The
United States is nearly in debt to the tune of 20 trillion dollars. It runs
annual deficits dating back more than four decades, save for a year or two under President Bill Clinton. Big decisions need to be
made on how to increase government revenue and/or decrease expenditures. The Donald Trump White House reportedly found
a way to save 150 million dollars. The
genius plan? Wipe out the National
Endowment for the Arts. Is this how we
truly make America great again?
Okay,
so it’s not really about the money, for the savings is negligible and but a
blip on the screen. It comes out to less
than 50 cents per American citizen. So
why is he looking to gut a program that was launched 50 years ago under
President Lyndon Johnson?
Maybe
Trump doesn’t appreciate artists, writers, and actors since they collectively
speak out against him and the Republicans.
Maybe it’s because he couldn’t dig up anyone to perform at his
inauguration other than washed-up, bar lounge act Tony Orlando. The arts inspire thoughts and raise questions
about how we approach life. Trump
doesn’t value second-guessers. He wants
to rule with an iron fist.
It’s
no surprise the Republicans have a long history of seeking to obliterate the
NEA. They simply don’t value learning. They deny evolution, climate danger, and
affordable education access. The party
of no wants everyone in the dark.
I
don’t really want to go on a diatribe about politics. What I want is a commitment, by society and the
government, to support things like education, the arts, and peace. This shouldn’t fall upon party lines,
regionalism, or debates over affordability.
The right thing, period, is to support the growth of the mind, to
nurture the human spirit, and to let free speech rule, no matter where it takes
us.
As
one who loves and works with books, I can’t stand by on the sidelines and
witness the fall of our nation. I am
marching the day after Trump is sworn in, from the United Nations to Trump
Tower in New York City, to not only protest his policies, but his treatment of
people. We don’t need a
hater, a divider, or a champion for ignorance leading our country. He needs to
be informed, sensitive to others, and compassionate in his dealings with all.
Trump
is just a momentary stain on our country’s rich history. We must join together and look beyond his
stay in power, to preserve the values and programs that good, loving and
intelligent people understand are worth saving, expanding, and building on.
Stand
up. Speak out. Use your bully pulpit as authors to write the
wrongs around you.
All-New 2017 Book Marketing & PR Toolkit
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