Defunding Poetry
This popped up in the SFPA list today.
It's a drop in the bucket after all the other enormities he's attempting
to perpetrate, but Scott Walker has decided that the Wisconsin Poet
Laureateship--funded to the tune of a budget-busting $2K per year--is not
too small to be targeted.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/verse-wisconsin/update-on-the-poet-laureate-
position-in-wi/189987137700274
If any of you care to express your feelings on this-or any other pertinent
subject-directly to Mr. Walker, his e-mail address is
govgeneral@wisconsin.gov
Sure, there are other cuts that will do far more damage to large numbers of human beings. But that one? It undercuts communication. While that's probably coincidence, as the politicians are hacking away with clearcutting tools at every public program in sight, it might also be an example of undercutting the voice of the opposition. Poets can be ... ear-catching. Or occasionally world-shaking. Pesky, that.
With wonderful deathless ditties
We build up the world's great cities,
And out of a fabulous story
We fashion an empire's glory:
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song's measure
Can trample an empire down.
It's a drop in the bucket after all the other enormities he's attempting
to perpetrate, but Scott Walker has decided that the Wisconsin Poet
Laureateship--funded to the tune of a budget-busting $2K per year--is not
too small to be targeted.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/verse-wisconsin/update-on-the-poet-laureate-
position-in-wi/189987137700274
If any of you care to express your feelings on this-or any other pertinent
subject-directly to Mr. Walker, his e-mail address is
govgeneral@wisconsin.gov
Sure, there are other cuts that will do far more damage to large numbers of human beings. But that one? It undercuts communication. While that's probably coincidence, as the politicians are hacking away with clearcutting tools at every public program in sight, it might also be an example of undercutting the voice of the opposition. Poets can be ... ear-catching. Or occasionally world-shaking. Pesky, that.
With wonderful deathless ditties
We build up the world's great cities,
And out of a fabulous story
We fashion an empire's glory:
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song's measure
Can trample an empire down.