George Washington Carver

Our Founding Fathers felt that the pursuit of happiness was one of the paramount objectives for all citizens. A citizen should be able to pursue his bliss, and should not need to worry about it reducing him to poverty. Thus, any time that a group is oppressed by those that wish to limit its ability to enrich itself through those labors, that group should take reasonable steps in order to throw off those chains.

A Mutation That Strengthens
An artist is a strange kind of laborer. His work adorns our lives, be it through statuary, performance, or the written word. He should be unafraid to question limits, as sometimes those limits constrain us without reason. An artist shows up the way to enlightenment, although he may get lost on the way. The artist should be a flame that guides our way into Heaven, though the path should lead through Hell, for sometimes the path to enlightenment can lead us through our pasts. An artist can show us that about ourselves that may scare us and that may trouble us, but that which we need nonetheless to explore about ourselves. By offering up his soul, an artist may save ours.

A Laborer Should Be Paid For His Results
Although he seeks to escape the law of the land, he should nonetheless be protected by that law by the fullest extent possible. Although he tries to break down traditions that have outlived their usefulness, he should also be protected by it when possible. Artists are unique among laborers in that they are paid for each use of their product, and yet see this as how it should be; a cabinetmaker is only paid once for his exercise of craft, and a farmer is paid for growing corn, even though the use of that corn may lead to other things, and yet neither are paid for any use of their product beyond their immediate care.

This is because an artist manufactures an idea, not something physical, as an inventor does. It is much harder to come up with an idea that works than a product that works because it is obvious that the product works or doesn’t work. It is never so obvious that an idea will ever work. An idea deserves to paid every time that it works, or is aired, as it is not known when lightning may strike again. Although it can be predicted when a cabinet or an ear of corn will be created anew, it is not as easy to find a new idea. For that an artist or inventor should be paid each time that the idea is used.

Heretic Monkeys Are of Value
Writers are in a most peculiar situation. They are the lifeblood of the film industry, yet are given respect only grudgingly and pay only if absolutely necessary. They aren’t viewed as valuable as their craft isn’t as easily quantified as others, and there is no way to ascertain its value until well after its use. Worse, the product may be changed far from its original form, yet the writer is still responsible for its effects. As any from of discrimination needs to stop, so does this one. The writer needs to be respected, and the movie industry must learn to respect those upon which it depends for so much. When that respect is given, a respect that has been earned, the industry will be better for it.

In Conclusion
The writer’s strike is one that should be supported, as it is interesting that others depend on them so much and yet consider it an affront that the writers should ask for what is so little in trade. It is an affront that so much work is done for so little reward and that this is considered acceptable practice should stop. I wish the writers the best, as they deserve it, in theory if not actuality.