From the Globe and Mail:
The federal government is making a three-year $342-million investment in the arts, including a $306.5-million increase in the budget for the Canada Council for the Arts, Heritage Minister Liza Frulla announced Wednesday.
“Today I am proud to demonstrate to Canadians the government of Canada's commitment to artists and the arts,” Ms. Frulla told a news conference attended by some 100 members of the country's artistic community.
I've never understood that attitude. Why do we need the government to be committed to the arts? Why can't you and me handle that ourselves? How complicated can it be?
As an example, we let the government manage the allocation of radio frequencies. That's a complicated technical issue. We let the government hire experts, then we all agree to abide by the rules.
If we did it ourselves, it would be chaos.
What chaos would ensue if Canadians were entrusted with that $342 million dollars to spend as they see fit? Well, I suppose some of use would take our share and spend it on diapers and food and rent and maybe a movie.
Uh-oh -- I see the problem.
Movies? I was hoping to go see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire this weekend, from the masters of movie magic, the Americans.
I guess I should go see Exiles in Lotusland from the National Film Board:
The beckoning road west in search of self. Like a quarter of Vancouver's itinerant youth, Melo and Ti-criss made the trip all the way from Quebec, seeking escape and adventure, maybe the meaning of life. For now, their only certainty is love. From east to west, from the streets to a hotel, with a welcome interlude in the country, they seek their place in society, but often find only boredom.
Oh great, a movie about boredom.
But at least it's about Canadian boredom.
Do you know what the real reason is that I don't watch these films? I've already paid to watch them! The same goes for looking at Canadian sculpture, or reading Canadian literature. Our taxes, in the range of hundreds of millions, have already been collected and distributed. Presumably some bureaucrat is paid to watch these movies and has watched it for me.
Why would I spend the time and spend the money to do it again? For crying out loud, I'm already paying a guy to do that.
So here's my share of that $342 million. Just remember your promise. If I give you this money, you're not going to bug me to go see whatever it is that you do.
Got it? Good. Now back to watching Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
