And in these battles, many art communities get squashed. What is most interesting about art is that it sends very complex messages. That complexity is exactly what we need in a democracy. It connects you up with other groups but not in a demagogic way. But our society is full of complicated people.
Art can convey some of that complexity.
The NEA battles are significant because they're not just about culture in an old, high-toned sense. They're about the variety in our present-day society. Some of the same people who say the NEA costs too much want to revive Star Wars, which doesn't work and has no enemy to defend us against. On the other hand, the economic arguments for art are strong. The arts attract a lot of money into cities and have a multiplier effect.