Re: the poll about the downtown sculpture price:
I wonder how this amount figures into the annual budget for the city. I have a few questions myself. What does it cost per year or per night to light up Finley Stadium? What does it cost to mow the rec fields in the city? What does it cost to maintain public golf courses?
Does this $27,000$ price tag happen every week, month or year? I have a difficult time when such polls are put out.
One thing that comes to mind is a quote by a former state senator, David Fowler: "Rule by majority is tyranny."
Art is not just a pretty picture or a statue. It happens to be other things as well.
I am happy the ranters can proceed as they do about such work as this $27,000 wonder. This free society allows it. I hope they can be as considerate about what they spend their personal income on, and make sure it was made in America too. in proportion to annual expenditures. I guess most folks in Chattanooga decorate their homes the old-fashioned way with pictures out of magazines,
heads of animals that didn't make it to the dinner table, and ceramics that never should have been made, much less glazed and fired.
Prentice Hicks
* * *
Like most of the "ranters," I do have pictures from magazines decorating my walls. Catalogs too. Above my desk is a picture of that el spiffo meter I haven't quite been able to rationalize buying, yet, as well as pictures of my children, grandchildren, and others who are important to me. The other walls in my office, being a techie type, are covered with blueprints of projects I've worked on previously. Hay, it's cheaper'n wallpaper and looks better.
Not being a hunter I don't have Bambi's head mounted on my wall. We were always taught that we eat what we catch or kill so there aren't any fish there either. There is an 1878 vintage Enfield rifle someone sent me from Afghanistan a few years ago, with bayonet and certificate of authenticity. There are also some ceramics that my Granny made, as well as kids' art and family memorabilia. There's also the poster a friend once gave me ... it says "Beaten Paths are for Beaten Men."
The point some don't seem to understand is that if they want "art" they're perfectly entitled to put it out on display. They are not, however, entitled to reach into their neighbors' pockets in order to do so.
From the time during which those Greek guys were hanging around the town square talking weird about such things as logic, reasoning, fulcrums and triangles, to the Romans who did likewise, up through the middle ages and the Renaissance, artists like Michaelangelo (the painter and sculptor, not the dude who rides a bicycle up and down the W Road in his skinny nuthin's blocking traffic) would find a sponsor, or patron, to support them as they worked on their creations. In order to accomplish this, they had to provide a product that was considered worthy of that support. Unfortunately, over the past several decades our elected officials have taken it upon themselves to use the public treasury to support what they, or their appointed functionaries, consider "art" and those arteests who would suspend a crucifix in a tank of urine, have a monkey sling paint on a bed sheet, or wrap a bunch of rocks in wire he then calls roast beef. Heck, I could throw some rocks and tree trimmings in a big bucket and we could call it "Turkey Sukiyaki" ... and I wouldn't charge more than a hundred bucks for that.
Where do these Banzai Buckaroos come from? Don't they come from the tax dollars of that single Mom with a couple of little snots who can't get anything more than "we're working on it" from the child support collection agency charged with ensuring that she receives what's ordered by the courts? Don't they also come from the little old lady who's worked all her life to have something in retirement but whose assets are now diminishing rapidly because of her tax liability? Don't they additionally come from old Joe Schmuckatelli who's out there working hard to support his family, only to have half his earnings taken from him under the guise that it's what he owes to operate the government? But then we find every man, woman, and child in this nation, that we know of, owes something on the order of 150 grand just to pay off the national debt.
We have a Tennessee Constitution. We have a United States Constitution. Nary a word in either of these documents gives government the right to spend the public treasure on frivolity such as a box of rocks or a couple of train rails with some driftwood or old railroad ties hanging over them.
It doesn't matter if the money has been "budgeted." When tax paying citizens are losing jobs, perhaps that money needs to be sent back to the people. If tax paying citizens must cut back when times are tough, perhaps government functionaries and elected officials need to do likewise. If they cannot seem to understand that simple fact of reasoning we need to send them home to sit on the bench.
"Government" has very specifically defined purposes enumerated in our Constitutions, neither of which state the function government is to support "the arts" or "arteests." Those who wish to support them are perfectly entitled to do so, but not with public money. Personally, going back to that techie deal, I would appreciate a well designed Rube Goldberg machine more than a box of rocks any day. But I'll build my own rather than crawl to the government looking for a handout. And we complain about "corporate welfare" ...
Isn't it interesting to hear the very same people who spent all of our money last year, increased taxes on cigarettes, and have increased property taxes at thrice the rate of inflation in recent years are now telling us we need to be more frugal? It's enough to make a feller think this might be an election year or something.
For now, I need to go buy some Marlboros. Richard, Bo, and our children depend on those tax dollars and the health department wouldn't have anything to do if I don't. Wonder when they're going to increase taxes on beer and whiskey. Oops, I forgot. The cigarette lobbyist must not wear those expensive suits with gold accouterments.
Royce E. Burrage Jr.
Royce@OfficiallyChapped.org
* * *
Mr. Hicks,
I have no idea how much it costs to light up Finley Stadium or mow the rec fields or maintain the golf courses. I do know that these each of these facilities do, at least, bring in some amount of revenue that goes toward their upkeep.
I also know that I get so tired of some people who act in a condescending manner about other people who oppose their enlightened views: "This free society allows it", "pictures out of magazines........ceramics that never should have been made....."
I think it is simply marvelous that folks such as you are so charitable and understanding. After all, you have to share your world with the crude, primitive, illiterate, and, often, artistically blind fools such as myself. It must be a living Hell for for you, sir. I commend you for your steadfastness.
Since I am such a Neanderthal that I decorate my squalid cave with pictures from magazines, animal heads and ghastly ceramics, I am unable to understand your concern about whether or not I spend my income on things made in America. I suppose this was another slap at those of us who are the lower class.
David Fowler notwithstanding, the Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines "tyranny" as "a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler.." Doesn't say anything about the rule of the majority. Rule of the majority is simply the rule of the majority. It is the only way a free country can continue to remain free. When the minority rules, 'then' it becomes a tyranny (like when the majority of the taxpayers oppose something and the elected officials spend tax money on it anyway).
Ed Bradley
Brainerd
s10drivr@yahoo.com
* * *
And everyone agreed with the emperor that his clothes were really snazzy. (Because he said so it must be so.) . . . Until a child spoke the obvious.
Macel Holloway
Signal Mountain
* * *
Mr./Mrs. Art,
Yes, you can fill your house with whatever art you so desire because it is 'your' money. When it comes to public money, then something must be asked when there are layoffs and foreclosures and $4/galon gas.
Surely as a reasonable public servant, you could find a better way to spend $27,000. If not, then please don't run for public office very soon in Chattanooga.
Donny Armstrong
thearmstrongs1@aol.com