Money, Money, Money

I’ve never really cared much about states legalizing marijuana for recreational use.  I visited Colorado shortly after the law passed, and I was surprised to find out how little had really changed, just because people could now legally buy marijuana for recreational use.  You can read about that trip, and your fellow students’ responses here: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-mile-high-city-may-be-higher-than_8.html

What has struck me as interesting is what states like Colorado are doing with all the revenue they’re generating from legalizing marijuana.  Colorado first legalized the drug in January of 2014.  Within the first month, they had generated $46.9 million in total sales.  That’s right – million! Their cumulative revenue in 2014 was $76.2 million, by 2015 that number had jumped to $86.7 million.  Currently, Colorado imposes three types of tax on marijuana sales.  They have a regular 2.9% state sales tax, with an additional special marijuana sales tax of 10%.  Then there’s a 15% excise tax on wholesale transfers.  So what are they doing with all this revenue?

First, they’ve earmarked the revenue generated from the excise tax for school construction projects.  Aurora, Colorado’s third largest city is using the $1.5 million they’ve generated from marijuana taxes to support the homeless, through increased shelter beds, and vans for additional homeless outreach. It’s not just Colorado either.  In March, Los Angeles said they plan to use the revenue generated from their 15% tax on marijuana cultivation to also support homeless individuals – through housing, supportive services, mobile showers, vouchers and outreach. LA, which currently only allows marijuana cultivation for medicinal usage has said if they were able to legalize marijuana for recreational use, the revenue generated would be “significantly more.”

So my question to you this week is, “What do you think of legalizing marijuana for recreational use?  Do you support or oppose these laws?  Do you think how states are using the revenue will change anyone’s minds?”  You must answer all questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, June 1, 2016.

Does It Matter If You're Black or White?

You may remember hearing about the “racist” Gap advertisement that was released last month.  Like some of you, I clicked on the headline to see the offending ad, only to discover I couldn’t really identify what was racist about it.  In the ad, a 12 year old Caucasian girl leans her arm on an 8 year old African-American girl, who also happens to be her adopted sister.  Both girls are part of a performance troupe and were featured along with several other children in the ad campaign, which ironically was designed in part to “encourage girls everywhere to be themselves.”  In case you didn’t see it, you can check out the offending ad here: http://a.abcnews.go.com/images/Business/HT_gap_kids_ad_pulled_mm_16046_v4x3_12x5_1600.jpg

Critics said the ad gives the message of passive racism.  They complain that the black girl appeared to be more of a “prop” than anything else.  The ad has drawn criticism from many black people who find it to be yet another offensive example of the ways in which black women and girls are belittled, undermined, and dehumanized in the media.

Others have argued that the reaction to the ad is a wild over-exaggeration.  For their part, Gap pulled the ad and apologized stating in part, “As a brand with a proud 46 year history of championing diversity and inclusivity, we appreciate the conversation that has taken place and are sorry to anyone we’ve offended.”

As I said, initially, I couldn’t identify what was racist about the ad.  After reading the comments, I started to get it.  I’m still not sure the ad is racist, but I do understand that it leads to a bigger conversation about the images of African Americans in this country. The reality is that there are so few positive, powerful representations of black women and especially black girls out there that, frankly, it’s unsurprising that the photo would touch a nerve.

Many of you will engage in freelance work for photography and graphic design throughout your careers.  In some instances, one image can make or break a career.  So my question to you this week is, “Do you think the Gap advertisement was racist? Should companies be responsible for encouraging positive representation and diversity in their campaigns?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, May 25^th 2016.

*Please note: You have two weeks to complete this blog.  There will be no new post next week while I’m out of town.

Periods for Pence!

I couldn’t let this quarter pass without blogging at least once about Indiana’s new abortion law recently signed by Governor Mike Pence.  The law bans abortions if they’re being performed because of the fetus’s race, gender, or fetal abnormalities, and punishes doctors if they perform abortions under these circumstances.  The law also requires the fetus to be buried or cremated after any abortion or miscarriage.

Governor Mike Pence said the new law “affirms the value of all human life.”  Supporters of the new law also say it protects people with disabilities from discrimination.  However, the law has caused much controversy, as both the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood have sued citing the law as unconstitutional.  They say the law supports the government intruding on doctor/patient relationships, and that it demeans women.  The also says the required burial or cremation of the fetus is a costly requirement that doesn’t exist for the disposal of medical tissue for other types of operations.  In fact, many women miscarry during their normal menstrual cycle, and may even have no idea that their miscarrying.  It is this component of the law that has caused the social media movement “Periods for Pence” to arise.  The movement, which opposes the law, has hundreds of women calling or tweeting to the Governor’s office about their regular menstrual cycle; just to show what they feel is the absurdity of the law.  Regardless of how you feel about the law itself, the comments are pretty funny.  You can read a sampling of them here if you’re so inclined: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-04-06/periods-for-pence-highlights-womens-concern-over-indiana-abortion-bill

Abortion has already been a controversial issue – long before this newly signed piece of legislation which only seems to complicate matters.  I’m interested in knowing what you think, so my question to you this week is, “What do you think of Indiana’s new abortion law?  Do you think it upholds the value of human life, or infringes on a woman’s right to privacy?”  Answers are due no later than, Wednesday, May 11^th, 2016.