I am Sick to Death of the HEalth Care Debate

I keep putting off this article, and finding it more and more necessary to write. There is so much information and anger out there on this subject, that I am absolutely exhausted. (A 'short' list of articles to follow) I have always distrusted the government, and it often earns me rolling of eyes and scoffing from others. So be it. And, because I am fed up, let me just say: "I told you so". If you can't see the current behavior coming out of Washington as proof of big government, you never will.

We live in America, yet assembly is considered terrorism. We live in America, yet speech is considered evil. We live in America, where our Representatives insult and ignore us. We live in America, where we are on the verge of tyranny. Go ahead, roll your eyes. But don't look to me for sympathy when your nanny puts you over her collective knee and spanks you for getting out of line. Your day will come, don't doubt it for a minute.

Now that I've gotten my rant out, let me get on to a more reasoned presentation. We currently have a President who would rather beat us to death with Rules for Radicals, than allow dissent. Apparently he is the ultimate authority on everything, even when he 'doesn't have all of the information'. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what he knows, because he just wants to be in charge. Repeat after the teleprompter: "The State knows what is best for me". He is backed by a majority in Congress who have no respect for the people they represent. They gloat about their power and dismiss their constituents with accusations and insults. They have grown confident in their ability to wield their power unchecked. All of them are followed and propped up by a lazy and unwitting or avaricious vocal minority who would sell their souls for a 'free' ride at the expense of the rest of us. The greatest mistake we have made is to be decent, hard-working people who respect the opinions of others.

The media plays along by willfully misrepresenting the facts to curry favor and promote an agenda. We see newscasts on major networks editing footage to portray angry black men as white racists. I guess the journalistic standards went out the window with limited government. All of this, while ignoring the deceit and hypocrisy of the President. The level of anger, class and racial tensions being promoted recently is creating damage that will take years to repair. Americans are being pitted against one another on manufactured grounds and escalated fears that are resulting in resentment and anger toward one another rather than those who are responsible.

This article will be cross-posted at my Modern Conservative.

The promised reading material:

News:

Universal HealthCare and the Waistline Police, The GOP SHould Fight HEalthCare Rationing, Pay to Play Politics, The SEIU, and Obamacare, HealthCare is Not a Right, Stimulus Bill Wins Final Approval from Senate, Grandma's Run, Grand Inquisitor Endorses Obama Health Plan,HealthCare Overhaul Threatens States, Government Run HEalthcare Plan Worse Than Anyone Imagined, Democrats Grow Wary as Health Bill Advances, Obama Tries to Pitch HealthCare on Conasumer Level, Democrats May Limit Tax Increase for Health Plan, Who Will Tell Michael J. Fox He Needs to Die, You Are Terrifying Us, Obama May Drop Government Run Health Plan,Big Government, Big Mistake, Obama's HealthCare Horror, Obama's Orwellian Advisor...

Papers:

