Paul,
I am sure we are saying the same thing, only drawing the line in a different place. I definitely think we need Art in the schools, and since they are Public schools, I support tax dollars being spent for Art teachers and supplies to teach ALL kids about art. (Crafts is some other definition, and what I think of Crafts is some sort of crap that people do in their kitchen, and then try and sell at some "festival" in the Park.)
I have serious doubts that you will be cruising the grade school Art Shows, and looking for pieces that "move" you, and you will pop down enough dollars for lil'Johnny's finger painting, that the school can hire a teacher and buy the supplies.
And I would guess that many of the artists that do the Bronze's you auction off, got their start in Art during Mrs. Hubblewinker's art class in 3rd grade. You gotta plant the seeds, and nurture them, if you want a crop later.
One of my favorite classes I ever took in College was a Ceramics class from a dope smoking proffessor(sic).
We used to stand around the Kiln, as a big group, on Friday afternoons, drinking Heineken and discussing the problems of the world.
So Paul, I don't know that I care too much about the issues around the NEA and the "subsidy". I don't see that expenditure of tax dollars ruining my hunting and fishing, nearly as much as the subsidy to
Welfare Ranchers!