Politics series

Every election season, I create a new collage about the candidates and their platforms for my Politics series.

In 2016, seasoned politician Hillary Clinton faced businessman Donald Trump, an unlikely Republican front-runner. Name-calling in the primaries sounded more 'reality' TV show than politics as usual; the media loved the ratings. The country's racial tension, gender wars, political correctness, and a lack of passion for either candidate, were constant themes for the general election.

One year later, what has changed?

Politics 4: Leaders

In the 2012 election, Obama faced Romney as the housing market crash sent many into bankruptcy, including entire states. The top '1 percent' of wealthy Americans were blamed, which reflected poorly on Republicans. Osama bin Laden's death and automaker Ford's bailout were considered Obama's successes. Democrats also reintroduced the DREAM act, putting Immigration into the political mix.

Politics 3: Obama vs. Romney

In the 2008 election, Obama promised change while McCain offered experience. Debates on the Iraq war, healthcare, immigration, energy, and employment (due to the pre-election financial meltdown) were heated. Obama defeated Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries before appointing her Secretary of State after winning the general election.

Politics 2:  Obama vs. McCain

In the 2000 election, Bush and Gore supporters never stopped jockeying for first place. The presidency was ultimately decided--a month after the election--by a vote recount in Florida and a final decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Interestingly, Bush's father had served as 43rd president from 1989 to 1993.

Politics 1: Bush vs. Gore

Health series

April 7 is known as World Health Day. Heathcare legislation has been a political football for decades. Now that 90 percent of the country has insurance, what can Congress do about rising insurance premiums?

If insurance companies can discount their rates for quitting smoking, why not discount them for going to the gym, eating vegetarian, or reducing stress with yoga or massage? Some FitBit users who meet daily activity goals are receiving premium discounts and other rewards for taking healthy actions.

I'd pay an insurance company to manage both my illness costs and my preventative healthcare costs, including Acupuncture, Massage, Cranio-Sacral, Qigong, and Tai Chi. Is that a step too far?

Healthcare 1: Help

Healthcare 2: Security

Healthcare 3: Breakdown

Healthcare 4: You're Insured?

President Obama's Legacy series

Our first bi-racial president's legacy includes Obama recognizing in a 2016 speech that change takes time but "We are not as divided as we seem." We've watched racial profiling and even police officers targeted in hate crimes, but cameras are now capturing many unjustified shootings of black men.

Multiracial in America

Many minorities doubt that either presidential candidate is capable, let alone interested, in resolving the racial tensions simmering just below the surface. Reality is getting stranger and stranger. A black, male friend of mine is worried about driving across country because he might get stopped by the police and never make it home.

Politics 4: Clinton vs. Trump

President Obama originally ran on the message of change in 2008, saying "Yes We Can." That message of hope was needed more than ever in 2012 after the Japan nuclear disaster, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the rising death toll and violence in the Middle East.

Hope

Getting relected in 2012 was not a given. President Obama had to work for every vote he received.

Politics 3: Obama vs. Romney

Obama's first presidential race was strong and predictable. As a Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama gave the keynote address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He looked and sounded presidential, which introduced him to the national audience that voted for him in 2008.

Politics 2: Obama vs. McCain

Race in America

As President Obama leaves office for good in 2017, we see more hate crimes, racial profiling, police as targets, and unemployment hitting blacks harder than other races since the 2007 recession started. We’ve come a long way, but most everyone agrees we still have a long way to go.

"Multiracial in America"

Racism was unfortunately alive in Nashville back in 2001. Dating a Mexican revealed prejudice, literally in my own back yard. I learned that “Picking the right white is not as easy as it sounds" (as noted in this collage) when the best candidate is black, brown, or another color.

The Right White (Fear Less)

Originally this collage was about how magazines use subliminal messages to sell stuff. This final version looks at race, lust, seduction, secrets, and also strong families.

Subliminal Seduction