[RationalExpectations]

Originally Posted by tijlover

Back in the 50's, with the tax bracket at 90%, how oh how oh how, during that period, Reagan was able to purchase a home in Pacific Palisades and have a ranch out in the San Fernando Valley?

It is currently 2019.

Please articulate five tax loopholes that exist today -- or that have exited in the past, say, 30 years.

I dare you.

In fact, I double-dog dare you.

[timothyaw]

Originally Posted by tijlover

Art Museums have nothing to do with snobbery. Artists can be very prophetic, ahead of the times. Someone asked Picasso, during the 30's at the advent of WWII, why he painted such ugly and insane characters and his response:

The world is growing uglier and more insane every day, why paint something beautiful!

And, indeed, prophetically so, the world has grown uglier and more insane by the day!

At the Getty Museum last year, I noticed a dozen school buses in the parking ramp, teachers taking their students for museum tours.

That's what's so sadly, pathetically lacking in Las Vegas, an avenue for schoolchildren to experience art works.

The alternative to museums, is allowing graffiti artists to paint murals all around town. And with the hundreds of miles of walls in Las Vegas, there's lots of "canvasses" for graffiti art. Many cities today now have graffiti art bus tours. Las Vegas spends $30 million a year removing graffiti, some of it I deem true art work, that should stay on the walls, to be preserved. And how about taking a portion of that $30 million and hiring top-notch graffiti artists to paint murals around our city, not just in the Art District or downtown. But I'm forgetting how conservative Las Vegas is!

You're forgetting the Smith Center brings school children to events at the theater. Discovery museum as well.

[Dom Cobb]

Originally Posted by JonathanLB

Amen! I can’t think of anything more boring than an art museum. I’m sure if my IQ were a lot lower and I was trying to cover up my insecurities over class status and IQ, I’d probably buy tickets to the ballet and opera and talk about art museums too. Because I probably wouldn’t even know any actual rich people or high society so I wouldn’t realize they all laugh at the upwardly mobile middle class and nouveau riche trying to pretend to fit in... but failing badly at it. What a waste of effort and money. I can’t believe for a second you’re planning trips to the art museum every month no matter where you live. Maybe my social circle doesn’t include enough pretentious snobs to know anyone like that. Thank god!

Seeing artwork in person, is a much more amazing experience than in a book. Having seen Picasso’s Guernica in Spain, you can appreciate his mastery and the energy he had when painting it. It’s a massive work 11’ x 25’ and I think your being a bit simplistic in grading his talent.

If you can’t appreciate the Sistine Chapel, Van Gogh or Jackson Pollack - that’s ok, but but saying an art museum is a waste of money is rather boorish. You don’t need to be wealthy to appreciate it nor pretend to like it. Interestingly enough one of the finest art museums is in Bentonville AK, founded by the Walton Family and I’m sure that many people in AK would agree with your position. Regardless, if there was ever an art museum built in Vegas, I’d attend if the gallery was worth going.

[Commander666]

Aren't there still small galleries in both Bellagio and Venetian?

[Cold Warrior]

but but saying an art museum is a waste of money is rather boorish

Asking the public to subsidize your entertainment is what is truly boorish.

[ND_Irish]

Originally Posted by Commander666

Aren't there still small galleries in both Bellagio and Venetian?

There is a nice art gallery at the Bellagio. In fact, even though we have visited larger art museums in other major cities, my children have not felt deprived when it comes to viewing art in Las Vegas. Over the last several years, we have seen Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room: Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity (we could not see the one at The Broad in Los Angeles due to the wait) and Narcissus Garden, Faberge eggs, a Picasso exhibit, a samurai exhibit, and a Monet exhibit to name just a few.

[08grad]

Originally Posted by RationalExpectations

It is currently 2019.

Please articulate five tax loopholes that exist today -- or that have exited in the past, say, 30 years.

I dare you.

In fact, I double-dog dare you.

That takes research and/or knowledge. I only believe what others tell me to think. Those are the only opinions I can hold without losing likes or friends on social media.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by RationalExpectations

It is currently 2019.

Please articulate five tax loopholes that exist today -- or that have exited in the past, say, 30 years.

I dare you.

In fact, I double-dog dare you.

A man who made $20 million last year, discovers he has a valuable Picasso in his house appraised at $10 million and he wishes to donate it to a museum. How much will that lower his tax load by donating it?

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

Asking the public to subsidize your entertainment is what is truly boorish.

Some find it entertaining to take long joy rides on freeway and city streets, financed by taxpayers.

[Dom Cobb]

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

Asking the public to subsidize your entertainment is what is truly boorish.

Never said art museums should be publicly funded.

We all have different opinions on what we value. My point was to respect others, even if you don’t see value or agree with it.

Opening a discussion of what should be publicly funded entertainment would be a waste of time on this forum.