[NEohioPAL]What If There Were No Arts?

[E.B. Smith]

I feel that by not providing funding for artistic endeavors we are
robbing Children of their exposure to the arts.  It doesn't compare to
simply not offering up a television or automobile or air conditioning.
 Experiencing the arts is an integral part of education.  The more
children understand the fine arts, the better they perform on tests,
and in the workforce.  It inspires creativity.  It is an intellectual
tool that cannot be compared to a piece of property.  Your argument
can be equated to witnessing a child being beaten, and doing nothing,
or someone starving and not offering up a piece of bread.  Just
because no one does anything doesnt mean nothing should be done.

Everyone on this list has had exposure to the arts.  We are among a
very fortunate group.  We have the literary wealth of Shakespeare to
Miller and visual goldmine of Monet to Lichtenstein.  We have
experienced the arts and love them, otherwise we wouldn't sift through
50 emails a day from this listserv.  I would like to give my younger
cousins, and their friends, etc.. the same opportunity to choose to
love the arts.  By not giving them that option, I'm choosing to deny
them of this wealth completely.

As to the tax issue, I agree that taxing cigarettes may not be the
most effective way to raise these funds, sure.  But the truth is, no
matter what was taxed, this argument for the abolition of this tax
would be raised by somebody.  I choose to smoke.  It is an activity
that is not welcomed by many.  if that majority is going to vote for a
ban on smoking, that is their decision, and I must abide by it or pay
the fine.  it's how a democracy works.  Plus, just like oil, which we
are all addicted to, I will, and you probably will too give tacit
approval to this tax when you light up after it is ratified.

