(Musicians) Groban, Marsalis, press Congress for arts funding

AP via Google ^ | 4-1-2009 | BRETT ZONGKER

[prismsinc]

Want a piece of that Obama trillion dollar toilet paper, eh?

[earlJam]

Fine. Let’s enact a movie tax. And music CD tax.

And we will give all the proceeds to the arts.

[pikachu]

And how much of their own $$$ goes to the cause from these very rich people?

[Kimmers]

Considering the millions a number of these entertainers make, couldn't they fund their own arts?

[a fool in paradise]

Let’s have a car tax and give the money to Ford and Chevy. Even if you buy Chrysler or Hyundai... < /sarc >

[Westbrook]

You think people who make millions a year from their “art” would be able to start their own fund to patronize the arts rather than ripping me off to fund such grand artistic efforts as “Annie Sprinkle”, Madonna with elephant dung, and crucifix in urine, just to name a few.

It’s bad enough we get ripped-off to pay for the effete, anti-American snobbery of National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Let them fund the “arts”.

[a fool in paradise]

It’s always about spending other peoples money.

[LS]

I’m doing a chapter for my next book, “Eight Events That Changed America,” and one is the arrival of the Beatles, how it revitalized rock, and how rock then helped bring down the Iron Curtain. (Obviously, RR the main actor, but there were a lot of components). Anyway, what is abundantly clear is that IF there had been government sponsorship of the arts, virtually NONE of the protest music or countercultural rock groups we celebrate today as “classics” would have existed, let alone made the important music they did.

[LottieDah]

“Considering the millions a number of these entertainers make, couldn’t they fund their own arts?”

Seems like they have a one way pocket. The money goes in, and doesn’t come out especially for funding.

[Betis70]

Strange, Duke Ellington didn’t have a government handout, why does Mr Marsalis think the next generation requires one?

[opus86]

Better yet, cut taxes on everyone so parents and kids have more money to buy iPods, art supplies, museum passes, or theater tickets, if they so choose.

[vpintheak]

Damn Straight! These punks have more than enough money to fund themselves. Quit trying to screw the taxpayers!

[montesquieu]

Congress wants money for farts funding?! What?

[absolootezer0]

marsalis? alot. i don’t agree with his request for federal funding, but give this man his due, he’s been working for over 20 years giving his own money and time as well as organizing fundraisers around the world and convincing others to donate their time and money to promote the arts.
i met him when i was in high school when he stopped at all the high schools to talk to the students while he was in town giving a concert. he didn’t get paid to come see us, he wasn’t even invited, he called (ok, probably his manager or some one like that mase the call) and asked permission to come talk to us.

marsalis is one that puts his money where his mouth is.

[Travis T. OJustice]

If the people cared enough, it would be economically viable on it’s own. If it needs funding, there’s not enough interest to make taxpayers pay for it.

[Travis T. OJustice]

[a fool in paradise]

For rewarding the politically correct class.

[Travis T. OJustice]

He is a good dude, who does what he preaches. Ronstadt, the pig, on the other hand, should just STFU.

[absolootezer0]

Strange, Duke Ellington didn’t have a government handout, why does Mr Marsalis think the next generation requires one?

the NEA.

if they weren't ripping off so much taxpayer money that's meant for schools, parents would be able to afford to fund this themselves.

what he should be lobbying for is complete overhaul of the school system, that'd make a bigger difference than anything else.