Jim Mason: How to Destroy the Bush AdministrationI have a proposal. Though the Universe went down two weekends ago in a maelstrom of fire, sonic assault, raw meat, and angry chain-wielding artists, the Bush administration is still standing. This is unfortunate for the American psyche and democratic experiment, as well as for the progress of the world in general. [insert long tirade here, which I will forgo so as to get to the point] I am going to put forward all the money I/the shipyard made from the How to Destroy the Universe shows as a challenge grant to raise money for Bush defeating entities. The Shipyard side of the door was $940, so I'll add $60 to make it an even $1000. I would like you to consider joining me in this effort with matching donations to Bush defeating entities of your choice. But why just throw money at the problem? Well, unfortunately, much of the battle is a media battle watched on TV in bored households into which we have no access. So money to the people that are running the media battle I think is one of our better tools. Sure, go do all the things here at home, but Kerry will most almost certainly carry California. The real work to be done is in the swing states, places we are not. So, in the interest of completing the job started two weekends ago, I'm putting all my show money forward and encourage other performers from the show and those in our general circle to do the same with whatever you can do. This Destroy the Bush Administration Fund will match, dollar for dollar, every dollar you donate up to the $1000 currently in the Fund. (see list at end if you want some options for donation recipients). Ouch, I know, it hurts. We are all broke. I can list a ton of crisis pressing things I absolutely must right now today spend this money on at the Shipyard, many relating to the survival of the yard. But I will figure out a way to do without it. And I'll bet you can too. (I take that back, no betting. I've had enough betting). All of our lives will likely go on without this little influx of money from the show, or other money findable elsewhere. But the world cannot go on with Bush. If we are to be more than self-indulgent angry artists, prone to spouting anti-Bush conspiracy theories and whatnot, we need to do something. Most of us burn 100s or 1000s of dollars yearly for the big hoo hah in the desert. This would be a great year to consider a 10% tithe or more of the usual Burning Man hit for a pressing social/political/environmental/international/existential problem that is, yes, more important than Burning Man. This is what I am choosing to do and invite you to join me. You can, of course, decide this is not the best route and do something else, but I'm pretty sure money moves many things, as much as we hate to admit it, so I think we need to take on the forces of fear thinking and medieval living with money. And as much money as possible. You can join either on the challenge side or the match side. If you say, "I'll donate x amount as a match", then I'll match your donation and your effort is essentially doubled. Tell me how much you donate so I can keep a tally so I know how much of the $1000 to donate (hopefully all, but I need matches first). If you want to grow the pool available for matches, you can join on the challenge side. Right now the challenge side is $1000. It would be wonderful to get it to the $2,000 or $3,000 range so as to get a total hit against those forces allied against us to about $5000. Much is at stake in this election. Superlatives of all sorts have been bandied about regarding its importance. I don't want/need to repeat all the arguments. You know them. I'm just proposing something to do that I think is actually relevant and will have a real effect when joined with the many other similar challenge donations efforts happening elsewhere. If you think this is a reasonable thing to do, please do join me/us in this endeavor. Thanks, Jim PS- I'm going to send half of the $1000 in the Destroy fund to the Democratic National Committee and the other half to America Coming Together, which is a get out the vote in swing states organization that I like. Other organizations you might want to consider: Democratic National Committee: http://www.democrats.org/index2.html
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