The Forgotten Man – Jon McNaughton
A political storm has been brewing for the past few years and I believe that this painting is the first clear lightning bolt.
Why is Obama Stepping on the Constitution?
Well, is such an image unwarranted? As Jon clearly states, this painting of Barack Obama stepping on the Constitution is representative of not only Obama’s actions, but of the actions of past Presidents.
Some people will reject this painting, claiming that a President would never blatantly disregard the Constitution in such a way. You’re right. No President would ever want something like that on his record. So when it comes down to it, it’s really death by a thousand cuts.
Death by a thousand cuts? How is that?
Well, let’s get one thing clear: the Constitution is a document which spells out a government of limited, enumerated powers. America’s Founding Fathers knew, first hand, just how dangerous excessive power could become and they labored to ensure that no one person would get too much, unchecked power.
But for decades now, the Constitution has been slowly chipped away by power-hungry politicians. In the last decade alone we’ve witnessed the Federal Government grow as quickly as its own appetite: Homeland Security, the Patriot Act, the Iraq War, entitlement programs, trillion-dollar deficits, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, federal bailouts, GM, stimulus packages, health-care overhauls, the takeover of auto industries, economic regulations, and deficit spending…just to name a few.
With the Federal Government expanding its power and dipping its hands and arms into the economy (creating the now infamous statement “too big to fail”) they have created a political, social and economic climate wherein we find “forgotten” men and women. The Founding Fathers strove, to the best of their ability, to give rights and power to the people. But as time has gone on, the Federal Government has taken much of that power from the people.
To put it simply, the Federal Government has stepped on the Constitution whenever they step outside of its boundaries.
…and step on the forgotten men and women.
The Constitution’s Cancer
Now for some strange reason, there is a frightening trend growing among some Americans. They want the Federal Government to have more power. Some look to the Federal Government for answers through programs and laws and are actively seeking help through handouts and professed humanitarian legislation. I have deep misgivings about looking to the Federal Government as an example of “charity.” Why is that? Well, ask the Native Americans about promises broken. Ask the Japanese immigrants during World War II about protection of rights. Ask the African-Americans about equality under the law. The United States Government has a sinister history of legislating and working against the least popular crowd. Today’s least popular? Capitalists, small business owners and proponents of a limited government (isn’t that ironic?).
Of all these things, however, one of the most threatening ideas that is currently being entertained is the idea of “redistribution of wealth,” of “leveling the economic playing field.” In one word: Socialism. Socialism is, by very definition, the exact opposite of a government of limited powers. It is literally not compatible with the Constitution—it’s the Constitution’s cancer.
Nevertheless, Barack Obama is a major advocate of redistributing the wealth:
“If you look at the victories and failures of the civil rights movement and its litigation strategy in the court…the Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth, and of more basic issues such as political and economic justice in society…It didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers in the Constitution…generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties. Says what the states can’t do to you. Says what the Federal government can’t do to you, but doesn’t say what the Federal government or State government must do on your behalf, and that hasn’t shifted and one of the, I think, tragedies of the civil rights movement was, um, because the civil rights movement became so court focused I think there was a tendency to lose track of the political and community organizing and activities on the ground that are able to put together the actual coalition of powers through which you bring about redistributive change. In some ways we still suffer from that.”
And to Joe the Plummer he said:
“It’s not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance at success, too… My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody…I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”
“I think…it’s good for everybody.” It isn’t. History is replete with example after example after example of how Socialism simply doesn’t work. It actually causes far more damage.
Remarkably, our Founding Fathers knew this. They knew that it was the role of government to give an equal protection of “rights,” and not involve itself in the equal distribution of “things.” Samuel Adams himself warned against the unconstitutional dangers of what we now call Socialism. He said:
The Utopian schemes of leveling [redistribution of the wealth] and a community of good [central ownership of the means of production and distribution], are as visionary and impractical as those which vest all property in the Crown. [These ideas] are arbitrary, despotic, and, in our government, unconstitutional. (William V. Wells, The Life and Public Services of Samuel Adams, 3 vols. [Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1865], 1:154) page 30
One Question
Every election cycle, I hear the same petty arguments. Each candidate proposes new programs, new initiatives, new agencies to “help the poor” and “create jobs.” But in the end, it all boils down to one question: That’s fine that you want to do that, but how are you going to do it without taking away rights and property (money) from someone else?
