Artist Bailout: $50 Million Not Enough
by R.J. ThomasSo it turns out that HR1, Obama’s giant stimulus bill that’s going to save the world, one contraceptive, lawn care company, STD prevention program at a time has a little coin for all us starving artists. Well, probably not all us starving artists. Probably only the ones who are government and NEA approved. You know, all those right-wing expressionist types. However, if you think the currently allocated $50 million just isn’t enough (the cost of camel hair brushes being what they are these days) there’s a handy petition you can click over to (conveniently listed at the bottom of this post, so as not to divert your attention from this scintillating prose) where a group of artist is requesting a meager 1% (that’s $8.19 billion of the current $819 billion dollar behemoth) stimulus bill while simultaneously asking that President Obama appoint a Secretary of the Arts.
Hey, I’m all for it. I mean, there are at least a dozen black-box theaters in the Valley that could use a coat of paint. And it’s imperative that at this time of world-wide crises, where the country is engaged in two wars, we take the time to really bear down and work on a getting top flight Secretary of the Arts. It’s just what we need because… uh… of…uh… you know. I mean, come on people!
And as filmmakers I feel we should get a crack at the cash (though I regret not being able to apply for it in person as my Gulfstream is in the shop). “Our generation deserves no less.”
I mean if you think about it, a film really fits well into the whole stimulus plan. It’s an expensive, short-term project that pays a select group of people a relatively high wage and if we start working on one right now, we probably won’t get it off the ground for at least a year, maybe two if we really drag out development. Perfect! Who’s in with me? I have a million ideas. In fact, I think this is the perfect opportunity to do that great Horatio Alger adaptation I’ve been dreaming about.
(http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/artsstimulus/index.html)
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34 Comments
I wish I had thought of starting a petition in the late ’80’s when the oil market fell out it Texas and arts funding dried up. I could of stuck around and ask for a gov’ment handout. Instead I move to NYC where there was more work. Silly me…
Of course we need government support for the arts. Why, look at how things were back in the days of van Gogh, Bach, and Rembrandt! Nothing good ever got done, as compared to today when we can rest easy knowing the government will gladly shell out for such works as “Piss Christ.”
Who else is scared by the idea of a “Secretary of the Arts”?
Sounds a bit too Communist China/USSR to me.
Does anyone have a compelling argument for how MORE government intervention (see: Regulation) would stimulate free artistic expression?
Actually, Bush II signed a bill which gave the NEA $144.7 million for this year already. So the $50 will likely be in addition to the normal funding, which will probably also increase.
You have to remember all that cool art promoting FDR and the “New Deal” during the depression. Bam can’t save the country with socialism without documenting his coolness for future generations. Ergo the $50 mill.
Massive government art subsidies are not new phenomena:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA_w68UBpOo
They sort of tend to make sure the artists who get the bucks remember which side they’re on.
Yes. If art has to be paid for with tax money forceably extracted from people who otherwise never have paid for it, it’s not worth it. I say it should be bought by people who like it and want it, just like movies and novels.
What a concept, huh?
are you going to spearhead a return to the patronage system?
Which patronage system are you referring to? The one where your art has to appeal to the masses/rich individuals to sell or the one where it has to appeal to a small self referenced set of politically connected elites to get a grant?
I can accept “government art”, under the proviso that it appeals to a large cross section of the people who paid for it, the taxpayers. Otherwise it’s nothing more than another porkbarrel earmark. And that doesn’t mean subsidizing Wagner for the Mercedes set’s night out, either.
STD prevention = Stimulus??????? Isn’t that how you get it in the first place?
Why don’t we just stop the endless cash flow to Israel that costs us BILLIONS every year. There is no excuse giving a foreign country – especially one practicing Apartheid (former ally of Apartheid South Africa – did you know that?) one cent while we are running deficits and are over 35 trillion in the hole. STOP IT.
No wait, Terry, I got a better idea, how about we DOUBLE the amount of money we give to Israel? We can also stop giving money to Hamas & Hezbollah and use that money for the Israelis also. Now THAT’S a good idea, wouldn’t you say, Terry?
Terry,
We get it, you hate Jews.
Now, please try submitting a comment on ANY article on the site that has nothing to do with Israel.
Just once.
Leigh Scott – January 29th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
“Really? All the money the country wastes and you’re worried about the J3ws?”
No, about Isarel – a country that attacked a US ship and murdered those on board and committed a false flag act of terror against us – the Lavon Affair.
