may tom coburn spend hours stuck in traffic on the ugliest part of the 405

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This is old news among nonprofit arts geeks now, but the senate voted to cut arts funding from the economic stimulus package. Republican senator Tom Coburn presented an amendment that would prevent funds from being used for any “casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, art center, [or] highway beautification project.”

The zoo animals and I are a little offended that our livelihoods are considered as frivolous and useless as casinos and golf courses. We’re not quite sure why auto-manufacturing is considered a real, stimulus-worthy job, but caring for species that those autos are indirectly wiping out and ensuring that American culture is more than just Pimp My Ride are not.

If you agree with me and the elephants (whose painting projects are now doubly threatened), go here: http://www.capwiz.com/artsusa/home/.

Incidentally, aren’t we in this mess because Wall Street is one giant gambling establishment? And aren’t we already putting a little money into that?

Comments

Don Cummings said…
It's disgusting. And Republicans hate art, always have. However, I am surprised about them leaving out golf courses...
February 11, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Cheryl said…
It's true, golf courses are the "one of these things is not like the others" item on the list. Everything else is good cheap fun for poor people. (Well, except casinos, which are expensive fun for poor people.)
February 12, 2009 at 11:41 AM
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