Consider this interesting assessment:
Those on the receiving end of [any Socialist program] may think this is very “just” to take from the “haves” and give to the “have nots.” They may say, “This is the way the government provides equal justice for all.” But what happens when the government comes around and starts taking from those who count themselves “poor”? They immediately declare with indignation that they have “right” in the property the government gave them. The government replies, “WE decide who has right in things.”
The power given to the government to take from the rich automatically cancelled out the principle of “guaranteed equal rights.” It opened the floodgate for the government to meddle with everybody’s rights, particularly property rights.
When the Communists seized power in Hungary, the peasants were delighted with the “justice” of having the large farms confiscated from their owners and given to the peasants. Later the Communist leaders seized three-fourths of the peasant land and took it back to set up government communal farms. Immediately the peasants howled in protest about their property “rights.”
Those who protested too loudly or too long soon found that they not only lost their land, but also their liberty. If they continued to protest, they lost their lives. (Cleon Skousen, The 5,000 Year Leap, pgs. 116-117)
But despite the overwhelming historical evidence against the dangers of Socialism, our Federal Government continues to flirt with the idea.
So What Now?
The only redistributive change which I support, is the redistribution of the power which the Federal Government has amassed over the past century and putting it back into the hands of the We The People.
But the Federal Government (and the current administration) has consistently shown contempt for empowering the people and have instead preferred making people and businesses dependent on the government.
We therefore find ourselves in a precarious position. Our government is flirting with and openly advocating Socialist ideals, our Administration appears to be drunk with its own power and is spending without regard, our President refuses to take responsibility for anything and we are now laden with an incomprehensible debt of 14 trillion dollars.
For these reasons, and more, I decided to help Jon promote his painting: The Forgotten Man.
Because I hope that America will not just sit there (like Forgotten Man) but will stand up for (not upon) the Constitution.
“The Constitution…approaches nearer to perfection than any government hitherto instituted among men.” -George Washington
Watch the SEQUEL to “The Forgotten Man”: “Wake Up, America!”
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This entry was posted on September 7, 2010 by Seth Adam Smith in Politics and tagged Barack Obama, Constitution, Jon McNaughton, Politics, President Obama, Presidents, The Forgotten Man, U.S. Constitution.Shortlink
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For those of you that have asked, the music is called “Dramatic Intro” and it can be found on shockwave-sound.com
Hi Seth,
I have the Forgotten Man hanging in the most prominent place of the house…
I’m trying to find your music on Shockwave-sound.com. Doesn’t seem to be there…. Can you help me? Fantastic Score.
Thanks for the help
Seth, Incredible Production. Looking past the politics for a moment, the Emotion that the “Score” adds to your production is to say the least Powerful! I have not been able to find a credit for musical score. Even if privately, could you Please share it with me?
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It’s a wonderful thing, “Freedom of speech” We need to give Barack Obama time to show us all he can do…… He has started making progress! You have to remember 9/11. The Men and Women we lost, and have lost since than. That’s due to BOTH Bush Sr. & Bush Jr. along with OUR financial debt! The past Presidents have put us into such a hole, it will take at least 6 years before we could see any sign of hope ahead…..
For those that would like to know “What the former Presidents say to the current President”
They would LAUGH while saying “I hope you know how to get this nation out of all this mess
we got it into,because everything we tryed to do just dug us in deeper”
Everything in that picture represents what Obama and his majority has done in the year that he has been president. In two years he has only made things worse and this picture is still just as compelling and applicable as ever. In four years, how much more harm will he do? I know this picture will be just as compelling then. God almighty help us and thank you Mr. Jon for this marvelous depiction of what we the people feel about our then and present government.
what exactly did he do? everyone keeps making vague, sweeping dismissals, yet no one has pointed to specific things which mr. obama has done to “trample the constitution.”
i’m not a big obama fan by any means, but it seems to me that the right has done as much to “trample the constitution” as anyone. separation of church and state is in the first amendment yet now republicans act as if JFK invented it. bush’s patriot act was probably the single most troubling assault on the constitution that has yet happened. also, by declaring war in iraq and afghanistan, bush clearly violated article 1 section 8 of the constitution. a big infraction from a historical standpoint.
but anyway, i’ll ask my question— what specifically has obama done which you consider unconstitutional?
Barack Obama and the Democrats have increased the national debt since 2006 – when the Dems took control of Congress – over 4 times more than the cost of the Iraq War. You are shamefully ignorant, a leech, and part of the problem.
