Thanks for your reply. We are at the long end of the trajectory of Reagan’s call to deregulate and privatize (trickle down inequality) … and we see clearly what it has wrought: extreme poverty on par with Uganda, crumbling infrastructure, politics driven by empty incoherent and unthinking ideology, a country that is harmful to millions of its inhabitants … in short A FUCKING DISASTER! Reagan’s hatred of class equality and dignity for working people lead to the evisceration of the middle class in the U.S. … and amazingly people still vote for the G.O.P. which continues to enact policy that harms them. It is really pathological.

Yes. There are still a handful of welfare states that give artists money to make art. I live in one now. It is falling apart too. Why, you ask? Because the people want to be more like America. They think that being selfish and focusing on one’s own plight should be more important than a healthy, functioning society. It is really sad to see. The result is great inequality, higher crime rates, failing public services … the story of the U.S.

Don’t give up on what you love. There are many, many people in the same situation. We are fighting and will keep fighting because suffering is better than giving in to the emptiness of Reagan and his offspring.

All my best,

Brett – one of the TS crew

Capitalism works really well–as long as it’s properly regulated. What we have now is capitalism without regulation, accountability or checks & balances. Most Americans don’t realize that our country was founded not on the principle of a “free marketplace” but on the principle of providing checks over power–whether it’s government power or corporate power. Power, without checks or accountability over it, will become corrupt. We need to tax the rich & regulate large corporations. Instead of tax breaks, they should be paying fines for outsourcing labor to third world countries then more fines for importing those goods.

I’ve worked as a “temp” office worker for years to support myself as an actress, musician, writer but now there are few of those jobs left too, so I’m borderline homeless. Let’s just say I’ve been hurting very badly & for several years now. No one will help me because I’m not disabled, not an alcoholic, not a criminal, etc., so I don’t qualify for any assistance. But, like most artists, I channel my pain into art. My suffering led me to produce a documentary film, “Rocky Mountain Homelessness” & I’ve written a memoir about my experiences. Now I keep a blog: theMadBagLady.wordpress.com in which I rant & rave about poverty in the USA.

I’m also attempting to start a business as a writer and editor. My site there is http://www.PromoU.webs.com. But it’s difficult, as I’m an artist not a business person. Making money seems to elude me. I’d rather make art without thinking about finances but I guess that’s just a silly dream.

I’ve heard that in some countries artists get paid a stipend from the govt in order to encourage them to create. Is that true? I’d like to move to one of those countries.

Couldn’t you say the exact same thing about art? And for exactly the same reasons? For example the Chris Burden piece on the next page.