Bands and Art

Somewhere lost in the shuffle of the NEA debates and arguments over what art the government should fund and even if the government should fund art, is the following fact: The Bush Administration, while cutting the overall military budget, has upped the budget for 91 military bands from $194.1 million to $195.2 million. These 91 bands receive $20 million more than the entire NEA budget. These 91 bands are actually getting an increase in budget while bases that have provided the economic backbone for many areas are closed. These 91 bands appear to buy their instruments from the same place the Pentagon buys those screwdrivers and seat cushions. As an American taxpayer and theater-, concert-, and opera-goer, my family values are one heckuva lot more offended by $20,500,000 per band than they are by $15,000 for an art show that includes genitalia.

JEFF HAGEDORN

North Hollywood