On the basis of defending morality for America, these reactionary politicians are really only interested in retaining arts that have broad commercial appeal or can be sold at a profit. And they have all but succeeded in their goal of abolishing government funding. They can go to art museums and see all they want for free. Artists should sell their work on the free market, just like Shakespeare did. Unfortunately, Schlafly is very misinformed.
Art museums survive only because of government and corporate funding.
Shakespeare was sponsored by the queen and was forced to write history as she saw fit. He didn't become rich because of his entrepreneurship. The year Robert Maplethorpe received his grant, his was one of only two of the 4600 awarded by the NEA, considered obscene. Arguments such as Schlafly's would be ludicrous if they weren't taken seriously. They are typical of the attitude of our political system.