Very well done!
This is so awesome, the artist, painting and also what you wrote Seth. Thank you for stating all of this much better then I ever could. I love our country so much and we need to stand strong to defend her from the enemy within and we should have been doing this for a long time. More then ever it is important to do this now. Our troops risk their lives to defend and protect our country and how can we just sit back and let those within destroy our beloved America. Thank God for this last election, we spoke out at the ballot and the townhalls and tea parties and in emails and phone calls. I pray we keep this energy up and that apathy will never again happen as it aids the enemy in their destruction of our Constitution.
Thank you Seth and thank you to Jon McNaughton .
This painting is very disrespectful and smells of Tea Party propaganda. Are you going to paint a portait of George Bush and his patriot act or the senseless war he got us into? and then had the nerve to make jokes about ? How about painting some caskets of the young men and women that died in Iraq and that Pres. Bush tried to keep off News programs? you have a portrait of George Bush and his policies, I bet not. Partisan Propaganda.
i agree.
Greetings Sir,
Would you please tell me how I can go about purchasing large reprints of paintings like: ‘One Nation Under God’ & ‘ The Forgotten Man’? & others. Please tell me whom to contact,
I think the paintings are beautiful and I would love to have reprints of them.
Thanking you in advance..
Raymond Boone
I am an artist myself and I consider your painting magnificient in it’s symbology…. I love it….
Just curious as to the soundtrack used in the video???? Great piece by the way.
How refreshing. The truth will always be the truth, no matter what people say.
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Attn Jon McNaughton, There are those who lost arms, some lost legs and some gave their lives to protect those like you so you can voice and paint these paintings. You have given your talent and time while they gave their all! And remember as others are on the front line fighting against evil, someone like you must fight the war here at home!
“The evils of tyranny are rarely seen but by him who resists it.” -John Hay, 1872
Well said. Where can I obtain a copy of the painting?
Bless you sir. I offer you my heartfelt thanks and support. Listen not to the naysayers, there are those who will never see the truth and will always use specious argument against truth (“It was Bush’s fault”…). What they do not understand is that BHO has taken the KILLING of our freedoms via the constitution to a whole new level. I grieve for my country as I prepare to defend it. To those who think that the past will not repeat I say…pity those fools who close their hearts and minds and eyes for they shall put unto dust.
what did president obama do, specifically, that killed freedom?
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I continue to be disheartened by people who present such powerful images which reject what the current administration is doing WITHOUT OFFERING ANY CONCRETE SOLUTIONS. Yes, Jon McNaughton, is an incredibly talented artist. As an artist of a different kind — my work is in theatre and film as a director and writer — I am pleased to see other artist use their skills to encourage people to think beyond their everyday routines and comforts. But my question to you Mr. Smith is, since you seem to oppose everything that the government is doing, WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE INSTEAD? Give me something specific. It’s too easy to espouse rhetoric. Give me specific examples of how the administration could do better. Tell me your plan. You seem to have a bright mind, so lay out the way in which you would go about solving our biggest problems. I think you will quickly discover you will have to sacrifice something, somewhere in order to get even part of the job accomplished. We are in a quagmire — have been for quite some time — so this administration is attempting some bold changes. It dares to do things differently, much in the way another daring President reinvigorated the country after the Great Depression. But there are too many people out of work and currently suffering for you to reject some kind of change to the status quo. I suspect you are writing from an extremely comfortable position. The fact that you have the time and the resources to post your blogs and your YouTube videos is an indication that you are more comfortable than many in our society. Furthermore you have time to enjoy “gardening, politics, writing, traveling, reading, hiking, running marathons, pies and spending time with my family.” In my mind, you seem to have a fairly luxurious life, and I don’t know how you can really appreciate the problems of those with less time and money than you. I’m sorry you don’t like the idea of the redistribution of wealth — probably because it means taking some of your wealth. But I don’t like the idea of people such as yourself — people who are sitting pretty with time to garden, travel, read, hike and run marathons — speaking for those who can barely cover their bills each month and are doing what they can to just survive. I don’t see volunteering on your list. If you don’t like what is happening in this country, then why don’t you get there and actively start trying to change things by getting involved. Then you will see how difficult it is to make positive change. Making broad generalizations and complaining about what is wrong by typing on your computer is the easiest thing in the world to do. Getting out there, being involved and proactive and learning just how hard it is to make positive change is much more admirable. That’s a man I want to listen to. That’s why I respect most of our politicians, no matter what side of the party they’re on. Because at least they’re trying to do something to improve our country. And by the way, I’m a registered Republican, one who is incredibly embarrassed by how the Republican party has conducted itself these past two years. Putting party agenda (read: egos) ahead of the country’s welfare is simply childish and unproductive. I can say that, even being a Republican, because I consider myself a thinking human being first. And I hope to never let party rhetoric blind me to what is necessary for improving our country.
