Agreed that the part about Duceppe is out of line, but Joe and I were talking last night about employing the same chess strategy only using the NDP or the Green Party a la xxoo's game to block a majority. The way we figure, Harper will get a fair amount of votes, so our only way to avoid a majority election is to block him by ensuring an equal number of opposition seats are held to hold him accountable for all of his decisions (covertly or not). The Opposition party, as we see it, is our only hope at this point till the next election in a few years.
I'm an artist who has had a day job to support my art habit for the past 25 years. I happen to know a lot of artists, people I feel privileged to know. I don't know any artist whom I would consider to be "at the trough". I do know a handful of artists who have received occasional modest grants which have given them an opportunity to practice their vocation exclusively for short chunks of time. Most artists I know have day jobs.
I was personally offended by Mr. Harper's comments in Saskatoon about ordinary people disliking those rich artists at their galas.
This ordinary guy thinks Mr. Harper is a poor choice for Prime Minister. Over at my place, I've advocated voting for anybody but Harper.
I agree with you Anch. I don't think that the average artist sees much of this grant money. Atwood, on the other hand (and many of those who manage to get into the inner circle) have seen quite a bit. I'm not a Harper fan by any stretch of the imagination...he certainly hasn't done my field any favours...But, there is an art elite in this country that sops up most of this money. You won't see it, or feel the cuts...but, her like will. Cronyism is alive and well...in every field, and while I think Harper sucks...I also know who he's referring to. Admittedly, I've never been an Atwood fan. I find her pretentious and pompous. Her support of Duceppe is ridiculous for any Canadian who wishes to keep Canada together. On the other hand, Duceppe can continue to bite the hands that feed his province.
I, too, have never been an Atwood fan. Could never put my finger on why till now. Your assessment of her is spot on, Rad. She really is full of herself and feels free to spew venom in her "art" and in interviews because she is lucky enough to get interviewed.
I find her really out of touch, and like I said before, pretentious and pompous. There was that time that she and her husband brought packed dinners to the Giller Awards because they were protesting the four seasons hotels role in development in Grenada...because it was threatening the Grenada dove...a bird.
Listen, if it meant that much to her, why didn't she just skip the Giller awards all together? Because the Giller Awards give out money...and you don't piss off or disrespect those people....never mind that while she and her husband are protesting on behalf of the Grenada doves, who gives a shit about the Grenada people who need those jobs in those hotels, eh?
Apparently she doesn't give a shit about those Grenadans, but I bet sure as shit my bestie born there would!
Commenting by HaloScan