Principles for Allocations of Scarce Medical Interventions

Letters From MoveOn: The Angry Mob

As a member of the angry mob and a card carrying Right Wing Extremist, I may be overreacting. However, that seems to be what we do, so bear with me. As with most things Liberal lately, there are some absurd accusations and reactions making their way through the news. This article is in regard to my August 7 email from MoveOn.org.
"It's getting ugly out there.
All across the country, right wing extremists are disrupting congressional town-hall meetings with venomous attacks on President Obama's plans for health care and clean energy...
If the shouts of the right-wing mobs are the only voices our representatives hear over the recess, we'll have a hard time passing health care and clean energy legislation..."
These emails always come with articles that are meant to validate whatever point is being made in the email. Typically, they come from outside sources. This week, two of the four links were to MoveOn articles. I don't know if there's any etiquette to this sort of thing, but it seems unprofessional to quote yourself as proof of your own argument. Maybe I've just been giving too much credit to the opposition in the past.
The larger point I am making is this: When Liberals protest or disrupt meetings, it is considered their right to assembly and freedom of speech. When Conservatives do so, they are labeled extremists by media and politicians. When Liberals tout the virtues of Democracy, which is essentially mob rule, no one bats an eye. Never mind that America is a Constitutional Republic. The mere use of the term qualifies me as a home-grown terrorist. When Conservatives demand the attention of their representatives, they are berated as an angry mob.
I only pulled a couple of lines from the MoveOn email this week because most of it was fund raising. The only thing of consequence they had to say was that Conservatives are violent and dishonest. They did site several instances of Conservative violence and threats via effigy. I guess we aren't supposed to know that some SEIU members attacked some of the Conservative protesters. Or, remember all those 'nonviolent' instances of Bush being hanged in effigy. Or Sarah Palin. It seems to me there's enough guilt going around on all sides.
So, on to my final point. Powerful people, be they politicians, judges, journalists, actors - whoever. Power comes in many forms, and the power to influence the masses is an exhilarating power indeed. Fear is the easiest way to exert that power. And make no mistake, this kind of thing is intentional.
I was recently watching an episode of Criminal Minds. A mediocre show, I admit, but I needed a break. Needless to say, I ended up scribbling notes for this post in my notebook. The writers of the show decided, in this episode, to spread a little ant-Libertarian propaganda. Misrepresentation actually. We are, after all, the worst of the right wing extremists.
One of the characters commented: "You know how those Libertarians are, they don't like to pay taxes." I can't speak for all Libertarians, but most of us are not anarchists. We understand the need for government, and the cost of the responsibilities delegated to the government by the Constitution. The courts and the military; the Congress and the office of the President; you know, that stuff the old guys wrote down a long time ago. We also understand that individual liberty comes with responsibility. We don't just go around doing whatever.
Now, the 'Libertarians' in question, are religious fundamentalists - a cult. These are not two belief systems that are mutually exclusive but they tend not to go hand in hand. The second quote I took issue with was: "These guys are Libertarians and the little girls they are abusing are teenagers." I'm sorry, but I have to be a stickler for definitions here. People who think you should be able to do anything you want, to anyone you want, any time with no consequence are called LIBERTINES (Sorry to shout, but it's a huge difference) As I said before, individual liberty comes with tremendous personal responsibility. Everyone has equal rights under the law, and one individual may not take action that infringes on the rights of another. Period.
This is all a convenient tool used to discredit the opposition before they gain support. Fear. If they make you believe, while you are zoned off watching TV, that Libertarians will take advantage of you, you will continue to buy into the broken two-party system. If they equate the words freedom and liberty with anarchy, you will continue to seek 'security' in the arms of the government.
This didn't start in November. It isn't an exclusively Liberal tactic. They just happen to be better at it, and the ones currently wielding power.
To those of you out there making your voices heard - congratulations and thank you. Keep it up. If we don't demand representation from our elected officials, they will continue to do what is best for them. Not us. This is a hard battle we are fighting, but it must be fought.
This article is cross posted at Modern Conservative.

The James Allen Show: A Review

I have recently been introduced to the James Allen Show, and subsequently, have decided to write a review. It is nice to come across a fellow Conservative who is spreading the messages of Limited Government and Individual Liberty. James was also sure to point out on his show and blog, that these are things that come with increased individual responsibility. I couldn't agree more. These are all principles and philosophical truths that must be backed up by fact, rather than fear-mongering or half-truths. Points on which James and I seem to agree.
In my time listening to James' show and perusing his blog, I have seen strong support for the following principles: the necessity for and significance of the Constitution and the checks and balances it places on the government, the importance of morality, the absolute necessity for the use of reason as opposed to relativity, individual responsibility, and the illegitimacy of fear-mongering as a method of influence or political interaction. On the first point, James makes a clear defense of the Constitution as a document written in stone, with the sole purpose of maintaining separation of and limitation on government powers. He defends its place in our society by backing up the role it plays in guaranteeing our individual rights and establishing a rule of law. James does a very good job defining the term 'morality', as well as explaining the importance of having a standard by which to judge our own actions as well as those of others. This point relates closely to the next, which is the importance of reason. Without a clear standard of right and wrong, we cannot expect others to adopt our morality. The use of reason, the practice of backing up our statements with fact, and avoiding emotional reactionism are all practices that help us to interact in a civil fashion.

James clearly has a very deep faith in God, coupled with the ability to accept disbelief in others. His goal seems to be reaching out to others and showing the virtues of his beliefs, rather than pressuring others to accept them. Not being a religious person myself, I find that I am able to approach this subject from an unbiased and non dogmatic point of view. I have great respect for people of faith, who in turn, respect my lack of faith.

In conclusion, I will leave you with 2 points that I found most striking in James' work: 1.The battles we fight reflect what we value.

2.We must present a world view that includes the critical use of reason.

Thanks James, for an informative and enlightening program. To those of you reading this, I encourage you to give him your attention.

This entry will be cross posted at ModernConservative.

