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12 The Costume Designer Winter 2017 LABOR REPORT UNION LABEL "Whoever would overthrow the liber- ty of a nation must begin by subduing the freedom of speech." –Benjamin Franklin It has been difficult to write for the maga- zine at this time with the inauguration of the 45th President. I struggle to be stead- fast in the beliefs that we will be free. The idea that the union makes us strong never sounded as good as it does right now. I take solace in the belief that we will grow stronger in our understanding through the challenges we face ahead in the coming days. Hollywood awards season is on our minds as we reflect on the movies and television shows of 2016. Does Hollywood mirror society, or does it influence and shape our view of society? Did Hollywood create a reality star that captured and created a political climate? Does the moviegoing public or Hollywood determine what is seen? These are among the questions we all have been asking ourselves. Does my vote count? Democracy that states government by the people is a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. The Electoral College is a body of electors chosen by the voters in each state to elect the president and vice president of the US. This translates into one-person, one-vote. The 45th President of the United States actually lost the popular vote by 2.8 million votes. That he has called voters whiners, sore losers, because they are asking for an end to an Electoral College vote challenges us to question what kind of democracy we want and how we would like to elect the presi- dent and vice president in the future. Our Constitution and Declaration of Independence offer a clear vision of what our founders wanted our government to look like: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domes- tic tranquility, provide for the common defense, pro- mote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and to our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." –Preamble of the Constitution "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." –The Declaration of Independence We must be the change we want to see. In solidarity, Betty Madden bpmadden@cdgia.com DUFAUJEWELRY.COM AUTHENTIC JEWELRY, MONEY PROPS FOR HISTORICAL & PERIOD FILMS & SERIES MARCH, APRIL & MAY OPEN HOUSE MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 10AM - 4PM SANDWICHES AND BEVERAGES FOR MEMBERS OF LOCAL 892 & LOCAL 705 Come see how we manufacture reproductions of ancient jewelry all the way to present day designs 310.923.6222 Mfg Studio 412 West 6th Street, Suite 611 I Downtown LA Minutes from anywhere I Pershing Square Station SALES, RENTALS & CUSTOM MANUFACTURING EVERYDAY