Dana, I understand your frustration. To be honest, I’m tempted to be defensive at some of the things you’ve written about me, but then I realize that neither of us know each other and so there’s a lot of room for misunderstanding. I’m certain that if we could sit down and talk, and get to know each others’ circumstances and perspectives, then we’d be less inclined to argue over politics and more inclined to laugh about funny stories we’ve heard. :D
Concerning my “wealth”: Most of what I do is for non-profit. In fact, I just got back from Africa a month ago working for The Forever Young Foundation helping impoverished African children. Currently, I spend most of my time working at the ANASAZI Foundation (a wilderness therapy program for troubled teens) and with the Arbinger Institute. If you look in my page “A Good Cause” you’ll find a number of other organizations which I support and work with. I don’t make any money from them.
Concerning FDR: his New Deal programs did not get America out of the Depression. World War II did. America came together, united and worked together. That’s what got America out of the Depression. Not FDR.
As far as solutions go, it’s simple in word, difficult in deed: Charity. Seeing others as people and as human beings. Government is an institution that administers to behaviors (through laws and the like), but what we need are forces to administer to the heart.
Compulsory charity is not charity. I saw in Russia (when I there was teaching English) how “leveling the playing field” or “equalizing” did more damage than good. Even when everyone was equal in terms of material goods, people still felt unequal: This person is more talented in this. That person is happier. That person has a better view from his apartment and is therefore better off, et cetera. Forcing people to give up things for others still doesn’t solve the problem of people feeling unequal. Furthermore, at what point will people be equal? At one point can someone say: Okay, you have everything you need. You should be happy.
In my experience, the best kind of solution to the problems of poverty (and other problems, for that matter) are the kinds of solutions that Charles Dickens advocated: personal sacrifice through a one-on-one, personal relationship with the individual who needs help. No mediator is necessary and both parties are blessed.
In one of my favorite books, A Christmas Carol, Scrooge sees, under the robe of the Ghost of Christmas Present, two ugly and impoverished children. Christmas Present tells Scrooge that the children are not his but that they are “man’s” and that “This boy is Ignorance this girl is Want”. Scrooge is told to be wary of them both but most especially ignorance (because it breeds poverty). When Scrooge asks if there is anything that he can do, the Ghost quotes Scrooge’s words: “Are there no prisons? Are there no work-houses?”
Scrooge had neglected his own soul by leaving charity up to the government (through prisons and work-houses).
So my simplest solution, Dana, is to put government back into its place of enforcing the law, keeping our people safe and peacefully dealing with foreign nations. Government was never designed to deal with the real issues of the heart. That has always been something that we, ourselves, should learn to do.
Thanks for your comment! It helped open my eyes to some things. I’ll probably write a blog about it. :D
Dana,
If someone were to suggest that I jump off a bridge, I would simply say “No”. There is no need to suggest an alternative course of action such as “Can we find a smaller bridge and jump off of that instead”
Increased government control, increased spending, increased regulations, increased taxes, and greater dependency on the federal governement are all bad ideas.
When confronted with a bad idea, “Just say NO” is an appropriate responce.
Here is what I propose instead:
“The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof…
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people…
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
This would definitely make things better than they are now.
Jews are not the disease. Without them, we wouldn’t even have a Constitution.
What? Chris, please explain yourself. How did Jews make it possible for us to have our constitutions — and please note that is plural, because besides the federal constitution, each state has a constitution. The Bill of Rights in my state’s constitution is even better than the federal one. But I don’t think it’s based upon anything the Jews gave us :-)
Leif,
When I said about Constitution, I meant the country’s document on Jon’s picture. I understand that each state has its laws and deeply respect your opinion. I apologize if you understood otherwise.
The country’s Bill of Rights begins with the guarantee of religious freedom. One Nation under God. When I said that without the Jews we would not have a Constitution, this is a matter of personal belief, once the God I trust is the God of the House of Israel.