Ignorance is an Amazing Thing

The following is from my recent article on Liberatchik:

...The shirt reads: Freedom is great. While, on the surface, that seems innocuous and easily defensible, let me address the reason it irks me. This woman, having voted for Obama, has no true concept of freedom. Putting the shirt on a child who will bear the burden of paying the bill and suffering the consequences of his mother's vote is the irony. I hesitate to call it cruel, because I don't believe she is knowingly selling her child into serfdom, but it is certainly ignorant. Further, Obama and the current Congress have no interest in Americans being free.
In closing, I will leave you with an excerpt and a link. The fact that this is coming out of Russia should scare the pants off of you.

..."The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record-setting, not just in America's short history, but in the world. If this keeps up for more than a year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe. ...The proud American will go down into his slavery without a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker."

This quote is an excerpt from an article by Stanislav Mishin @ Pravda.RU

Graphic Novels aren't Just for Kids Anymore

This week's featured artist at Liberatchik is a graphic novelist named Bosch Fawstin. Much of his work deals with the subjects of terrorism and Islam. As an illustrator, I have an appreciation of his technical abilities above the aesthetic of the work or the story line, both of which are amazing on their own. The clean, bold imagery of his characters is reminiscent of WWII propaganda posters. Having an affinity for that aesthetic, I am drawn to his work.
Fawstin's message is both patriotic and aggressive. He makes no apologies for his opinions, nor should he. The facts back up his position. In an artistic genre that often glorifies anarchy and belittles the 'evils of capitalism', Fawstin's work stands apart. He has created a hero for the 21st century with a clear vision of morality and justice. His work supports freedom, pays tribute to our troops who fight on our behalf, and shreds the propaganda in defense of Islamic terrorism...

The Making of an Art Movement.

Now that the Decarationist Movement and Liberatchik have launched, I thought people might like to know how we got started. Christopher of Modern Conservative contacted me via email late last year, and together, we have combined our creative talents and our passion for freedom to build this site. As we add new members, the face of the project may change, but the underlying philosophy and goals will remain constant - Liberty is superior to tyranny; the State is our enemy; Freedom of Speech includes all points of view; individuals, not government, are the creators of wealth and freedom...

To read more, visit Liberatchik.

Thanks to Daily Uprising

I'd like to pass on a short article at Daily Uprising. They were kind enough to put up a link for Liberatchik without being asked. It feels good to know people are out there supporting us.

Declarationist Art for Libertarians and Conservatives

New Posts @ ModCon

Here we go again. Obama, the great promise of Change, Hope, and an end to racial tension proves himself to be just another Socialist hack. We all know nothing he said about equality and diversity on the campaign trail was true, so I'll get to the point. His recent Supreme Court nominee is proof, yet again, that he has no intention of following the rule of law or adhering to the Constitution. I will provide a link to Sotomayor's quote, because I have no interest in addressing that in great detail at this point. I will go so far as to say that her comments were not, by definition, racist; but no less disturbing for that fact.
If you care about individual Liberty, you should fear her for reasons I will address in a future article. On to the point of this post. The art for this week's featured slot on our page is by Alvaro Alvillar. It is an installation that addresses the issue of racism in America. In particular, it addresses the fact that it is universally acceptable to be racist against whites while speaking of diversity and ending racism. It speaks also to the victim mentality and the power wielded in it's defense that is the driving force behind the acceptance of blaming whites and holding them to a different standard than 'minorities'. Finally, it addresses the political power gained by the use of these tactics as well as the guilt many whites feel as a result.

As promised, I am back to explain the real issue behind Obama's nomination of Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Everyone under the sun is going on about her remarks being racist. Because they were not, in fact racist, the entire argument has been rendered invalid. Her comments were, however, inappropriate as well as revealing of a larger and more important issue. She is clearly more interested in ruling based on her feelings and opinions rather than the rule of law and that should be the reason to oppose her nomination.
I don't think her feelings or experiences make her any more qualified for the position than her race. These are not even subjects we should be discussing when nominating a judge to the Supreme Court. We should be examining her record as a judge and the fairness of her rulings as defined by law. She should neither be influenced by international opinion, nor foreign law. The Supreme Court is a branch of the United States government, not a tool for promoting globalism.

For those of you who have not heard, Liberatchik has launched with the help of ModernConservative.com. Please take a minute to check it out and learn more about the Declarationist Art Movement now under way. We have recently been joined by some very talented artists. Weekly updates are made to feature Conservative art, music and film. Links are also provided to our signatory artists. New articles a posted 3 or more times a week, which is why I have become scarce around here. Finally, we are working on a FaceBook page. I hope you like what we're doing, and invite you to join us. Any level of help or support is greatly appreciated.

