Georgia will be only state in nation w/o an arts council (Atlanta: how much, good schools)

[WilliamM]

Here's an article: Arts Council elimination prompts Monday march | Atlanta INtown Paper

What do you make of this?

I think it's deplorable, but hardly surprising.

[mike7586]

What is wrong with this state??? The recession is not an excuse as other states are still able to find SOME money for transportation, education, and art.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by mike7586

What is happening to this state?!

Nothing different than almost every other state. Take the time to actually understand the facts.

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=1214

If you take the time to read the article, first...the budget hasn't passed the Senate or been signed yet. Second...the change was made to streamline and eliminate duplication. There are still "arts councils" that perform similar functions. Third...if we have to choose priorities and cut things like public safety or education, then something like an "arts council" isn't all that high on the priority list, at least to me.

[kayrob]

Originally Posted by mike7586

What is wrong with this state??? The recession is not an excuse as other states are still able to find SOME money for transportation, education, and art.

How much time do you have?

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by mike7586

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

My guess (although my mind reading skills suck despite being married) is that is supposed to mean that Georgia is soooooo messed up that you'd need a bunch of time to read all about it.

All I can say is I wonder if some of you folks have actually lived in other states? The way some people trash GA, it seems they think other states are lands of milk and honey with money overflowing to go with their social and transit utopias.

Maybe it's just political and some people can't stand that GA is run by Republicans, so everything here is "messed up" to them. All I can say is check out other states, many of which are run by Democrats.

[mike7586]

Ah, I think I see what they meant. I apologize for the reaction... I can be very sensitive on these boards!

Anyways, I'm from North Carolina (which is run by Democrats) where I have lived for quite awhile. Although they are having problems, their education system as a whole is better than Georgia's (although I think the Atlanta metro has pretty good schools), they can still find money to mow the highways, work together to figure out transportation solutions, and support the arts. I'm only in the state of Georgia because I like Atlanta better than any other city in North Carolina.

[Backinblac]

Ya'll just don't know where you moved. Low priced living comes with a catch here in GA. This is a state that has never valued 'humanites' in it's entire exitstance. People here would rather see prisons built than fund an arts program.

There's no doubt many states in worse econ shape still fund the arts. However, those state have populations that don't have the history of anti-humanist thought that GA has. You're in some ways getting what you pay for assuming you came here for low cost.

[jhtrico1850]

I don't see the big deal in government not sponsoring the arts. Arts Center, Midtown, etc., aren't artsy fartsy enough for you?

[Backinblac]

Originally Posted by mike7586

Ah, I think I see what they meant. I apologize for the reaction... I can be very sensitive on these boards!

Anyways, I'm from North Carolina (which is run by Democrats) where I have lived for quite awhile. Although they are having problems, their education system as a whole is better than Georgia's (although I think the Atlanta metro has pretty good schools), they can still find money to mow the highways, work together to figure out transportation solutions, and support the arts. I'm only in the state of Georgia because I like Atlanta better than any other city in North Carolina.

NC did a great job with RTP. Georgia is playing catch-up and catering to low wage, less skilled type of work.

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Nothing different than almost every other state. Take the time to actually understand the facts.

An Update on State Budget Cuts — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

If you take the time to read the article, first...the budget hasn't passed the Senate or been signed yet. Second...the change was made to streamline and eliminate duplication. There are still "arts councils" that perform similar functions. Third...if we have to choose priorities and cut things like public safety or education, then something like an "arts council" isn't all that high on the priority list, at least to me.

Thanks for posting the CBPP article neil, but I'm not sure I see where it supports your point. Do you have any more information on how the proposed legislation helps reduce waste?