Janice Law's Blog, page 16

I don’t do may still life paintings

I don’t do may still life paintings

Small birds hiding with their sun flower seeds in the tree...

Small birds hiding with their sun flower seeds in the tree hydrangea, safe from prowling bird hawks

Dreaming of documentscopyright Janice Trecker

Dreaming of documents

copyright Janice Trecker

Trees expand as soon as they approach doorways and increase in...

Trees expand as soon as they approach doorways and increase in volume one they are inside.

First sketch for Dreaming of Documents

First sketch for Dreaming of Documents

Money Talks

In the horrified responses to the Newtown shootings little has been said about the economics of  the gun, ammunition, and fear-mongering industries. Given that moral suasion in our society rarely tops economic self interest, it is past time that the makers of these inherently dangerous products start paying for the damage they cause.

At the present, despite the occasional suit, gun and ammunition makers, gun and ammunition dealers, and private owners of dangerous weapons rarely pay anywhere near the cost of the products to society. It should not be too difficult to estimate the total cost of gun violence yearly to our country. We could then impose a series of taxes and fees sufficient to replay society for the losses entailed.

I suspect that if gun fanciers and manufacturers were paying the true cost of these products, that we would see far fewer guns and hear far less talk about the Second Amendment.

Convenience

I’ve been thinking about convenience lately. At this season of the year, the roadside grasses die back and, voila, there lie the Coke, Pepsi and Coors cans of the summer, along with the daily tribute from Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, KFC and more. I refer, of course, to the foam cups and paper plates and plastic containers and napkins that certain folk think improve rural roads.

Sure these are convenient if one is traveling. But they are certainly inconvenient for those who have to come behind and clean up. And they are environmentally ridiculous. Is it worthwhile to fill up our dumps and landfills so that we can save ten minutes or so on a snack or a lunch break? I don’t think so.

At the risk of sounding old fashioned, when I see the mess along the roadsides, I wonder what was so bad about sitting down at a counter with a real china cup or a real glass, and whether we are really in a much of a rush as we think we are.

Merry Christmas and all good holiday wishes.

Merry Christmas and all good holiday wishes.

Finished painting of the compost pile

Finished painting of the compost pile

Heartsick

The tragic events in Newton have left everyone heartsick. When the smallest and youngest among us, those most entitled to our care and protection, are targets, it is more than past time to re-civilize a society that for too long has been in thrall to militarism and macho fantasies.

We can no longer let the Second Amendment trump the Declaration’s rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and we must rethink the sort of society that produces so much alienation and so much hatred, even of children.