Integrity

"Integrity can neither be lost nor concealed nor faked nor quenched nor artificially come by nor outlived, nor, I believe in the long run, denied." Eudora Welty

A good friend of mine sent me this quote one day as a compliment. I'm not sure if I always live up to it, but I do the best I can. This is a difficult path I've chosen, although I wouldn't have it any other way. I work very hard, and it helps to know that someone has so much faith in my efforts and abilities.I am not just an artist, although that can be difficult enough. I am a political artist, which sometimes makes people uncomfortable or angry. I am also a Conservative, which is a very unpopular viewpoint in the art community. That is why I have teamed up with Modern Conservative to start the Declarationist Art Movement and Liberatchik. We want to create a place where artists, like myself, from all genres can come together for support and encouragement. We are creating a place where we can be recognized for our talents, but more importantly, supported in our ideals. All of this is being done with the goal of creating a larger community, awareness by the average American, and eventually patronage by those who are willing and able to help us in our endeavors. I look forward to the day when artists can express their thoughts through their talents - openly, and uncensored.
Meanwhile, I am a mom and wife. I struggle to balance my passion for my art and politics with my love for my family. My days can be long sometimes, and I often want to take a break. Sometimes, I don't feel like staying up late to write. I just want to paint, or sleep, or play with my son. A year ago, I wouldn't have thought I'd be blogging regularly. It's time consuming, requires me to be on the computer instead of painting, and I didn't consider myself to be a writer. Then Christopher approached me with this project, and within 6 months, we've launched it. Currently, I'm working on a guidebook and planning to set aside time to start approaching other artists.This project isn't just about me or Christopher. Yes, I want to make a living from my work. I can't continue to work on this project or stay home to paint without money. However, I know from experience how hard it is to get started as an artist. I hope I can help and inspire other artists out there to get involved and be active politically as well as artistically. I genuinely believe that the future of our country is being shaped by media, culture and the arts. Marketing is everywhere and influences everything we do on a subconscious level. If we are to combat the Liberal stranglehold on entertainment and our culture, we have to fight back on a creative level.
I know from speaking to people that they want to be entertained by something meaningful. They want art that they like because they agree with it, not because it's the latest trend. They want to see movies that don't stereotype them as evil, listen to music that doesn't berate them, and see to a comedian who isn't insulting and demeaning them. We can give it to them. It takes the simple qualities of strength and integrity to take the first step in that direction. Stand tall, make a statement, back it up with facts, and have the strength to stand firm. One step at a time; we can do this.
If you are an artist, who shares our views, get in touch with me. You can participate openly, or not. Just knowing you are there is encouraging. If you know someone in the arts who qualifies, send them the link. We'd love to see their work and get in touch with them. If you know people who collect art, and share our views, let them know we are here. Word of mouth is one of our biggest tools. Once we have the support, we can start organizing shows and raising awareness on a grand scale. In the meantime, I am working with my friend Alvaro to put on a show. I'll keep you updated as we get closer to achieving that goal. Thanks to all of you who are showing your support for us before we are 'cool'. We greatly appreciate it.

This article is cross posted at Liberatchik.

Breaking Down My Philosophy, Installment #1

Liberty is not a Utopian Fantasy

This is a new article for the Liberatchik project. There will be several entries on the subject as the necessity for, and justice of, Liberty over statism will require a lengthy argument. Many view Liberty as a burden and prefer security, regardless of limitations. I will endeavor to explain why I prefer to take on that responsibility.

Liberatchik has launched!

For those of you who know me, you have probably noticed I've been visiting your blogs and websites less than I used to. The reason is, I've been working on a huge project that is now up and running.
In a joint effort with Modern Conservative, I have been working on a Conservative art project. It is our goal to make the Conservative view point as successful and main stream as the Liberal. In addition, we intend to launch an aggressive campaign to combat the Liberal monopoly on political propaganda and gallery exposure. I hope to see a day when all artists can find representation based on their merit, rather than their views. I want to end the black listing and the fear of reprisal that artists like myself face from the art community at large.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the artistic revolution, please contact me at frances@machinepolitick.com. If you are not willing to risk exposure, but would like to encourage our efforts, join as a friend. If you Prefer to remain anonymous, there are ways you can help as well. We are not here to brainwash or intimidate you. We are here to set you free. Participate at your comfort level, and good luck to you in all that you do.
For more information, please visit Liberatchik, and become informed.

