#my conversations with glenn exist in the context of all that is and which came before...

[charmac]

How are you feeling about S17? I'm getting reaaal worried that it's going to be terrible. No Glenn in the writers room? A crossover episode?? Rob's gradual transformation into pondslime??? Help

Pondslime 😭Lmfao

I'm feeling more than fine about 17, really truly. I don't think anyone should be worried at all.

I think sometimes my interactions with Glenn come off a little more serious or abrasive than they really happened in real life (because we have to shout due to how loud it is in the bars), and my immediate transcription is just to get people *information*, which really doesn't convey tone.

For example, reporting that Glenn said "you don't want to know" in response to me asking for any teasers (as to plots this season) was met with a lot of "oh so this season is gonna suck" on Twitter, and that could not be further than the truth (sorry to the people I split-react blocked for saying that lol). In hindsight I get the reaction, because written out it's a response that can be easily misinterpreted and reads as potentially concerning, but know that when Glenn said "you don't want to know" he looked like this:

And when I was genuinely just asking for script information (regarding writers of individual scripts after he mentioned they had broken already) and mentioned Nina (Inflates) and Ross (DTAMHD), he gushed about both of them and then said, transcribed word for word, "It's been a good room, I'll say this it's been a great room. It's been an all-star room, it's been...like, breaking the stories this year has been really fun. [Me: Yeah?] Yeah. [That's great, that is great to hear.] It's been really fun."

So the idea of "no Glenn in the writers room" is really much more akin to Season 16 than 13/14. He was there to break stories (meaning he was in the room when they were brainstorming plot ideas and when they settled on which plots would be turned into scripts) but Rob and Charlie are taking the brunt of writing their (RCG's) scripts because of Sirens. This is the same thing that happened with The Gang Goes Bowling. Glenn's name is on the script, but Rob and Charlie wrote the majority of it while Glenn was shooting Blackberry. (I remember originally being convinced it was a mistake Glenn was listed as a writer for Bowling, lmfao). And Glenn is definitely still contributing, will be on revisions for the non-RCG scripts, and will classically change or improv whatever he thinks is best for Dennis when he's on set (see: the Risk E. Rats script).

Also, I know the crossover is concerning to a lot of people just given the nature of it, but as of what we know right now it's only on Abbott, so it's really just as if this season's The Gang Cracks the Liberty Bell or The Janitor Always Mops Twice took place on a different show instead of ours...

I promise promise promise Glenn was clearly holding his tongue for good things coming up, and Friday night very much restored my confidence that Season 17 will be good. (But..if you don't think Glenn has good contributions to Sunny or understands the agenda, then sorry this response probably sucks lmfao)

[vcrmp3]

Thelma Golden’s Ted Talk: “How Art Gives Shape to Social Change” 2009

So, what do I discover when I look at artworks? What do I think about? When I think about art, I feel like the privilege I’ve had as a curator is not just the discovery of new works, the discovery of exciting works, but really it has been what I discovered about myself- and what I can offer in the space of an exhibition to talk about beauty, to talk about power, to talk about ourselves-- and to talk and speak to each other. That’s what makes me get up every day, and want to think about this generation of black artists, and artists around the world.  

Transcript:

The brilliant playwrite Adrienne Kennedy wrote a volume called "People Who Have Lead my Plays." And if I were to write a volume, it would be called “Artists Who Have Lead My exhibitions” because my work in understanding and in understanding culture has come by following artists. By looking at what artists mean, and what they do- and who they are. Jay Jay from Goodtimes. Significant to many people of course because of “Dynomite” but perhaps more significant as the first really Black artist on Prime Time TV. Jean Michel Basquiat- important to me, because the first Black Artist in real time that showed me the possibility of who and what I was about to enter into. My overall project is about art- specifically about Black artist. Very generally about the way in which art can change the way we think about culture and ourselves.

My interest is in artists who understand and re-write history. Who think about themselves within the narrative of the larger world of art, but who have created new places for us to see and understand. I’m showing two artists here- Glenn Lygon and Kara Walker, two of many who really form for me the essential questions that I wanted to bring, as a curator, to the world. I was interested in the idea of ‘why’ and ‘how’ I could create a new story and a new narrative in the world- and to do this, I knew that I had to see the way in which artists work, understand the artist studio as a laboratory, imagine then, re-inventing the museum as a think tank- and looking at the exhibition as the ultimate white paper: Asking questions, providing the space to look and think about answers.

In 1994 when I was a curator at the Whitney Museum I made an exhibition called Black Male. It looked at the intersection of race and gender in contemporary American art. It sought to express the ways in which art could provide a space for a dialogue- complicated dialogue, dialogue with many many points of entry- and how the museum could be the space for this contest of ideas. This exhibition included over 20 artists of various ages and races, but all looking at black masculinity from a very particular point of view.

What was significant about this exhibition was the way in which it engaged me in my role as a curator, as a catalyst, for this dialogue. One of the things that happened, very distinctly in the course of this exhibition is I was confronted with the idea of how powerful images can be, and people’s understandings of themselves and each other. I’m showing you two works- one on the right by Leon Golub, one on the left by Robert Colescott- and in the course of the exhibition, which was contentious and controversial, and ultimately, for me, life-changing in my sense of what art could be- a woman came up to me on the gallery floor to express to her concern about the nature of how powerful images could be and how we understood each other. And she pointed to the work on the left, to tell me how problematic this image was as it related for her to the idea of how Black people had been represented. And she pointed to the image on the right as an example to me of the kind of dignity that needed to be portrayed to work against those images on the media. She then assigned these works racial identities, basically saying to me that the work on the right clearly was made by Black artist- the work on the left clearly made by a white artist. When in fact that was the opposite case- Bob Colescott, African American artist. Leon Golub, a white artist. The point of that, for me was, to say, in that space, in that moment, that I really more than anything, wanted to understand how images could work- how images did work, and how artists provided a space bigger than one one could imagine in our day to day lives to work through these images. Fast forward, and I end up in Harlem. Home, for many, of Black America- very much the psychic heart of the Black experience. Really, the place where the Harlem Renaissance existed. Harlem now, sort of explaining and thinking of itself in this part of the century, looking both backwards and forwards. I always say that Harlem is an interesting community because unlike many other places, it thinks of itself in the past, present and future simultaneously. No one speaks of it just in the now- it’s always what ‘was’ and what ‘can be’. And thinking about that, then my second project the second question I ask- is can a museum be a catalyst in a community? Can a museum house artists and allow them to be change agents as communities rethink themselves. This is Harlem actually on January 20th, thinking about itself in a very wonderful way. So I work now at the studio museum in Harlem, thinking about exhibitions  there, thinking about what it means to discover art’s possibility. Now, what does this mean to some of you? IN some cases, I know that many of you are involved in cross-cultural dialogue, you’re involved in ideas of creativity and innovation. Think about the place that artists can play in that. That is the kind of incubation and advocacy that I work towards in working with young black artists. Think about artists not as content providers, though they can be brilliant at that- but again, as real catalysts. The studio museum was founded in the late 60s, and I bring this up to because it’s important to locate this practice in history. To look at 1968 in the incredible historic moment that is and think of the art that has happened since then- to think of the possibilities that we are all privileged to stand in today. And imagine, that this museum that came out of a moment of great protest, and one that was so much about examining the history and the legacy of important African artists to the history of art in this country like Jacob Lawrence, Norman Lewis, Romare Bearden.

And then of course, to bring us to today- in 1975 Muhammad Ali gave a lecture at Harvard ‘University. After his lecture, a student got up and said, “Give us a poem.” Muhammad Ali said, “Me, We.” A profound statement about the individual and the community. The space in which now, in my project of discovery, of thinking about artists- of trying to define what might be black art cultural movement of the 21st century. What that might mean for cultural movements all over this moment, the “Me We” seems incredibly prescient- totally important.

To this end, the specific project that had made this possible for me is a series of exhibitions with an “F” - ‘Freestyle’  ‘Frequency’  and  ‘Flow’ which have set out to discover and define the young Black artist working in this moment who I feel strongly will continue to work over the next many years. This series of exhibitions was made specifically to try and question the idea of what it would mean now, at this point in history, to see art as a catalyst. What it means now in this point in history as we define and redefine culture- Black culture specifically in my case, but culture generally.  I named this group of artists around an idea called, ‘Post Black’ - really meant to define them as artists who came and start their work now- looking back at history, but start in this moment historically. It is really in this sense of discovery that I have a new set of questions that I’m asking- this new set of questions is: “What does it mean right now to be African American in America?” “What can artwork say about this?” “Where can a museum exist as a place for us all to have this conversation?” Really, most exciting about this, is thinking about the energy, and the excitement, that young artists can bring. Their works for me are about, not always, just simply, about the aesthetic innovation that their minds imagine, that their visions create and put out their in the world- but more perhaps importantly, through the excitement of the community that they create. As important voices that would allow us to right now to understand our situation as well as in the future. I am continually amazed by the way in which the subject of race can take itself in many places that we don’t imagine it should be. I am always amazed by the way in which artists are willing to do that in their work- It is why I look to art, it’s why I ask questions of art, it is why I make exhibitions. Now this exhibition as I said, forty young artists done over a course of eight years- and it’s, for me- about considering the implications. It’s considering the implications of what this generation has to say to the rest of us. It’s considering what it means for these artists to be both out in the world as their work travels but in their communities as people who are seeing and thinking about the issues that face us. It’s also about thinking about the creative spirit and nurturing it- and imagining particularly in urban America about the nurturing of this spirit. Now where perhaps does this end up right now? For me, it is about reimagining this cultural discourse in an international context.

So the last iteration of this project has been called, “Flow” with the idea now of creating a real network of artists, really looking, not so much from Harlem and out, but looking across- and Flow looked at artists all born on the continent of Africa. And as many of us think about that continent, and think about what that means to us all in the 21st century- I have begun that looking through artists, through artworks, and imagining what they can tell us about the future- what they tell us about our future, and what they create, in their sense of offering us this great possibility of watching that continent emerge as part of our bigger dialogue.

[lalka-laski]

If you were given three things to make you happy, what would these be? A brain rid of anxiety & insecurity A better paying/less stressful job A killer body How would you rank the following in importance: family, career, love life? Well, I’d group family and love life in the same category because when you find your soulmate, he/she becomes part of your family (regardless of marital status). Nothing comes before family. And all of that is entirely more important than career. Jobs are expendable, transferable. Our loved ones are not.  Which would you prefer: having a baby without a partner or a partner without a baby? For a long time I kind of envisioned myself in the former situation. But now that I have the love of my life, I wouldn’t trade him for anything. I do hope we have kids someday but I try not to stress about making it a priority. Spending my life with him is what matters.  What was your experience about being “mansplained,” and what did you do about it? I call out men each & every time they do that. I don’t have the tolerance.  Who was your favorite cartoon character when you were a kid? Princess Aurora! And she still is. I’m wearing a Sleeping Beauty bangle as we speak. 

Do you think God is real, and why? I have a fluid idea of what/who I believe God to be.  Do you believe in giving people second chances, and why? Absolutely. I would have never improved & evolved if it weren’t for the people in my life who gave me second (and third and fourth) chances. That’s how we grow. How would you describe your first crush? I was in kindergarten. His name was Jake. We ended up hooking up senior year of high school.  Better late than never, huh? Do you ever keep a journal? For my entire life. I have a whole box of over 30 journals ranging from age 9 to the present.  Do you think people fall in love because the right person has arrived, or because the time is right (regardless of whom the person is that they fall in love with)? Timing *is* a factor but ultimately love is about the individual person.  How do you feel about the #MeToo movement? I fully support it. What else do you expect me to say? What do you look for in a relationship? I never realized how important the element of FUN is for me until I dated Glenn. We’re very playful; constantly joking and making each other laugh. Several people have remarked to us that we always look like we’re having a good time in each other’s company. And we are! I think I had an unhealthy expectation of relationships in the past. I thought passion was only achieved through intense conversations, tearful arguments, violent sex. But Glenn & I have a magnetizing connection and mind-blowing passion, all while being each other’s best friends. Our relationship is rooted in JOY. And it’s the most beautiful thing. Other non-negotiable qualities are support and empathy (particularly when it comes to understanding my anxiety) and of course, loyalty. What is your idea of a perfect date? I love a traditional wining & dining. I’m not a fan of activity-based dates if you’re just meeting the person. Something about it feels awkward to me. I’d rather just sit in a relaxed environment, enjoy some good food & drink and chat away. What legacy do you want people to remember about you after you’re gone? I’d like to be remembered as a bright spot in people’s lives.

Have you ever asked a guy out on a date? No way. Not because I subscribe to gender roles or anything. But simply because I’m not a move maker. What was the most important lesson you’ve learned from your past relationship? Where to even begin? -You shouldn’t ever have to beg for attention or affection from your partner -Love should be celebrated & shared, not hidden like a dirty secret -Crying during/immediately after sex is not healthy -A man’s refusal to stop when you explicitly ask him to is the definition of ASSAULT

What book influenced you the most? I could never pick just one What’s a deal-breaker for you in a relationship? Well I’d like to say abuse or assault is a deal-breaker, but my response from a few questions ago proves that’s not the case. Although, I’ve learned my lesson since then. Also any kind of infidelity is unacceptable. Are you a morning or a night person? I’ve become more of a night person lately  How important is trust in a relationship? It’s the backbone of any healthy relationship How do you feel about infidelity? There is no room for it in a healthy relationship Do you believe that the day will arrive when humans will be replaced by machines in almost all aspects of life? Not entirely. I think machines will replace lots of menial (or even extraordinary) tasks but I don’t think humans will just cease to exist. What do you think is humankind’s greatest invention? I’m not trying to be snarky but the first thing that came to mind was pizza. Delivery pizza, to be specific. Do you ever think about how dope it is that you can get the greatest food in existence delivered to your door with just a few clicks of your phone? PRICELESS.  Do you think that humans are doing more harm than good to the planet? Oh 100% What is your take on telepathy? I think some people have stronger intuitive senses than others but I don’t believe in straight-up telepathy  What is your favorite workout routine? I don’t do shit, my dude Would you rather be called vain or insecure? I’ve been called both. And to be honest, I *AM* both. Although I’m only vain in the context of myself.  What important lesson did a close relative teach you? Be generous with your “I love you”s. You can never say it too much. 

What part of your body do you find attractive? My collarbones are my favorite feature Which would you choose to be: law-abiding citizen or rule breaker, and why? I’m a law-abiding citizen. I function best when strict rules are in place.  What is your ideal vacation? My dream trip is Poland or Iceland. But I’d take a vacation almost anywhere at this point. What superpowers did you wish you had when you were a kid? Teleportation or time-travel. Tbh, I still do. Are you a mountain or a beach person? Beach! What mythical animal do you resonate with, and why? A mermaid maybe because I love to swim? Funny Which member of your family do you feel closest to, and why? My sisters & my cousin Rachel. My sisters are kinda self-explanatory and my cousin Rachel & I are close in age and have very similar interests so we’ve always gotten along.  Who do you consider your best friend in your workplace? I like all my coworkers for the most part but my best friends no longer work here.  What three adjectives would describe you? Sensitive, imaginative, flighty.  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? I’m pretty content with where I live now, in all honesty. What are you passionate about in life? Spreading love & joy What quality in a person do you fall in love with? Humor, wit, compassion, sensitivity  Have you had your heart broken before? Sure have. Do not recommend it!  What is your take on astrology? I find it fascinating but I take it all with a grain of salt. And I certainly don’t let it dictate my life. I just have fun with it.  What is your life’s soundtrack? Ideally it’d be something dreamy & whimsical! Slightly Disney-esque.  When was the last time you spoke with a classmate from high school? I’m texting with my high school best friend right now Are you left- or right-handed, and would you want to switch? Right handed. What subject were you good at in high school? English Do you find it difficult to admit that you are wrong, and why? I always take the blame & have no problem admitting I’m wrong. Even when I know I’m not...  Do you get excited or scared when meeting new people? Both but probably more nervous than excited What is your secret hobby that others would consider weird? I love reading inmate’s profiles on writeaprisoner.com and then researching their crimes How do you cope with stressful situations? HA HA HA, not well... Is there anything that you would like to change about yourself? Quite a lot. I’d like to be calmer and more disciplined. What musical instrument do you know how to play? None, although I’d love to learn something Which would you prefer in a romantic partner: a dreamer or an achiever? An achiever. What is your favorite part of a house, and why? My bedroom. It’s calm & cozy and decorated perfectly to my liking. Who is the fictional character who closely resembles you in terms of attitude? Elle Woods, on my best days. When you were a kid, what did you say you wanted to be when you grew up? An author. And that’s still true! What was the title of the first movie you watched in a movie theater? I think it was The Hunchback of Notre Dame but I’d have to confirm with my mom When was the last time you slept outdoors? A little cat nap on the beach not too long ago What is something that you are proud of about yourself? I’m proud of myself for making it through this ten hour shift today. Gotta take all the little victories I can get! What song do you often sing in the shower? I don’t sing in the shower much anymore since Glenn’s moved in. He’s a legitimate singer and I don’t want him to hear my voice What do you feel is the right age for people to get married? There isn’t one. Simply whenever you both feel ready & willing.  What would be your super villain name and your powers? SuperSensitive Girl, and I’d get my way by crying.  What three non-electric or non-automatic items would you take on a deserted island? Provided I already have food & drinking water, I’d bring a journal and pen (I’m counting that as one), my baby blanket and my book collection (also counting that as “one” item).  If “hello” were to be replaced by another word as a greeting, what word would that be? Hey? What is the weirdest thing that your family does together? I don’t know, we’re pretty weird...  What was the most embarrassing thing that you’ve done for a friend? I cannot disclose that here :X What would be the title of the movie showing your life from birth up to present? Work in Progress? I know, I know, that’s cheesy. But I’m too fried to think of something more creative. This survey has been LOOOONG! What fashion piece would you invent for women? Pants with functional pockets is a CONCEPT What is the single most important thing people should do for the planet? Um, recycle I guess? Truly, I don’t know. How do you define evil, and do you believe that a person can be evil? Of course I believe people can be evil. Anyone who intentionally inflicts harm on another person/animal/infrastructure is evil.  What do you think are the two things that prevent people from realizing their dreams? MONEY and access. As much as I’d like to say it’s our own limiting beliefs & bullshit that prevents us from achieving our goals, it’s really access to resources that makes or breaks you.  Would you lay down your life for someone? A few people 

What word or term do you wish to know the meaning of? I can just Google the definition of any word I choose. The internet is a magical place! What makes you nostalgic? Girl, what DOESN’T make me nostalgic?  Do you believe that each of us has a soul mate? I do, but I don’t necessarily think that person is always a romantic partner. And I do believe in multiple soulmates.  How would you live your remaining days if you found out you had only a week to live? Oh God, I can’t think about this! Do you listen to other people’s advice, or do you prefer figuring things out yourself? I’d prefer if I could hand off all my problems to someone else & have them solve them. I don’t like being responsible for myself! Imagine that you are tasked to re-design society - what changes would you make? I absolutely would not want to be assigned that task. (Lol- copping the previous survey’s answer because SAME).  What’s the perfect day for you? Sleeping in, hitting up the beach for some reading & swimming, then maybe a nice dinner & drinks somewhere fun? Would you wait for the sun to rise or for it to set, and why? Both are beautiful and majestic! If you were born in another era, when would that period in history be and why? There’s so many concerts from the 80s and early 90s I would’ve killed to see!  Have you made someone cry? Never intentionally but nonetheless, yes.  What is the most astonishing act that a person can do for you? For me it’s all about the small but significant gestures. What I love about Glenn is that he takes note of things about me that I don’t even notice myself, and then acts accordingly. For example, apparently I always complain I’m freezing when I get out of the shower (I never realized this) so he always turns the AC off while I’m in there so that I’m a comfortable temperature when I get out. Stuff like that means the world to me. What is more important: being true to yourself regardless of who gets hurt or considering the consequences of your actions on other people’s lives?We should all consider the impact of our actions on other people. It’s selfless and irresponsible not to.  If you die tonight, would you pass away fulfilled or unsatisfied with life? Can we not....?

[sciwriteblog-blog]

Reconsidered response to Rob Harding’s Post

I’ve reconsidered after sending a first dispirited email that said it was hopeless attempting to counter the political correctness of environmental group leaders. Here are some ideas:  

The best strategy to counter political correctness is to develop an alternative narrative and deny the ideologists political space.  There is an implicit ethnocentrism in statements like this one from one of your environmental group “leaders” who refers to U.S. citizens as “…those lucky few of us already on the inside of the right borders.”  The arrogance of this statement is breathtaking.  It says that the U.S. is the only country on the planet worth living in and one cannot have a good life outside its borders.  This is not unlike Donald Trump’s “s---hole” statement about African countries.  In fact, most people are proud of their country of origin, just like Americans are of theirs.  Living in Berkeley CA, I’ve known many immigrants and none trashed their country of origin like this.

In your interviews, did you ask any of these leaders their number?  That is, their estimate of the largest possible sustainable U.S. population.  One leader said, “We do not oppose migration of people into the United States and do not support coercive population control measures of any kind. Immigration and the pursuit of better circumstances are basic human rights, and U.S. immigration policies should always be rooted in human dignity.”  If this is what they believe, these leaders are not for population stabilization at all.  I get the impression that they are for unlimited U.S. population growth so long as all the growth is from the Third World poor.  That’s a nice sentiment, but totally impractical and has nothing to do with stabilizing U.S. population.  If we are to import huge numbers of the world’s poor and maintain a stable population, this statement amounts to telling U.S. citizens that they should stop having children in order to make room for millions of the foreign-born poor.  

If these groups are not population organizations, what is the purpose of their group, population substitution?  Out with U.S. citizens, in with the world’s poor? Has even one of these ivory tower population “leaders” tried out such ideas on the American public?  Have they asked the average American if they agree that they should, in effect, have their tubes tied to make more room for the foreign-born poor?  Have they polled Trump voters?  As the Democrats are learning at the presidential level, a new policy has to pass the “Joe Sixpack test.”  If it doesn’t, it might play well with ideological college kids, but it won’t win elections.

James Fallows and his wife are on tour selling their new book, “Our Towns,” telling Commonwealth Club members and NPR listeners that Somali immigrants and refugees working in Nebraska’s slaughterhouses are a wonderful example of immigration working for all concerned.  Did Fallows take a look inside those slaughterhouses to see what’s really going on?  Those jobs used to be in the industrial north, in cities like Chicago, and paid a good union wage with overtime and benefits.  Unfortunately for these Somalis, their American Dream is the globalized American sweatshop:  dangerous working conditions, no overtime or medical benefits, long shifts, and rock-bottom wages to supply China, the ownership’s home country, with cheap, imported American pork.  The existence of a new American slavery based on cheap immigrant labor needs to be publicized.

 We need a research center like Lester Brown’s Worldwatch Institute.  We could document the ongoing destruction of wildlands, wetlands, open space, and farmland (both prime and otherwise), and water in the west, just like Brown did in the “Vital Signs” books that had for each topic, a graph and text on facing pages clearly showing and discussing trends.

Water in the western U.S. is always a critical problem, made worse by climate change.  Development and dwindling snow packs are at a critical juncture.  Lake Mead behind Hoover dam is nearing deadpool, when the lake level falls below the intakes; Lake Powell behind Glenn Canyon dam has been near deadpool for years.  Limiting further development in the American Southwest is already being talked about by writers like Kathleen Parker, Char Miller, and many others including immigration cheerleader Jerry Brown, who was governor of California during the recent multi-year drought.  Nowhere in the U.S. are water resources being pushed to the limit as in the Southwest.  A huge proportion of the Southwest’s population growth is from immigration, legal and otherwise.  Groups like NUSA need to be at the table when steps are taken to allocate the Southwest’s most precious and scarce resource, water.

This animation of San Jose’s growth by Joel Clark, shows how San Jose expanded during the 50s and 60s under the go-go city manager, A.P. “Dutch” Hamann, the main force behind the conversion of the Santa Clara Valley, once known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight because of its fruit orchards, into Silicon Valley’s bedroom community, a tangle of freeways, houses, and shopping malls.  Videos of this sort could be created for every city in the country.  Something similar to the San Jose story may be in store for the Puget Sound lowlands stretching from Seattle, WA to Vancouver, BC, now being touted as a “Cascadia innovation corridor.”  To cash in, developers use targeted campaign contributions to pack county supervisory boards with Republican toadies; ditto for house members and senators.  Farmers don’t have a chance; they’re easily bought out or taxed off their land; high tech has greater value added.   If that corridor can be built, what is to prevent a similar fate for the entire Willamette Valley in Oregon, and the what remains of the Central Valley in California?  This would be a disaster for the entire country, but it’s well on its way to happening.

Maps like Clark’s can be made that show the INCREASE of:  urbanization, sprawl, roadways, pipelines, and power lines overlayed to show how much of the U.S. has been “developed;” nearly all of it.  By the same token, maps can be made that show the DECREASE of:  farmland (prime and otherwise), open space, wildlife habitat, free flowing rivers (if any are left), and wilderness.  A three-dimensional mesh plot with density contours, which can be programmed in R, would show how development has already swallowed most of the country.

Leon Kolankiewicz, Anne Manetas, Roy and possibly others have written long detailed reports on what population growth and sprawl have done to Florida, California, and the entire U.S.  Some of these are outdated but are still relevant as records of what has been done irreversibly, and begs the question, “When will this stop?”  These studies may be on the web right now, but should be given much greater publicity along with computer graphics to make their point more visually.  In the late 1990s, NUSA gave me copies of several sprawl studies, but in my case it was preaching to the choir.  These studies should be updated and broadcast more widely.

To explain the origin of the terms “chain immigration” and “diversity lottery,” educate voters about the Jordan’s commission’s 1996 report.  Papers like the New York Times editorialized against these proposals, but never made clear where these terms came from or who first proposed them.  It would have been harder for the mainstream press to toss aside these measures if the public knew that the rationale for ending chain migration and the lottery came from Barbara Jordan more than 20 years ago.  The NUSA chain migration TV ad is great, but there needs to be more public education to provide context.  

Studies have shown that as societies increase in size, participation in civic life declines and people feel excluded from political life.  Only nations like Ireland and the Scandinavian countries are still small enough so that there is greater participation and a sense of civic engagement.  The larger the population, the less people feel that voting matters:  “Why bother to vote, I’m only one person?” How would these “leaders” answer this question?

We should offer an alternative vision for America that builds around E. O. Wilson’s idea of devoting half the planet to wildlife habitat.  Note that both Lester Brown and Wilson, were lobbied by the Sierra Club board of directors during the 1998 vote on immigration.  Both turned down the board and voted against its proposal and in favor of reducing immigration.

All of this requires money. To do just the mapping studies would require probably three people, a coder, a writer and a data manager.  I have few ideas on funding, except that the Colcom Foundation is one possible source.  A second possibility is crowd sourcing.  Where is the George Soros for population?  

Political correctness will win only if we allow it to.  Most Americans are pragmatic, reject ideologies, and agree that population is a problem here and around the world.  Knowing that, we can define this issue in our terms and not those of the left-wing ideologues.

 Fred W. Johnson