Tuesday, December 21, 2010

ART AND FISCAL PRIORITIES

Considering the serious state of our economy it is normal for various government funded projects to come under increased scrutiny. That is certainly the case of the recent removal of a specific piece of federal funded art from the National Portrait Gallery. Here is a link to a Washington Post article addressing the situation:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/30/AR2010113004647_pf.html

After reading this shocking article it does not take a genius to understand why the arts are losing government funding. When many of our fellow American citizens are struggling to find a job, pay bills, and provide shelter for their families, it is appalling to find our government funding art projects such as those identified in the Post article.

Art is one thing that has many defining tastes, but this is rubbish and a perfect example of the inappropriate use of our scarce federal dollars. If some damn fool wants to fund projects of this nature with their own money that is their business, but art aficionados are putting themselves in peril of losing all support with exhibits of this nature.

Considering the fact that we are all sacrificing to get our economy back into good order, the art world should expect to share the pain as well. It is time to close the federal feed bag for the gluttonous art world.

COMMANDER GRANGER

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