Pawlenty likes you better when you're unemployed

Monday, February 2, 2009

Pawlenty likes you better when you're unemployed

In Minnesota Gov. Pawlenty's new budget, he wants to eliminate the State Arts Board by 2011 and convert it in to a private nonprofit board. It is not clear whether he expects this private board to oversee the distribution of Legacy Amendment money for the arts. He also wants to convert the Perpich Center for the Arts in to a private charter school, among other arts and culture-related cuts.

Here's an excellent editorial that lays out well why this seems like a bad idea. My favorite line at the moment: "Every dollar the state invests in art — by way of the State Arts Board or the Regional Councils or any other way — guarantees a return on investment of $11."

And here's a rant from Dominic Papatola that makes it personal. Perhaps not as deliberate or persuasive as the editorial above but, you know, funnier. "Maybe the arts ran over his lawn with its car," writes Papatola. (Ah, yes, I remember that wild evening with the arts. It was the absinthe that kept us from recognizing Pawlenty's lawn.)

For just some straight-up objective reporting, look here and here .

I thought elections were held to let politicians know what the people think. The people in this state seem to have said, loud and clear, that they value their arts and culture legacy and think its worth supporting through government. Why are we still under attack both disproportionate to other government cuts and wildly disproportionate to the value the voters say the arts bring to the state? Seriously. I'm confused.

I suppose a person can try to draw a rational line between the Legacy Amendment and the arts funding cuts -- like, "you got your money in the constitution, so give us this money back." But, since that money hasn't been collected or disbursed yet and since the state arts board (if it still exists) is best able to distribute that money (if it ever comes), I just go back to being confused.

If I didn't know better -- I don't really know better -- I'd wonder why Pawlenty prefers artists in unemployment lines instead of contributing to schools, the economy, and the general welfare of the state.

—Posted at 12:11 pm by Alan