“The only democracy in the middle of a bunch of loons who want to kill Western civilization.”
Why don’t you just read Israel’s propagand word-for-word. Much easier than thinking, I’m sure. Israel is as Eastern and anti-West as any of those other “baked in the sun” religious kooks. Look at their flag – religious symbol on it. Hard to deny that, huh?
“Do you even understand the word apartheid? Do you know how off base that is in any legitimate discussion of the Israeli state?”
It fits so well with the illegal settlements in the West Bank that a former US president used it to describe what they are and what they will have to be unless they stop standing in the way of a two-state solution.
Morgan – January 29th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
“We can also stop giving money to Hamas & Hezbollah and use that money for the Israelis also.”
Go ahead and state, for the record, how much is given to each of those parties mentioned. Bet you won’t.
Alex – January 29th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
“Please stop responding to Mr. Terry. He is an attention seeker trying to rile us up. I’m sure we all have better things to do with our time than deal with an anti-Semitic conspiracy theorist.”
Asking about foreign aid to the parties being discussed is rather anti-Semitic, since the Israelis hate having that information discussed else their parasitic existance come to light. No, they are much happier when the goy population is distracted with those entertaining shows they produce for us. “Programming” they call it.
But of course. And here I was thinking that one of the fringe benefits of our recession was that funding for the garbage that passes for art these days would dry up. Silly me.
Two excellent candidates who come to mind; the NYC street artist who did the giant blow up of Richard Fuld then stuck it outside of Lehman Bro’s then invited the public to write captions – and the Excellent mock up of Wall Streets famous Bronze Bull – the Upside down Blue Bull melting into the pavement.
I guess I could shed my conservative qualms if along with the 50$ Billion the New Minister of Artsy Fartsy once in power decided to go matching funds via old school marxist land reform – by seizing and liquidating the private mansions and financial holdings knuckleheads like Fuld and Madoff have stashed away.
Seriously this comes as a surprise? Obama, for all the fawning mezmerizing cult-like swooning, needed legions of left leaning community theater tropes to fan out and follow up their $25-$200 contributions by way of amazing old fashioned grass roots politicing. Who do you THINK paid for all those rent a vans to shuttle the homeless from ACORN to the polls – or who drove?
The big bucks came from out in Hollywood, but the boots on the ground made the difference in Fla, Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, Indiana & Ohio. Yes he had a financial meltdown to prod the masses – but he flat out out-huskings the usually robust GOP – and put together an impressive electorial coilition.
Wasn’t it just ’special’ that WGN Chicago just happened to run AND THE CRADLE WILL ROCK on the same day they Booted Blogo ‘outta there’ & When the Great One just shoved his idea of a stimula##sss in the congressional GOP’s face. He ‘hoped for change’ to the tune of 80 or so conservative votes – but thus far has zippo.
This guy is smart. The great one is trying to save the country and those stodgy republicans ALL VOTE NO. This after Obama got Pelosi to nix the condoms and abortion hustle off the adgenda? I hate to say this but it’s round one to the Big O. Perception is reality & he hardly needs the MSM to tank for him on this score. He’s boxed conservatives into a corner AND lowered expectations – AND WILL SPREAD GOOD CHEER TO THE ELECTORIAL COILITION WHO PUT HIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
For most of the grant chattering classes 100$ Billion has a better ring, but they will ’sacrifice’ for the 50 even if means cozying up to Fifty Cent – and never let us forget their creative ways to spend it – nor mythological ‘jobs created’ yarns to excuse the pathetic largess.
StevenW,
You wrote:
Next time you see a 14 foot tall marble statue that takes your breath away and was made here in the USA, take a moment to check your sarcasm because the 2-3 years it took that sculptor to make it was likely fueled by mac and cheese.
If you can’t afford to work as an artist, maybe you should be working in some other field? If you’re that worried about not making enough money to live on, maybe you should reconsider what you’re doing with your life?
Sorry.. I’ve had way too many times in my life where I was scrimping and saving and living on “mac and cheese” to feel that any artists “deserves” money just because of the choices they made in career selection.
“Terry – January 29th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Morgan – January 29th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
“We can also stop giving money to Hamas & Hezbollah and use that money for the Israelis also.”
Go ahead and state, for the record, how much is given to each of those parties mentioned. Bet you won’t.”
