Personal – Page 16 – Robert Bettmann

Team One America

I read an article last night by Friedman supporting a gas tax. At the same moment that he recognized the need to support our economy and bail out the Big 3 auto-makers, he suggested that we need to act now on altering the basic geometry of our national energy strategy.

I think he’s right in many ways, but wonder how many priorities an administration can have. We do need to prop up the existing economy. The United States has benefited from its acceptance of free market principles. Im actually uncertain how were getting around some parts of the WTO with giving aid to our auto industry. Isn’t giving aid to industry (be it agriculture, steel) illegal with the WTO?

(Anectdotally, I went to the Senate chamber in 1994 and witnessed the WTO vote. Shout out to Shifter and IAD.)

Would it be smart right now to raise the minimum wage? Or increase business contributions for health care? Friedman is correct that raising the gas tax would be a nifty way to encourage transition, but I’m not certain that it’s the efficient choice right now. I’m so pleased we (are about to) have a smart man in the White House who chooses for us.

Obama/Team One America did a few things lately I really respect.

Getting Clinton out of the Senate was really smart. You’re talking someone who still wants to run for president, and who REALLLLY does not agree with everthing on Obama’s domestic agenda.

She would have taken every opportunity to fight. I had the thought some time ago (about Pelosi) that this will be a real measure for her as a politician – her ability to evolve.

You lead a minority. A minority fights. You manage a majority.

And all of a sudden she has an administration she isn’t fighting with. That means she has to manage her majority. Wonder how she’ll do. Am pretty sure Obama made it easier for her by removing Clinton.

Another smart move by Team One America: inviting the schmuck Warren to speak at the inauguration. It guaratees a full, nationwide hearing on certain issues in a non-threatening way. (If you click here you’ll got warren’s site… check out number 8.)

No legislation is proposed at the inauguration. Nothing is really at stake. But the people who work the platform with the new president are gonna get a lot of profiles, and attention. Why would Obama give a major platform to someone who I’m sure he doesn’t agree much with? I think he trusts the judgment of the population. The more that U.S. citizens hear that the strongest critics of gay marriage are the people who think humans were kicking it with dinosaurs in the land of Cain and Abel a few years back, the more likely a coalition can be formed to create real change.

I’m pretty sure Clinton didn’t want don’t ask, don’t tell, but it was the best he could do. Politicans don’t get the luxury of having only one fight. Obama can’t lead where the country can’t follow. Part of the job is helping us – as a nation – follow. And I’m very encouraged with the management of issues that we’re seeing. Hope it continues once the live fire starts…

Art, Activism, Advocacy

This is a video that I made about a year ago. I made it to accompany a dance – this video was gonna be projected. But I found that the video was much stronger than my dance, and that I was accompanying the video, not the other way around. So the video is now its own separate entity. Let me know what you think.

I’m involved with the DC Advocates for the Arts. We’re having a meeting that I think is gonna be really interesting on Wednesday December 17th from 6:30-8:00pm. A big thank you to the CUDC for hosting the meeting at the Source on 14th St.

In meetings leading up to this event, and in preparation for the series of events we’ll be running in the new year, the Steering Committee has had some interesting discussions about the difference between activism and advocacy.

We are the DC Advocates for the Arts. Our mission empowers us to increase awareness and support for local arts. As Advocates, our central program is lobbying the City Council. Local arts funding has a major impact on local arts. Not only is the money important, but in terms of germinating and supporting local art, local funding has a major impact on the focus of local art. Where local arts funding places emphasis, and priority, that portion of the arts community grows. The DC Advocates works to make sure that our local government sets appropriate priorities and funding levels.

While we are ‘advocates’, we do not consider ourselves ‘lobbyists’. Nor do we consider ourselves ‘activists’. I have been thinking about that.

We need an engaged and active arts community to make our (the DC Advocates for the Arts) voice heard. Basically, if we have no constituent support, why would the government representatives listen to us? So as an organization I feel like we need to work to encourage engagement from the arts community in local politics.

The meeting that we are having on the 17th is trying to work toward that.

According to DCist, in the next session of the City Council, there will be consideration of a Gay Marriage bill. I know a lot of us that think such a thing – especially in the face of Prop. 8 – would be a great step. In order to make our voices heard, we’re gonna need to learn how to advocate well. This meeting brings together several individuals with expertise in local politics.

Tom Birch serves as legislative counsel for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in Washington, D.C. His work focuses on the interests of artists and arts organizations, directing advocacy efforts, and advising state and local groups on advocacy and lobbying strategies. He served two terms in elected public office as Georgetown’s neighborhood commissioner.

Rick Rosendall was president of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance for three years ending in January 1999, and is now its Vice President for political affairs. He is a columnist for the Boston gay newspaper Bay Windows and Washington’s Metro Weekly. He is a native Washingtonian.

Ben Young is the Chief of Staff for D.C. Councilmember David Catania. In this role, Young regularly interacts with advocates and lobbyists wishing to advance their agenda before the Districts legislature.

This is not a meeting about Gay Marriage, or promoting Gay Rights. At this meeting we will be looking at influencing local policy, with examples from arts funding and gay rights. There was some talk amongst the steering committee of whether or not this was taking us off track. Why have a meeting that deals with any subject other than the arts?

My sense is that artists have many interests, and since the DC Advocates need an engaged arts population to do our arts advocacy, it is in our interest to encourage all forms of advocacy. It increases the pool of engaged artists who might be a part of arts advocacy. That sounds a bit mercenary, but in my role with the DC Advocates for the Arts, that’s my line….

F showed me a video the other day that’s been making the rounds:

See more videos at Funny or Die

Please let your friends know about the meeting on the 17th. I know it’s the holidays, but we need to take the momentum we have from the national election and keep working for the things that matter to us.

Wobble

This is the fifth or sixth version of Wobble. As a poem it pretty well rots. And it keeps getting shorter with each revision… I think because I have found no real connection between the lines I like and the central feeling I am trying to express. Along those lines: I was editing Mad Rush this morning (the piece I wrote about in the last post.) I auditioned it for the Clarice Smith/ PG Parks Showcase last week. Though I didn’t get in, I recommend that event. Always a good show. I’ll be performing Mad Rush at next week’s Dinner Party event at the Warehouse Theater. Please come check it out, and let me know what you think.

Dancers will be able to relate to this poem: it describes my sore feet when I get up in the middle of the night. One of my favorite things about the poem was writing that I get up and wobble like a penguin. It’s an uncomfortable feeling, the foot soreness, and being a penguin all of a sudden always makes me smile.

Wobble

When I wake in the middle of the night you are with me, until I leave,

wobbling like a penguin.

At night we park. At night I dream, wake mad and drive off.

Forget me not maybe is to remember you,

forget the wobble.

Morning music and light I am grace for you.

I wobble.