Believing or not the Constitution is divinely inspired, the people are the source of government power, and this implies responsibility, practice, respect and tolerance. The opposite of any kind of generalization. We can’t inspire freedom if we judge people for their belief, race, color, gender. There is no need to defend the indefensible, but it takes some time to see through other’s eyes and learn that we need to respect all to preserve our own freedom.
We don’t need to believe to respect, but we need to respect to teach. And learn.
I didn’t want to extend this because it is not the main theme here. The picture tells us about ‘The Forgotten Man’, that is even more forgotten in all of this.
If I recall correctly, wasn’t it a Jewish man who funded a good part of the Revolutionary War?
“Philadelphia broker Haym Salomon (1740-1785) played a vital role in ensuring that the American colonies’ fight to win independence from the British crown continued. During the 1770s, he brokered a number of large financial transactions that kept American soldiers clothed, fed, and armed. It is thought that this Jewish emigrant contributed much of his own assets to the war for independence because he died deeply in debt.” (Quoted from http://www.yourdictionary.com )
He emmigrated from Poland.
This is a great and wonderful painting, crafted with masterly skill. Much of what you say is true, but you ought to consider that the federal constitution was gutted by Lincoln; and other presidents have worked to further ruin US: Wilson and FDR being two of the most guilty. And who ever thought we’d ever see anybody worse then Clinton? Then came W. Bush, and we “saw.” Yes, indeed!
BUT… why misdirect us by pointing the finger at mere puppets? Do you imagine that Obama works his mischief on his own? Following his own ideals and plan? Like too many of the rest back to the days of Andrew Jackson, our last REAL American president, these “men” all play Stephen Fetchit for the Rothschild banking interests and their Jewish/Zionist organs of subversion. In simple language, lying, treasonous presidents are only a SYMPTOM. Jews are the DISEASE.
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First to the artist–your work is an incredible expression of your political thoughts and beliefs. I can have nothing but the highest admiration for what I have viewed. Though I do not agree at all with your point of view, I do applaud your undertaking and expression. I am not going to take this space to express the differences between my views and your and the vast majority of those commenting here. Instead I just want to remind everyone that I doubt that among most or all of us, what we want is America to find the best path to travel together on into the future, the path that will most likely insure peace abroad, prosperity at home and the prospects of a fine education and future for our children.
America has slipped in its world standing, slip in quality of education, diversity and vibrancy of its industrial production, slipped in the efficacy and comprehensiveness of medical care. We must sacrifice and invest again in these items to revitalize ourselves. What we are seeing now is a debate as to how to do those things. Add to that current economic conditions and the world can be pretty scary. And having to make fundamental changes on how we structure our economy and our government are also huge undertakings raising 1000′s of questions as to how to get ahead and secure the future for generation yet to come. But probably the first and most helpful step that we could take together is to agree what we all want the same things and it would be better to work together to find the means to get there rather than constantly tearing at each other and demonizing members on the opposite side. My first vote out of the gate is to agree on greater civility—and that is what the artist has done while expressing his own point of view.
Hi Seth, I am a huge fan, have spread the video. I collect soundtracks, what music did you use for this video, please??? it’s amazing!!!!
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Without agreeing or disagreeing on the political value of this painting, I just want to tell you both, John and Seth, that I admire the work that you do. I admire the passion that you have for life and for your values. Honestly, that is the most important thing to keep the world (and more specifically this nation) from falling to pieces. Too many of us sit by the wayside like the forgotten man– forgotten because we say nothing, forgotten because we sit unmoving as the world grows dark and polluted around us. I think I waver on being one of those sometimes. So I am filled with such hope to know that other people care enough to stand up for truth– or even what they believe as truth. To do something for the retaining of good, pure, honest values. Thank you. For showing me that not everyone will allow themselves to become forgotten.
Please, sir! Let me know how I may obtain a copy of your painting, “The Forgotten Man”! I do not care what it will cost but, I must have it!
Thank you for being a patriot! I wish there were more.
