Comments on: oregon cultural trust raided for $1.8 million http://www.nobleviola.com/2009/03/05/oregon-cultural-trust-raided-for-18-million/ Life on the working end of the viola. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bob priest http://www.nobleviola.com/2009/03/05/oregon-cultural-trust-raided-for-18-million/comment-page-1/#comment-13209 bob priest Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:03:28 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=2065#comment-13209 Personally, I'm getting tired of what generally passes as "governmental arts support." For that matter, "corporate giving" is often token, as well. As for, lunch-money equivalent, donations from private millionaires - don't get me started! So, what do I propose as an alternate or supplement? Well, what we need here is something along the lines of a national "arts vigilante" movement. What IF every grousing artist and arts patron in the country wrote a check for $10-100? Let's say there are 10 million + of "us" in the U.S. Now, we're seeing some serious dollar signs. Who would manage the fund, you wonder? I dunno. I'm merely an "idea man" with a $100 check at the ready . . . PS I would like to personally thank the government, corporations and private millionaires for their, better than nothing, support. Personally, I’m getting tired of what generally passes as “governmental arts support.” For that matter, “corporate giving” is often token, as well. As for, lunch-money equivalent, donations from private millionaires – don’t get me started!

So, what do I propose as an alternate or supplement? Well, what we need here is something along the lines of a national “arts vigilante” movement. What IF every grousing artist and arts patron in the country wrote a check for $10-100? Let’s say there are 10 million + of “us” in the U.S. Now, we’re seeing some serious dollar signs.

Who would manage the fund, you wonder? I dunno. I’m merely an “idea man” with a $100 check at the ready . . .

PS
I would like to personally thank the government, corporations and private millionaires for their, better than nothing, support.

]]> By: Carl Herko http://www.nobleviola.com/2009/03/05/oregon-cultural-trust-raided-for-18-million/comment-page-1/#comment-13208 Carl Herko Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:37:11 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=2065#comment-13208 This is what happens, I guess, in a state where the constitution requires state government to give back billions of dollars in "kicker" tax refunds to people one year and then make billions in budget cuts the next year. But there's a lesson for all of us in this: If you're inclined to give money to a cultural organization -- and I hope we all are -- give it DIRECTLY to the cultural group, not to the government in the hope that the government will pass it along (if they have nothing better to spend it on). This is what happens, I guess, in a state where the constitution requires state government to give back billions of dollars in “kicker” tax refunds to people one year and then make billions in budget cuts the next year.

But there’s a lesson for all of us in this: If you’re inclined to give money to a cultural organization — and I hope we all are — give it DIRECTLY to the cultural group, not to the government in the hope that the government will pass it along (if they have nothing better to spend it on).

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