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Permalink Reply by Debbie G on April 25, 2011 at 6:51am

May I give an analogy:  If the house is on fire, do you worry about how it is decorated?  Is not the first course of action to save the structure that provides security and shelter to your family?

The city is bankrupt, yet some include the "decorating" items as equally important as the structure and shelter items the city provides it's citizens via our tax dollars.

The reason the cities you mention have lost their "decorating" items has been a result of "cause and effect" of liberal policies, social justice mentalities, and the extinguishing of free market competition void of government legislating to pick winners and losers.  A great example of free market principles being successful when government gets out of the way, Sandy Springs Georgia.  This city privatized many of the previously run city services and now enjoys balanced budget, increased services provided, lower tax base, and increased citizen satisfaction with the government.  http://www.sandyspringsga.org/City-Government/Performance-Reports

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Permalink Reply by Estelle Chisholm on April 25, 2011 at 12:45pm

Yes, this is a good analogy.  Yes, we have to get the house in order and balancing the budget is the prime agenda for the new administration.  I was looking beyond the obvious borders regarding funding for the ARTS or lack thereof and realize I was putting the cart before the horse. After speaking with Maggie Bulen who is a volunteer in Mike Hogan's campaign headquarters this morning, I feel Mike is the better man for the job of mayor. Maggie said that  Mike also feels that Jacksonville needs the ARTS to make this a well-rounded city.  He cannot and will not say what he will cut until he looks at the books. Alvin Brown can promise the moon, even stating that he would not defund the ARTS, but, if he is like the guy occupying Our White House, words are cheap and telling blatant lies are the rule of the land nowadays, it seems. Thank you for your reply.

Debbie G said:

May I give an analogy:  If the house is on fire, do you worry about how it is decorated?  Is not the first course of action to save the structure that provides security and shelter to your family?

The city is bankrupt, yet some include the "decorating" items as equally important as the structure and shelter items the city provides it's citizens via our tax dollars.

The reason the cities you mention have lost their "decorating" items has been a result of "cause and effect" of liberal policies, social justice mentalities, and the extinguishing of free market competition void of government legislating to pick winners and losers.  A great example of free market principles being successful when government gets out of the way, Sandy Springs Georgia.  This city privatized many of the previously run city services and now enjoys balanced budget, increased services provided, lower tax base, and increased citizen satisfaction with the government.  http://www.sandyspringsga.org/City-Government/Performance-Reports

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Permalink Reply by Tim Ghee on April 26, 2011 at 8:33pm

Did Mr. Brown state how he would fund the Arts???

 

Wake up

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Permalink Reply by Estelle Chisholm on April 26, 2011 at 10:20pm

Tim Ghee said:

Did Mr. Brown state how he would fund the Arts???

 

Wake up

.I'm awake, thank you! If you watched the debate you would not ask the question. He sure does believe in "hope and change", though. I guess you could describe him as Obama, Jr.

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Permalink Reply by Valerie Sawyer on April 28, 2011 at 9:01am

Ms. Chisholm, if there are enough citizens in Jacksonville like yourself who care about the Arts, then you all should get together and donate money or have fundraisers to support them, not use tax dollars to do it. We must start changing our mindset. It is not the government's job to fund Arts, that is the citizens' job. In many years gone by, the Arts had "patrons", people such as yourself who committed to donating so much money to various artists or art events to keep them afloat financially. Art is not a job of government. And just so you know, I am a musician, so I am not "anti Arts". We just have to put things back in their proper place. When there is no money for food, the parents don't go out and buy a ferrari. Gov't has to learn that same principle.

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