Controversy Over Tax Funds for Arts Agency

The debate over the allocation of funds directed by the NEA seems destined to consume us. The NEA has worked itself into this situation by way of a policy which prefers to support the artist rather than his or her particular works of art. The critics have decided, and perhaps rightly so, that the taxpayers are not obligated to support the lifestyle of an artist when that lifestyle is controversial.

If someone asked me to help an artist who had left his wife, forsaken his children, abused his friends and now needed a little money to vacation in the islands, I’d say forget it. But if you showed me a painting of Gauguin’s, now that would be different.

DAVID C. REUTTER

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