Posted by Joe Baker on May 06, 2003 at 16:11:23:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Our business posted by Bill on May 06, 2003 at 15:40:56:
Please don't think I'm saying that the pop culture is superior!! Not at all. I'm simply saying that choosing which forms of culture are 'worthy' is up to the individual, not the government. Many individuals will undoubtedly make choices *I* consider horrendous. They will not care that I think their choices are horrendous, because I will be doing my thing and they will be doing theirs. But if I tax them to support my interests, or they tax me to support theirs, it just ain't fair.
You do point out what seems to be one little inconsistency (of course, there is no such thing as a 'little' inconsistency) in my thinking that I've not been aware of 'til now. I am a BIG believer in libraries receiving government support, and in historical (as opposed to, say, new art) museums. I've tried to be consistent, calling fowl whether or not I was interested in the entertainment being subsidized; but this presented me with a real dilemma.
For a few minutes, anyway.
The difference is that the library has materials for all patrons. Anybody -- even those who can't read -- can go into a library and find materials that are useful to them. It IS a fairly socialistic enterprise (I've always marvelled that the American Library Assoc. is such a liberal hotbed, now I understand), at that; but I think it's even more egalitarian. It's also libertarian, usually to the point of being libertine. Most libraries don't even have filters to block kids from getting to porn. But there are books to uplift anyone, and books to offend anyone. Music from rock to Bach, C&W to R&B -- I've even found tuba recordings. Citizens take part in the selection of books. Not so the orchestra concerts. Sure, Brahms and Bruckner are plenty different, but a LOT of people care for neither, nor anything in between. And the typical patron has NO voice in the selection of music; you get what the MD says you'll get, and like it!
I think I'm seeing the library as closer to the orchestra than I was before, but I still see enough crucial differences that I can support taxpayer funding of the library, but not of the arts.
Joe Baker, who always learns when he spars with Bill.