Kansans suffered a painful embarrassment several years ago when a ruthlessly conservative school board rewrote its definition of science, paving the way for "intelligent design" to be taught alongside evolution in public schools. The decision since has been reversed, and sensible Kansans' facial muscles only recently recovered from their collective cringe. Now, though, they wince at a different sort of political horror: Newly elected governor Sam Brownback plans to issue executive orders eliminating the Kansas Arts Commission. (Brownback's budget report for Fiscal Year 2012 is sub-titled, "Happy New Year, Art Fags.")
If Brownback is successful in abolishing this state agency, Kansas would be the only state in the nation -- including the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands -- without a state-funded arts commission.
Really, Brownback?
The justification, of course, is a budget deficit. But Henry Schwaller, chairman of the Kansas Arts Commission, points out that the half-mill "saved" in the short term "will have a ripple effect on other sectors of the economy, and Kansas will actually lose money." The move, the commission states, would result in a monetary loss of nearly three-fold for the state: $778,300 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, plus $437,767 in partnership money from the Mid-America Arts Alliance. Not to mention countless jobs in the public and private sectors. Ripple effect, indeed.
But maybe it's not the state budget that drives the new governor. Perhaps Brownback, who threw his hat into the 2008 presidential election and likely has designs on the next one, views this move as draconian means of pleasing deep-pocketed fans among his fellow ideologues. "Want to keep government out of, well, everything?" he seems to be saying. "Then I'm your man."
Meanwhile, it's the people of Kansas -- most pointedly, its children -- who will suffer, as myriad organizations and programs fostering creativity and artistic expression go the way of the dinosaur (and other now-fossilized life forms that vex folks like Brownback, who raise their hands against the idea of evolution).
The Kansas Arts Commission (which has suspended all FY2012 programs and grants) wisely has focused its defense on fiscal talking points, on the jobs and federal funding and matching grants and dollars, dollars, dollars that will be lost, but many of us in the Sunflower State can't help but focus on what else we stand to lose: creative opportunity, education, collaboration, expression and joy. Where challenging evolution theory was an affront to the intellect of a state, this latest move by the Far Right is an affront to its very soul.
Forget all that, if you like. These are tough times. We need to be sensible. But this solution to budget problems doesn't make sense. We'll find out soon whether the state legislature -- which may vote to reject Brownback's pending order -- agrees.
http://www.rationalpublicradio.com/kentucky-considers-teaching-bible-in-public-school.html
I am sad that he himself doesn't realize this, and even sadder that none of his relatives or loved ones have gently pointed it out to him.
And I am hurt (literally) that our dear home state has to take it in the beep. Dropping the arts commission is nuttin compared to what the Koch brothers have in store for us.
Join me in calling for (and contributing to) Sam's VERY early retirement!
By contrast, Brownback's plan calls for the KAC to become a private nonprofit with no state support (following $200,000 in the coming fiscal year to phase out state funding). http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/jan/13/brownback-proposes-phasing-out-state-funding-kansa/
Thanks again for your comment.
It is my opinion that Brownback won the election because of name recognition. The Democrats had nobody of any political statue to run against him. We can also thank the Koch brothers---they bought him and are now running the state. Brownback is just a channel for them. It also seems to be pretty much accepted that he is only interested in being governor as a step to the presidency, so his policies are based on that, not on what is good for Kansas.
This is by far not the only and not the worst very short term cut he is making which will only hurt the state now and for years into the future.
All I can hope at this point is that at least some of the people who elected him will realize that he doesn't care about or serve them and vote him out next election. It's going to be a long four years.
The factor that is thought of in the arts is the pleasure that it can bring, AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? Without the ecstasy of enjoying the arts, we would be like animals in the wild. Well thank goodness we have art created by nature, the flowers and trees and the skies above, and if it was possible, some dunderheads would take those away too!!
There are many fine museums and art venues throughout Kansas, in large cities and small towns. If the lack of an Arts Commission creates a lack of funding for cultural opportunities, it will only hurt the young people in the state. They need to know that there is more in our world than they see in their immediate neighborhood. They need the opportunity to experience cross cultural arts and music. In the Kansas I knew that was difficult to find. By cutting back on arts funding, it will be impossible.
Voters in Kansas, do not let this happen. Your children need to experience arts and culture in all forms.
Unfortunately, this is a vicious circle. Conservatives don't appreciate art, so they cut funding for art education. Then, because they haven't had any art education, they don't appreciate art and cut funding even further. The GOP wants to entirely eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and possibly even the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/conservative-replublicans_n_812415.html
Looks like billboards will be the only form of art Kansas will have, if Brownback has his way.