Hate Crimes, Extremism, and Free Speech

What do these three things have in common? Aside from the fact that they now make you a terrorist in the eyes of the government, they are all issues that define individual Liberty. Before you get twisted up, hear me out... for more, go to my new ModCon
article.

Quotes of the day:
"Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." - George Washington.

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell

To sum it up: When the people in power define and redefine the meaning of words to suit themselves, beware. When those same people make and enforce the laws, beware. When their fear and insecurities dictate punishment, beware When you make those people feel threatened, you become their target.

Know Yourself and Stand Firm

I feel in my heart that our nation is at an epoch of epic proportions. We are on the verge of surrendering every aspect of our existence to our government. We are being led by politicians whose main goal is the accumulation of power. Most of them are wealthy by the standards of the average American, but they berate us about paying our 'fair share'. They have a superior health and benefits package while strangling the 'private' insurance and health care industries with regulation. They fly around in jets and ride to events in limousines while berating us for our fuel consumption. They speak of corruption while pandering to lobbyists. The list goes on. Need I say more? Will you spend the rest of you life merely complaining, or will you finally take action?

Conservatives complain about the Liberal majority in Washington, Hollywood, the arts, and education, but do nothing to change it. They bemoan the Liberal stranglehold on political discussion, but do nothing to fight back. They belly ache about the Liberal majority in Congress and our Socialist President, but bear the responsibility of having put them there. They complain about political art depicting Bush as the devil in an SS uniform, but produce nothing to counteract the propaganda. They complain about a government that does not represent the people, is rife with corruption, and continue to vote for the same 'Republican' turncoats and fence-riders. They complain about the Liberal propaganda in film and music, but do nothing to produce or support Conservative values. They complain about the Liberal dogma in our public school and universities, but sit idly by when a professor begins a speech by saying "I wrote this to piss off all the Conservatives in the crowd". Merely being angry is not enough and is, in fact, a reward to the Left. It is their intention to make us angry. They revel in and applaud themselves for it.

Most Republicans have been brainwashed and intimidated by the PC Squad. Is this how you exercise your freedom of speech? Do you have so little faith in your own principles that you will not fight for them? Do you have so little confidence in your own opinions that you will allow them to be stifled? Does your self-esteem mean so little to you that it is maintained by the approval and acceptance of those who would have you censored?

Liberals in power and those who are celebrities have no intention of paying us the level of respect we deserve. Why do we extend them our blessings and our tolerance in return? There is a huge chasm between being a good person and rolling over for the enemy. Why do you fling yourselves into the abyss?

I have found that it is impossible to discuss differing political points of view with the average person. For some reason, most people, regardless of perspective cannot have a discussion based on reason and facts. They are always reduced to emotions. Republicans think Libertarians are pot smoking anarchists, when in fact, most are people who simply want a Constitutional Republic instead of a theocracy or a democracy. Liberals think anyone who opposes big government is a fascist, although this does nothing but indicate ignorance. There are varying degrees of irrationality on all sides and the lack of interaction has led to factionalism and intolerance. Now we have reduced ourselves to single issue voters and purveyors of political correctness or victims of hate crimes. When did Americans become so pathetic?

I do not pretend to be either a source of news or wisdom. I am often guilty of intolerance. However, I do not force people to accept my point of view. I am a propagandist, and proud of it. I have an opinion and lack the fear to state it openly. I live by my principles and expect others to do the same. You have the ability and the right to be a Socialist if you choose. However, do not pretend that you are concerned for others unless you redistribute your own wealth. Do not pretend that your system can work without infringing on the rights of others. Do not condescend to tell me that you know what is best for society. Do the rest of us a favor and remove yourself from our company. Contribute all you have to your Utopian dream and encourage others to join you if they choose. I wish you the best of luck, and good riddance to you as well.

I am not always eloquent, and therefore, endure criticism that I am ignorant. I am an artist, not a scholar, and I pretend to be nothing else. However, I am confident of the knowledge I have acquired and will not be discouraged by insults from people who can not tolerate a difference of opinion. At the end of the day, much of what we encounter in politics, media, and education is boiled down to an opinion. We should respect each other for having the conviction to state them openly in the face of opposition. Freedom of speech does not protect you from the things you don't want to hear. It gives you the right to present your own views in contrast.

One of the hardest things to do is stand up for yourself when you are in the minority. You should neither fear reprisal, nor stifle opposition. Stand firm in your principles and accept no compromise. If you are not willing to fight for them, they are not worth having.

