Buffalo, for example, has had an arts scene all out of proportion to its current [shrinking] population. Those arts [of which liberal Buffalonians are very proud] have been supported for over a century by the money made by very wealthy industrialists at the turn of the last century when Buffalo was an economic powerhouse.
But the money's drying up and current subscriptions don't cover the costs anymore. You wouldn't be stupid for thinking that Buffalo's artists would be lobbying and voting for a better economy that might support them.
You wouldn't be stupid, but you'd be wrong.
Thanks to leftist ideological and devicive politics the basic fundamental understanding that things like ART can only be supported when the basics are not only covered but also are throwing off enough excess wealth to support them is fundamentally forgotten by both sides of the political isle.
It is only through economic success that you can even have serious arts. IT is also important for those who argue the market uber alis mantra that it is important that when the excess is there, arts are important and should be supported.
Both sides promote fools errands on this topic more often than not thes days.