originally Posted by hauntedheadnc
in my opinion, when discussing capitals, those damp holes where the fungus of politics thrives, it is appropriate to discuss politics. it is also appropriate to discuss them in the context of such things as raleigh's museums, which would never, ever get built in today's teapublican climate. therefore, in discussing politics in this thread, i am merely stating the sad truth that my state used to be progressive -- up to and including building one of the nation's better collections of museums. with state money. in the 1950's.
and today? today's gop fights to shutter county libraries, for christ's sake! that's why i brought it all up. this state is currently going through the political equivalent of the sacking of rome and most of what you see in this thread are the grand monuments that will be left in ruins by the time these people get done.
am i angry about it? goddamn right i am, and it came out. has my life been threatened by politicians' actions in raleigh? yes, because they want to do away with the nc aids drug assistance program, and i'm angry about that too, and that came out also.
however, i am willing to drop it if the truth offends that badly. want to discuss the pictures? by all means. don't whine about my political observations, and i'll do you all the courtesy of keeping quiet about them also.
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I would never argue with someone's right to say their opinion's. However, said person should be prepared to defend those opinions with more than empty rhetoric and ad hominem attacks.
The North Carolina Museum of Art was built in 1947 with funds from the state legislature. A legislature that, sure enough, was controlled by democrats. Surely such a period of time (1940's and 50's) must have been a golden age for minorities, the downtrodden and women, right? I mean, surely no one was oppressed during that time.
The reason it wouldn't get built today? The reason programs you personally care about (along with lots of others) are being defunded? WE ARE OUT OF MONEY. Like many countries around the world, we have to tighten our belt. As much as I care about the arts, given the choice between clean drinking water, enough policeman, teachers, fireman, roads, etc. and an art museum or a library, the former are going to win out every time. And let's not blow things out of proportion. No one needs to start chaining themselves in front of the Museum of Art to stave off the bulldozers any time soon.
Should our taxes go up to pay for it? Should we just put a special tax on rich republicans (Note: there are plenty of rich democrats as well)? Unless you want to simply seize funds like you're impersonating Stalin, the world doesn't work that way. The people in control right at the moment simply get to be the bad guy during a rough period.
I agree it got this way through mismanagement and pork-barrel spending, but that was done by both parties over a long period of time.
Again, I've lived in North Carolina all my life. I have no special attachment to either party. Party politics, and some people's slavish devotion to one party or another, are the cause of most of this country's problems. Both parties are in control, and both are rich. Both give in to special interest groups and lobbyists, and members of both often become lobbyists when they leave office. These are the sorts of issues we should be concerned with first. The rest are just filler and smokescreens.
As a final note, making a one sided political rant where you resort to name calling only makes you look bad, and cheapens any point you may have tried to make. We are all entitled to an opinion, but we have a choice about whether or not we want to be the loud drunk at the bar when sharing it.
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Loved seeing the metal globe of the world, the outdoor sculptures and love seeing the sitting benches downtown.
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