Contrast

Introduction
This is an illustration I created for my History of Creativity class. The assignment was to do something creative that is connected with some historical theme of the class. Here I've provided an explanation of the work and my feelings on the subject matter. As you'll find, I'm pretty opinionated, but hopefully this is valuable to everyone by at least sparking interest and inviting discussion.

Historical Backdrop
Philosophical thinking and debate between the mid 1600’s and the late 1700’s focused primarily on the issue of determining the best form of government. Thereafter, people’s attention turned to the problem of social and economic justice. However, variations on the forms of government and the extent of the government’s role in accomplishing society’s goals have remained critical topics of debate to the present day. This issue of government power and involvement is the subject matter of my project.

On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into legislation a landmark bill that drastically overhauls healthcare in the United States. Some hail it as an unprecedented triumph for social justice and equality, but the bill unquestionably ranks as one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in our nation’s history. Not only is the bill’s premise potentially unconstitutional, but its passage was fraught with bold political maneuvering and bitter debate. In my opinion, passage of this legislation has violated two fundamental American values: governance by consent and limited government.

John Locke, the great Enlightenment thinker, helped develop the foundation of our governmental system. Of his contributions, one of the most profound and closely guarded principles upon which our constitution is built is the notion that a government’s only valid source of legitimacy is the consent of the governed  – “government for the people, by the people”. President Obama’s health care reform does not represent the will of the people, as partially evidenced by his falling approval rating leading up to, and since the bill’s passage. Approval rating aside, proponents of the legislation were zealously determined to push their agenda at all costs:

If we go through the gate and the gate's closed, we'll go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we'll pole vault in. If that doesn't work we'll parachute in. We're going to get health care reform passed for the American people. – Nancy Pelosi

But the “American people” have not spoken in the affirmative for this bill. Americans are wary of government expansion, especially after the controversy surrounding the financial crisis. This seems more like a victory for special interest groups and politicians hoping to leave some sort of legacy rather than a victory for the American people.

James Madison, an ardent proponent of Enlightenment thinking, once outlined one of the major problems of government: “In forming a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”  The passage of this (nearly) trillion dollar government health care scheme represents an epic failure of obliging the government to control itself.

Firstly, by forcing people to buy health insurance, the government violates our natural rights by ascribing a tax to our natural right to live. With car insurance, if I don't want to pay it, I (theoretically) can stop driving (practically speaking, this is easier said than done, but it's the principle we're addressing). With health insurance, the same principle should apply. But under Obama’s plan you don't have a choice. Essentially, I think, therefore I pay health insurance.

Secondly, the federal deficit is already out of control after the “Bailout.” The last thing the economy needs is more inefficient, value sucking bureaucracies.The government's unprecedented,  astronomical spending puts our currency at risk. If inflation skyrockets, everything becomes more expensive, and everyone's standard of living goes down.

Explanation
After experimenting with a few ideas, I decided to vector art to convey my message. Vector graphics use geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygons, which are all based on mathematical equations, to represent images in computer graphics.  I chose vector art because it generally draws heavily on the use of forms, shapes, colors, lighting effects and perceptions of reality to convey images or ideas, much like impressionism. In essence, rather than trying to recreate a mirror image of the real world, I wanted to use symbols and representations that interacted in a way that would convey my message.

For example, I used a city skyline on the horizon backed by brightly beaming rays of light and bubbling circles to represent the creativity and bright possibilities available when people are allowed to govern themselves. In contrast, I cast Uncle Sam and his devouring influence in a vivid black and white representation of evil. While it may be a little extreme (I don’t’ think the government is evil), I wanted it to be shocking and clear to the viewer. The man in the business suit represents me defiantly mocking the onslaught of feigned “social justice [that] makes no demands on [people's] personal lives and behavior.”

Disclaimer
Admittedly this post is one sided. I'm sure there are good things in the health care bill, and it is well meaning for the most part, but I simply cannot support the political and governmental ideology behind it. I do feel we need health care reform, but this is just bad legislation. Health care reform should address the real problem: rising health care costs. We need to change the incentives that govern health care spending patterns and enact tort reform to reduce protective medical practices.