I don’t know how much goes to either party, Terry, and it doesn’t matter. We don’t give enough to Israel and too much to Hamas/Hezbollah. America & Israel forever!
Since artists are using bullsh!t as a medium today, maybe they could save money by using the neverending supply of it over at Congress.
Guantanamo is for closing shortly,…but although everyone is worry where those terrorists are going to be, I think there is no need for apprehnsion,…not at all.
Perhaps after this dumb move , the brand new president will do another even dumber one,…perhaps he will put the terrorists in the basement of the White House , or in the basement of Camp Davis, or the president will order remodelation of some office-areas right there in the Capitol to acomodate the ‘new guests’.
You know, the possibilities are indeed, infinite, in terms of any kind of ‘plan’ for whatever thing,….and now that that the so called ’stimulus’, or ‘rescue-package’ ,…anyway you want to call it…is getting out of hand……uuuhhh!!! …..this is just a lot of material for an adventure book series better than Harry Potter, don’t you think?
But then again, this is what the democrats wanted , right?, and so they push the envelope with all types of tricks,…FRAUD, DECEPTION , EXTORTION, etc, and others goodies.
And here we are right at the border of the abys,….well, that is life , some times.
So it is said that:”….the war against terror is over…” because Pres Obama signed a paper with his left hand (IT LOOKS THAT HE IS A REAL ‘LEFTY’),…he signed that paper enunciating the end of the war against terror ! ,,,WOW !
Can you swallow that one ? I believe that everyone knows tha the terrorist WILL NOT STOP AT NOTHING.
And so, with this silly document that does not adds NOTHING TO THE EQUATION and the CIA in the hands of someone equal to ZERO in national security, and the dismantleling of the way of interrrogating our enemies, EVERYONE SHOULD AND MUST UNDERSTAND THAT ALL THIS IS A GREAT RECIPE FOR WELCOME ANOTHER ATTACK TO OUR COUNTRY !
But perhaps I am wrong , perhaps the terrorists will come down and start drinking cofee, or tea with americans and others from the free world and even send gifts to all of us.
Who knows, perhaps even unicorns start talking on TV interviews, and elves, and trolls ( finally in harmony), will ask for a bail-out to the Obama admistration,…all is possible, right?
An regarding Mr Limbaugh?,…it looks obvious, Pres Obama seems to feels kind of insecure for he knows that that silly latest bail-out proposal is a monumental joke and a clear and open cheating to the people who wanted him in presidency.but then again let’s say I am incorrect,….so what’s next?
Well, check the dyanamics:
The circle is now complete, – (yes, just like the phrase in ‘STAR WARS’) .
Gaithner- the IRS cheater with the hand in our money, Pelosi- preventing population expansion with contraceptives to save some more money for the CROOKS AND THIEVES FROM THE ORIGINAL ECONOMIC MESS. (good that this insane idea seems to be out,…it is really ?,…you never know with these politicians)
Obama closing Guantanamo and perhaps puting terrorist in the basement of the White House or at Camp Davis , or at office-space in the Capitol itself!, and on top of that Holder – a terrotist advocate ready to perhaps coordinate tourist tours, and entertainment for the terrorist around United States,….AAHH!! do not forget ,- Barney Frank giving bail-out money (‘HELPING’) his favourite bank.
Welll , that is about right ,…that people, is what to expect from this NEW ORDER & CHANGE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
But the best ( actually the worst ),…is yet to come.
Pease, do not choke on your pop-corn,….just watch the show in calm !–he-he-he-he
Sleep well,
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville, Indiana
“If you can’t afford to work as an artist, maybe you should be working in some other field? If you’re that worried about not making enough money to live on, maybe you should reconsider what you’re doing with your life?
Sorry.. I’ve had way too many times in my life where I was scrimping and saving and living on “mac and cheese” to feel that any artists “deserves” money just because of the choices they made in career selection”.
I think you miss my point entirely. I do have another job not related to my field and work both night and day and I am not an advocate for govt. funding of the Arts, unless it is for public work, public land=public work and not privately funded etc. That said, the MSM have singled out yet another segment of society “The Artists” and villified them.. This occurs not only from the left wing perspective (which it overwhelmingly does), but also on the right and innocent people are damaged by it. Nevermind that Nazi Pelosi will get double or triple what the NEA will to pay for condoms.. Let’s all just beat up some artists and elevate our own hyperbole..
I think a Secretary of the Arts would be Double Plus Good. Who’s with me?
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