Anti-Healthcare Reform Graffiti and Smashed Glass Lack Artistic Merit

Art Review by Julie Jigsawnovich

I recently reviewed the graffiti installation foisted upon former presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi's home in Tehran while Iranian police and Iranian security forces looked on. Now I turn my attention closer to home, to the spate of glass smashings and the woefully inept graffiti plaguing political and government offices in the United States around the time of the recent vote on Healthcare Reform.

"DORKS" seems an appropriate tag for the toy graffiti writer whose awkward lettering on windows of the Knox County Democratic Headquarters in Ohio belies a complete lack of understanding of the importance of style. Although he may not have grown up anywhere near a subway train, handball court, or gang jacket--prime urban canvasses upon which this contemporary artform first bloomed--that's no excuse! There are plenty of documentaries and books from which to copy from the masters, and then add new innovations.

Perhaps contributing to obvious problems "DORKS" had in executing his piece is the fact that he chose an uneven surface to hit. His "D" seems intimidated by the wooden piece above it, he gains stride with the "R", drops the ball with a pathetic "K" and trails off with a wimpy "S." And "S" is such a hot letter, so beloved to many graffiti writers! "DORKS'" "S" makes me shake my head in disgust.

Yes, location is everything, but even within the outlaw world of graffiti, there are certain codes of conduct. I'm not sure that placing such a lowgrade work in such a visible place really does much to further "DORKS'" cause, especially since we have to guess at what his cause really is, and why he might believe in it. Plus, "DORKS'" placement of his miserable folly on political headquarters is likely to result in a crackdown on graffiti in general--at least in that county. This would surely bring hate upon him from any serious graffiti artist whose goal is to create masterpieces.

Now, let's examine the smashed glass windows and doors of elected representatives' offices. These pieces up the ante in terms of performance. Breaking glass is not only much louder than the application of spraypaint, is it even more associated with crime than with free speech. Graffiti may be destructive or constructive, depending on the skills of the author, and where it is placed, but breaking glass is almost always considered destruction.

photo: smashed glass at Rep. Gabrielle Gifford's (D-AZ) Tucson Office

Yet, there are exceptions. The glass in Marcel Duchamp's mixed media piece, The Bride Stripped Bare by her Bachelors, Even (The Large Glass) was accidentally broken while in transit. Duchamp is reported to have commented with satisfaction, "Now the work is complete."

But the smashed glass windows of the following representative's offices were not in transit, they were apparently not broken by accident, and their destruction lacks artistic vision. Amanda Terkel of ThinkProgress.org reported that, "On the morning of March 19, someone threw a brick through the front window of Rep. Louise Slaughter’s (D-NY) Niagara Falls office. Monroe County Democratic Committee officials also said that a brick shattered the glass doors at their party’s headquarters in Rochester, NY on Saturday or Sunday. Someone reportedly threw a fist-sized rock threw a fist sized rock through the front window of the Hamilton County (Ohio) Democratic Party headquarters Sunday night after Congress passed the landmark health insurance overhaul. Caleb Faux, the party’s executive director, finds it 'hard to believe the incident wasn’t related to the legislation’s passing.'" And out west, "The glass front door of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ (D-AZ) Tuscon office was 'smashed out' a 'few hours after she voted in favor of health care reform,' said Giffords’ spokesman C.J. Karamargin."

In summary, while it has been interesting to compare street art and performance art with acts of political vandalism and destruction by non-artists whose goal is apparently to terrorize specific political figures who expressed their views, serious street artists and performance artists more frequently seek to enlighten than frighten. I will close with a very positive street piece by the talented young Iranian artist, ICY. The child depicted holds the Farsi/Persian word for "Peace."

                                                                                                                                                                

Easy to Understand Healthcare Reform

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCNs7Zpqo98

OP ED: Health Care Reform, Single-Payer v. Obama Plan

Either plan would probably be better than any proposed by the more cynical, cold-hearted and heavily pharma-lobbied members of Congress.

I support single payer health insurance, HR 676.
http://kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2802&Itemid=1
I know someone currently on Medicaid, and can vouch that they receive excellent healthcare. They are in excellent health, in part, because much of the healthcare they receive is preventative.

Here is a link to the text of H.R.676, a bill to provide comprehensive health insurance coverage for all US residents, and for other purposes.
http://johnconyers.com/hr676text

President Obama supports a different health care reform bill. Yet, according to David Axelrod, Senior Advisor to President Obama, health reform the White House supports does the following:

"1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
2. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
8. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick."

"8 common myths about health insurance reform

1. Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it: It’s a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.
2. We can’t afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It’s a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.
3. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.
4. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.
5. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.
6. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It’s myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.
7. You can keep your own insurance: It’s myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.
8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.
1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
2. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
8. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick."

Learn more and get details:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq

http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq