BSO

BSO

Monday, May 12, 2008

Activist Amherst

Various scenes.

At least once a week there's a peace demonstration in downtown Amherst. They have been meeting for decades, but tend to be most active during Republican administrations. 

 



Nearby at Newbury's Comix the focus is on the newly released Ironman movie. Not a bad freehand drawing.



On campus the UMass Students for Life have erected crosses to signify the number of abortions in the United States. 





Ken Kesey once asked in opposition to abortion, "Who are we to judge the trip of the unborn?" On the other hand, I remember that there were girls I knew when I was a student at The High School of Commerce who truly ruined their lives with unwanted pregnancies. I'm suspicious of people who are absolutists on this matter, be they pro or con. It's not just right or wrong, black or white. In fact, I can't think of any other issue that has so many grey areas. On balance, I tend to embrace the policies offering the widest choices.

The Student Government Association had this placard displaying this true but vague sentiment today at lunch. 





The Queer Activism Network was making its presence known at the Student Union. 





But for all the political activism, most students just went blithely along on their way to class. 






The poll that runs everyday on the website for local TV station WWLP-22 today asks the following question:

Do you think the Massachusetts state income tax should be abolished?

That question is on the ballot this fall, and greedhead politicians should tremble over the poll results: A lopsided 64% to 36% in favor of repeal!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Curious. Didn't we already vote to repeal this tax? Seems to me I remember this passing and most of us being upset because the legislature did nothing about it.

Tom said...

No that was a referendum to lower the income tax, not repeal it completely. The legislature refused to fully enact the decrease, and would probably defy the voters again if the repeal passed. The truth is we no longer have a fully functioning democracy in Massachusetts.