On 8/11/06, misha at cheshire-grin.net <misha at cheshire-grin.net> wrote:
> E.B.,
>    As a smoker in the local arts community, I'm not so quick to say a "ma=
jority"
> of us smoke.  Atleast not any more.  And yes, oil companies are making re=
cord
> profits but as much as I don't like it, that is not really theft; it's pr=
icing a
> commodity at a price the market is willing to pay.  And we prove we're re=
ady,
> willing, and able to pay it everytime we pull up to the pump.
>    As for the extra tax on cigarettes, I'm personally torn.  I'm very hap=
py that
> the money will be going to the arts, but I still can't whole-heartedly su=
pport
> the tax.  After all, I'm a smoker, as I said.  Instead of taxing cigarett=
es or,
> as Tom suggested, alcohol, why not tax gasoline?  Or bread?  Or an extra =
property
> tax?  Or any of a dozen other things that a wider range of people spend m=
oney on?
>  The only answer I can come up with is simply because smokers have become=
 the
> major political persona non-grata of the last decade or so, and therefore=
 it's
> "okay" to tax them (or should I say "us") more heavily.  If there's anoth=
er
> reason for it, I don't see it.  And personally, I don't feel that that's =
okay at
> all.  I didn't think so before I started smoking and I don't think so now=
.
>    Meanwhile, I also feel that you cross the line by saying that in not
> supporting the arts, someone is "robbing" a child of something.  In point=
 of
> fact, they are not.  They are not PROVIDING it, no, but that is not the s=
ame
> thing as theft by a long shot.  No more than that it's theft when you don=
't give
> up your television set or automobile or air conditioning to provide it to=
 someone
> else.  I won't stand resolute and proclaim that narrow-focus taxation is =
theft,
> either, but it's alot closer to it than simply not supporting the arts.  =
By a
> long shot.
>     In short, I think you're both a bit off base, unfortunately I think y=
ou're
> further off than Tom is.  And while I haven't seen the Red Cross commerci=
al in
> question, I STRONGLY disagree with it.  You ask nicely because you ARE, i=
n fact,
> asking for something that isn't, by rights, YOURS.  And when something is=
n't
> yours to take you are only left with two options:  asking and theft.  So =
if your
> through asking nicely, which option is left?
>
> W. Michael Broughton
>
>
> On Fri Aug 11 10:14 , "E.B. Smith"  sent:
>
> >Dear Tom,
> >
> >I would like to ask if you were a member of the local arts community.
> >But in point of fact, I don't need to because if you were, you would
> >realize that a good number, if not a majority of local artists SMOKE.
> >Myself included.  And yet, I don't see any reason why this tax should
> >not be implemented.  To answer your question, if we, as a community of
> >artists could afford to fund the arts solely on our own, we would.
> >There isn't a theater or a studio in the world that doesn't need or
> >couldn't use more money.  We are all underfunded.  Listen, we are now
> >paying rediculous amounts of money for gasoline, and these hiked
> >prices are going straight into the pockets of oil companies that are
> >recording record profits!  THAT is robbery.  An added tax on
> >cigarettes that will aid in the intellectual development of the region
> >and the region's future generations is not.  If you don't want to
> >support the arts, it's your business to steal from our young peoples'
> >development.  THAT would be the REAL crime,  not you having to pay an
> >extra 30 cents.  I don't see this as stealing from anyone, but as the
> >red cross commercial says: "we're tired of asking nicely".
> >
> >-E.B. Smith
> >
> >On 8/11/06, Tom tzandar at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> This is the most disgusting thing I've seen in a while.   Instead of f=
unding
> >> things yourself, you wholly support stealing money from smokers while =
at the
> >> same time no doubt supporting the asinine smoking bans in all public p=
laces
> >> rather then allowing a business to choose to allow smoking.    Are you=
 only
> >> targeting cigarettes for a reason?  Why not alcohol?  Is it because yo=
u
> >> don't mind drinking?
> >>
> >> As a smoker who puts money into the arts, this is just another reason =
to
> >> stop...supporting the arts.  If this legalized theft passes, I will be
> >> shopping in another county and you won't see a dime.  First it was the=
 new
> >> stadium, now it's the arts, what will be next?  Maybe we can have a ta=
x on
> >> top of a tax to pay for new cars for everyone in the "immoral majority=
."
> >>
> >> I fear that the fools in this county will pass this, since it won't co=
st
> >> most of them anything.  Maybe I'll have to get more involved in acting=
,
> >> dress up like a robber and start taking your money for what I want to =
do.
> >> The only difference is that I don't have the force of corrupt county
> >> government behind me.
> >>
> >> If you want to get money coming back into this community, get the tax =
rate
> >> on everything CUT.  People are far more charitable when they have some=
 money
> >> left after all these taxes to give.  Of course, they also want to see =
things
> >> that don't horribly offend them.    That fact seems to be lost on many=
 in
> >> the community.
> >>
> >> Thanks for the list of places to attend and counter this abuse of a mi=
nority
> >> group.
> >>
> >> Tom
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>  A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of=
 the
> >> people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.
> >> Thomas Jefferson
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: jessica colombi
> >> To: neohiopal at lists.fredsternfeld.com
> >> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 10:45 AM
> >> Subject: [NEohioPAL]What If There Were No Arts?
> >>
> >>
> >> Are you aware that YOU will be able to vote this November 7th to suppo=
rt all
> >> of our individual artists, projects, and arts and cultural institution=
s? The
> >> Cuyahoga County Commissioners have placed on the November 7, 2006 ball=
ot a
> >> cigarette excise tax in support of the County's arts and culture secto=
r.
> >>
> >> Here are the facts:
> >>
> >> - The tax is equal to one and one half cents (1=BD cents) per cigarett=
e. A
> >> pack of 20 cigarettes would have a total tax of 30 cents per pack.
> >> - The levy can be in force up to 10 years.
> >> - By law, Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 3381, the proceeds from such a tax c=
an
> >> only be used in support of arts and culture and can not be used for an=
y
> >> other purposes. It would be a dedicated arts and - culture public fund=
 only
> >> in Cuyahoga County
> >> - If the ballot passes it is expected to yield in excess of $23 millio=
n
> >> annually. The County Commissioners would establish a base of $20 milli=
on
> >> that will be allocated annually for use by arts and cultural organizat=
ions
> >> primarily as general operational grants through the County's Arts and
> >> Culture Investment Models as adopted by the Board of County Commission=
ers'
> >> Resolution No. 040801.
> >> - The Arts and Culture Investment Models are a series of four competit=
ive
> >> grant categories that include operating support, project support, arti=
st
> >> education residencies and research support, and special initiatives or
> >> one-time emergency grants, e.g. fire damage, natural disasters. Debts =
or
> >> deficits would not be considered emergencies.
> >>
> >> Now, we need YOU to help us get the word out so we can pass this thing=
!
> >>
> >> We have some specific volunteer opportunities this weekend and we NEED=
 YOUR
> >> HELP:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Greetings!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> It is only with your help and participation that we will see victory o=
n
> >> November 7th.  Please encourage your co-workers, friends and family to=
 help
> >> us by covering an easy and fun TWO HOUR SHIFT this weekend! We need to
> >> spread the word of the importance of this issue. Pick a shift and we'l=
l get
> >> you a t-shirt, flyers, and volunteer sign up sheets.
> >>
> >> _____________________________________________________________________
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> FRIDAY, August 11
> >>
> >> Brooklyn Home Days (7600 Memphis Ave)
> >>
> >> North Olmsted Cultural Arts Show (Frostville Museum)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> SATURDAY, August 12
> >>
> >> Brooklyn Home Days (7600 Memphis Ave)
> >>
> >> North Olmsted Cultural Arts Show (Frostville Museum)
> >>
> >> Feast of the Assumption (Little Italy)
> >>
> >> Union Miles Community Expo (9250 Miles Park)
> >>
> >> Cleveland Ward 6 Expo (Artha Woods Park)
> >>
> >> Black Culture International on Parade (Tri-C Metro Campus)
> >>
> >> Great Lakes Burning River Festival (Whiskey Island)
> >>
> >> Open Air in Market Square (West 25th & Lorain 10AM-4PM)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> SUNDAY, August 13
> >>
> >> Brooklyn Home Days (7600 Memphis Ave)
> >>
> >> Walk and Roll Cleveland (MLK Blvd. 11:00AM-5:00PM)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> NEXT WEEK! LOOK FOR THE FOLLOWING:
> >>
> >> Greek Festival in Cleveland Heights
> >>
> >> Olmsted Falls Heritage Days
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> You may view a more comprehensive listing of events at the web address
> >> below:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> http://www.google.com/calendar/embed\?src=3Djessicavioletta%40gmail.co=
m
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Please  call our office :  (216) 479-0555 and ask for Erin
> >>
> >> or contact Jessica Colombi: jessicavioletta at gmail.com or call 216 402 =
7990
> >>
> >> or
> >>
> >> Julian Rogers: julian_rogers at hotmail.com or call 216 973 3966
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> to sign up to help at ANY of these events this weekend!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Thank you for all of your support!!!!
> >>
> >> Campaign Team
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >--
> >Peace, love and hair grease all.  Be strong.
> >_______________________________________
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--=20
Peace, love and hair grease all.  Be strong.