My Official Stance:

I have taken the time to think about and expound upon my official stance concerning several important topics of the day.

Have you done this? Why not? Do you not matter? Do not others matter to you?

Gay Marriage: Two people in Love. I support full and equal rights for all people regardless of sexual orientation. Civil Unions seem to harken back to Segregation Days- 'Separate but Equal' inequities. I support FULL EQUAL RIGHTS, and support civil unions only if Marriage is abolished in all forms. Humans caring for and supporting each other should be encouraged.

Immigration: The United States, publicly & privately, it's government and it's business's have presence and influence in every country on the planet. We must do all we can to improve the standard of living across the globe, specifically in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia. That does not mean military intervention. If this requires global cooperation and a unified world democracy, then tell me where to cast my vote. A fair immigration policy is needed. Especially with our closest neighbors. Amnesty for the 'illegal immigrants' is fine by me. Anything that enables us to enforce minimum wage and workers rights laws the better. The issue with immigration, is the exploitation of human labor. That I won't stand for.

Marijuana: This is the cheapest and most readily available herbal alternative to prescription medication. Not only does it have numerous legitimate medicinal uses but it is also a safe recreational substance. In my experience this substance is less harmful to the mind and body than, alcohol (booze), tobacco (cancer), and even coffee (stimulant). I have in my past used marijuana habitually, on an everyday basis. While doing this I graduated from SUNY Oswego, with a 3.1 GPA. I chose and I continue to choose to discontinue this behavior because I believe it limited my creative potential. However there is no better stress reliever than this plant. It is like a blow-job for your cognitive and emotional systems. It is a wonderful physical pain reliever. However with this substance moderation is greatly advised. It is no substitute for friends, hard work, or thoughtful meditation; however it tends to mix well. I do not endorse other drug use. I don't think everyone needs to try alcohol, but I think most people would benefit from a peaceful joint on a sunny day.

Pirated Goods: An artist and yes, a businessman; must strike the balance

Between:: supporting oneself with ones work

And&&:: Exposing ones work to as many people as possible

Now-;-;- If the primary need is met, and financial support is possible from ones creative work. That is very fine, very fine indeed. However, the artist must now question, beyond providing a level of support which provides the artist with the opportunity to continue creating, how much can be squeezed from their work?

Business tries to answer this question. They do this with numbers, and figures, and lawyers, and litigation. And all of these people get paid.

It is my belief that artists do not need these people. Consumers of art do not need these people. Consumers/appreciators of art are trying everything they can to cut the business away from the flow of art. The most prized relationship is the one between the art and the artist, and the art and the appreciator of art, and therefor between the artists and the appreciator of art. If this relationship becomes tangled with sales tax, and copyrights, and media protections. Well this greatly troubles the relationship.

The creation and distribution of art is difficult. It is a fragile process. All that is created is in a constant state of decay. Art is created only at the artists peril. Do they hire goons to protect their fragile art? Or do they blow upon the dandelion and praise the chaos that carries the white feather seeds out into the dangerous world?

Most art is not worth a lot of money. Most people are tricked into buying it. Artists be thankful you receive anything, if you hunt for money, you are a hunter, not an artist. There is no, deserve. There is no owe. There is only the patronage of appreciators. There is no accounting for taste.

The actual value of a good [the value of the experience] is often closer to zero than to the perceived value of the good, [it's price].

The Internet kind of fucks supply and demand. Supply becomes infinitely reproduce-able. Demand is based on the quality of the art, and the zeitgeist of the people.

The current issues with pirated media can be blamed upon the interference of Capitalism with Art.

Do you do it to make money? You whore.

Or do you do it because you are quite simply, condemned to be an artist?

There are many other issues at large today. I feel confident in my Stance on these issues, on others it is less clear. I am not a dogmatic thinker and welcome discussion in any area. I am often a selfish, fallible, biased, petty, stubborn, human being; though I try not to be.