All the best,
Michael W. Reece
Simpsonville, South Carolina
mwreece@charter.net
(864) 329-9435
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Merci pour cette reflexion, je prie qu’un jour ce monde promis arrive où nos expressions de visage ne seront que souriant
This painting has caused some real emotion in me. I have this feeling and i know deep down inside that there is something that is really, really wrong with America ! It is an evil that has been here since this great nation was just an idea. And it is here in full force at this moment ! This evil has even got the best of some of are greatest leaders, Like Lincoln And has totally consumed others like Wilson. I cannot stand the thought of so many Americans supporting this power hungry machine we call are government ! Don’t they know that it can never have enough ? It will keep consuming until there is nothing left ! It is not human and has no feelings towards man. And it does not come from man, it comes from the great evil which i am talking about ! Look at the Soviet Union. I feel so sad because i do not get the feeling they are my country men any longer and it hurts me because i love them ! They are still my brothers and sisters. God please help us all !!!!
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Congratulations!! What an amazing painting and message. Please don’t pay attention to the left’s negative and incorrect messages. They have no idea what they’re talking about. Thank you for sharing your art with the world. May God continue to bless your work.
Will we every really know the truth? Fear being a powerful emotion has been a driving force as long as the human race has existed. The institutions that teach vocabulary to all races, define one word to have several meanings. Some people use hatred for anything they believe should be the truth only as they see it. I don’t think this was the intention of formal education. Maybe fancier words have changed the rules. Honor, respest, and diginity are allowed to form organizations that just kind of switch the truth around a bit! People have made declarations of all sorts. When a FACT is revealed today, is it still called truth. What makes us take action to reduce the loss of lives, financial loss, hunger or the falling of instiutions that governed, and help us with what we need to keep us safe? Safe from any threat that came a hair of threatning us from being, “The Home Of The Land And The Free”. Have we forgotten what we loss to have FREEDOM, to be The U.S.A.? Oh heck…”to”, can mean, “too”, or even “2″. “Can”, could be a “can” from which we drink. One thing for sure is, if our “Eyes” do not look further than, “I”…we are all certain to get our donkies kicked! Kicked without being able to, “See” it coming!
As an artist, I appreciate the work that went into this painting. Great work! When you aren’t required to work for what you get, most people will become lazy and not produce. After a while, the workers will say, why should I work when the others get something for no work? I’m willing to help those who cannot provide for themselves – not those who take advantage of the system.
Sorry, I couldn’t disagree more having just gone to Norway for the first time and seen a Socialist country that works quite well. It really isn’t at the expense of the “haves” any more than on the backs of every person (who all have to work) No one sits around and no one goes broke by paying taxes. No insurance company skyscrapers.. Plenty of free medical and free university education. Those guys are really hard to compete with in the oil field because they have higher technology that we do in so many areas. So if you want to leave it up to Joe the Plummer; maybe he’ll run for President and protect the HMOs just a little longer and we can get a little farther behind in the world at large. Or should I say “forgetten”?
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This is one of the most important pieces of Art I’ve ever seen. Kudos to Mr. McNaughton. Thank you so very much for giving us the both amazing and astonishing work of Art.
A picture is still worth a thousand words.
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As always, a thought provoking, beautiful painting, and a great video. I don’t necessarily agree with the political view point, that socialism is all bad. I consider myself a moderate to liberal Democrat, maybe sometimes leaning closer to the left. I am more concerned with caring for the people than helping the big corporations. Why can’t we have both capitalism and socialism? I know, personally, it can work. It works quite well in Canada, Australia, and other places in the world. I have a very good friend in Australia, and they have both capitalism and socialism, with free medical care, including surgery, and better retirement benefits than we do here with Social Security. I am retired, and I make less now than I did working. I am barely making ends meet, even living in a small town, in an inexpensive one-bedroom apartment. I have no medical insurance, and am not old enough for Medicare yet. So what is the Republican solution? I’ve heard things like abolish Social Security, cut benefits, privatize Social Security by putting the funds in the Stock Market, etc. My question is what is to be done about poverty in America, health care in America, and us Senior Citizens? So far, I haven’t heard any good ideas from the Conservatives, only diatribes against the Liberals.
The history of past presidents gets rewritten and romanticized. There is no one who cemented the idea of the federal government having power over the states more than Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln did more damage to the idea of limited federal powers than any other president.
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The symbolize floored me… Bush, #2, looking to the right, Clinton looking to the left, Madison saying WTF, all my favorite Presidents on the right, and the best Presidents trying to console “The Forgotten Man”. It is a great painting.
Stunning! The frightening reality of this goes far beyond the 1000 words a picture may be worth!
AWESOME. What would former presidents say to the current one?
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Thanks!
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Very well done! I agree 100%