The Growing Gap

Former President Jimmy Carter was interviewed a few days ago and commented on the growing gap between the rich and the poor; he said “Compared to when I left the White House, the difference is twice as great as it was between the richest people and the poorest people. And the middle class has now become more like poor people than they were 30 years ago.”

Carter says that the middle class right now is equivalent in “poorness” to the lower class during his own presidency. The rich are always getting richer. It is a fact. The number of jobs lost, and the number of jobs converted from full time into part time jobs because of obamacare. The income flow of these already low paying jobs is slowing even more. The situation isn't getting better, it is getting worse.

“The richest people in America would be better off if everybody lived in a decent home and had a chance to pay for it, and if everyone had enough income even if they had a daily job to be good buyers for the products that are produced.” Carter makes the point here that if people can’t make a decent amount of money, they won't be able to pay for any of the products created by the rich. this would cause all sorts of problems.

How else can this problem affect america? What do you think about the situation? Do you think this is an inevitable situation or is it brought upon by recurring factors

Banksy's Most Recent Work

For those of you who do not know who Banksy is, Banksy is an England-based graffiti artist, public activist, film director, and painter. He is very famous for his dark humored graffitis all over New York and England. His most recent piece of art work was different; instead of being a classic graffiti on the street, it was a short video.

I watched this video and was very confused at first. In the bottom left is the Al Jazeera logo, the biggest news broadcaster in the Middle-East. The video shows men dressed in military and Middle Easter garb, shoot a rocket launcher at a target in the sky. What comes crashing out of the sky is a flying elephant, one that strongly resembles the beloved disney character, Dumbo.

At the beginning moments of this video, I was scared about what was going to happen. I was scared that what I would see would be very disturbing, and in a way I guess it is. I wonder if this was real footage (not Dumbo falling from the sky obviously), or if this was a scene created by banksy. I honestly can't tell which I would rather have. If it is real footage, I'm scared to think what really fell from the sky; if that was a plane with people inside. If it is a charade put together by Banksy, I'm scared to think what would drive him to make such an extreme video. When Banksy posted this video his caption was, "I'm not posting any pictures today, not after this shocking footage has emerged..."Once again, I can't tell if he is telling us that this is real footage, or if he is being extremely sarcastic. 

Banksy is notorious for his art about peace. It is clear when looking at his sarcastic art that he is no fan of war. He mocks the soldiers and the politicians who are a part of the wars. This video is no different I believe. To have dumbo fall from the sky seems to show that it is childish that we are fighting. Dumbo is entertaining for children, why are grown men with guns ecstatic when they shoot Dumbo out of the sky. The video continues and a kid runs out and looks Dumbo in the eyes. Dumbo then dies, or becomes unconscious and the kid turns around and kids the man in the shin. The man then jumps around in pain much like a cartoon would. I believe that bringing the kid in shows that children don't enjoy the wars either and the fact that the kid is dressed like military shows that he is most likely destined to become a part of the war soon. Banksy showing, and mocking, that children are subjected to the stupidity of war. 

What do you think Banksy's purpose of making this video was? Do you think his caption was mocking or serious? Do you agree with Banksy? Why do you think the kid was apart of the video?