Art Subsidies

Theodore Bikel in “Cheap Way to Make Hay at Expense of Culture” (Op-Ed Page, March 15) seems to confuse freedom of expression with entitlement to subsidy.

Many taxpayers do not object to the creation of art which they might find offensive, but resent the notion that they must have their sensibilities insulted at their expense.

Some of us even dabble in art ourselves, but we lack the unmitigated gall to expect others to involuntarily pay for us so we don’t have to get a job doing something constructive in society.

Furthermore, to compare art subsidies against federal endowment to science is absurd. Science seeks physical truth, with that attainment driven by continued progress.

Art is entirely subjective with no appeal to anything beyond superficial and highly personal tastes--in fact most artists cringe at being universally appealing.

Hence, I submit that American taxpayers are not obligated to support would-be taxi drivers from leaving their studios. If artists want funding, let them find patrons who appreciate their efforts and leave us unenlightened hoi polloi alone.

G.W. THIELMAN

Ridgecrest