This article is cross posted at Modern Conservative

Freedom

Among other things, I recently read an article over at ModCon, that set me thinking about the subject of Liberty. The article was about picking your battle and the vantage point from which to fight for your ideology. It got me thinking about Liberty in a personal sense, such as my own ideology, as well as the broader ramifications that affect society at large. It is a subject we would all do well to address before it is too late. If this sounds like another conspiracy theory to you, I advise you to stop reading now. For the rest of you, please bear with me, as I may ramble on. I've been feeling a little testy of late. Given the current state of our government, I hope you will not blame me for my, let's be honest, fit of rage, in recent months. Though to be fair, this has been building for years. I did register as an Independent out of high school because I recognized that the problems in our government stem from all branches and both of the major parties. However, I digress.

The following are excerpts from Miriam Webster and Wikipedia. Please feel free to read the entire text on their respective sites.

Freedom: 1. The quality or state of being free as a: the absence of necessity, or coercion, or constraint in choice or action b: liberation from a slavery or restraint or from the power of another: Independence c: the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous... 2. A political right

Political Freedom: absence of interference with the sovereignty of an individual by the use of coercion or aggression. The members of a free society would have full dominion over their public and private lives. ...refers solely to the relation of humans to other humans...

As an individual, I feel that Liberty is both a blessing and a right. It is not a burden as the Left would have us believe, although it does require a great deal of personal responsibility. In the event that people have a lapse in their judgment and acceptance of personal responsibility, it is the government's job to step in and prosecute justice upon the aggressor as defined by the law. It is not, however, the job of the government to be our nanny or our conscience in matters that affect no one but ourselves. Even the slightest infringement upon Liberty opens the door to abuse of power and suppression of individual rights. Governments tend to work in matters of degrees. If the populace is not attentive and diligent, the little things begin to add up into larger issues, or the multitude of trivialities obscure the larger infringements on personal freedom.

I will go into depth in future articles on the subjects of fighting back and making the concepts of freedom and individuality more mainstream. To close out this article, I will leave you with some links to recent events and articles that have inspired me to pick this hill to stand on, rather than to succumb to the oppression of my government.

Compulsory Volunteerism, The evil of Democracy, The Fed, The Left

This article is cross-posted at ModernConservative.com

Painting With My Apprentice

I just posted an article about my recent painting day with Avery. For those of you who don't know me, he is my son. It was a rainy day and he enjoys painting with me. I thought it would be nice to post something nonpolitical for a change.
Here are some additional pictures of Avery's artistic creations. Bear in mind that he is four, so they may seem a little bizarre. I did not help him with any of his work. If any of you have kids, you know they don't appreciate being helped.

Two new ModCon posts

Conservatives need their own message.
We're helping Liberals invalidate our own philosophy.

Liberals Say Pffft! I say Bring it on!

Just a quick note on my latest at ModCon.
I've been slacking a little on the blogs lately. Please forgive me for having a million projects going at once. There are some links to some awesome artists in the article.
Those of you interested, should also look into the National Tea Parties. There are a couple coming up.

Where is John Galt? #1

For those of you familiar with Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged, you will know what I'm talking about. For the rest of you; for God's sake, read the book. I'm happy to say sales have skyrocketed lately, so the kid at the local bookstore chain might actually know what you're asking for. This book made a huge impact on me when I read it in college. I am confident in saying it changed my worldview, opened my eyes, and gave me the strength to fight for the ideas this country was formed around, rather than accept the country it has become. Fifty and some odd years after its first publication, Atlas is true now more than ever. It was the fertilizer my young mind needed to grow into the well-informed and self-motivated person that I am today. Looking back, it helped me develop a strong personal philosophy and standard of value that has led me to be a political artist and activist. Some would agree, sarcastically, that it is indeed fertilizer. I think my favorite criticism of Ms. Rand's work and philosophy came from someone who said, her books are just written for young angst-ridden girls who have no concept of self. The small-mindedness of people will never cease to amaze me.

This drawing is the second in a series of Americana images I am working on....

The entire article is available at Modern Conservative

Wrapping up the Week at ModCon

Samples of MachinePolitick Art
Due to time constraints and a multitude of projects, I decided to spare my audience a long winded opinion piece this week. I am simply posting samples of my work for your commentary.
Hopefully, I will be finishing up some paintings soon and posting new images.

An Artist's Perspective on Being a Modern Conservative

New article at Modern Conservative