#Trust Fund
People need to get a better sense of perspective on some of these "issues." For
instance, the U.S. Armed Forces spend roughly $25 million more per year for
military bands than is budgeted for all of the National Endowment for the Arts.
More fascinating still, military bands spend TEN TIMES as many federal dollars
as is allocated to all arts education in American elementary and secondary
schools. And yet more intriguing: The Pentagon is the LARGEST employer of
musicians on the planet!
A lean, mean military: Be nice, Saddam, or I'll bop ya one wit' my oboe.
I like a good band as much as anyone — used to be in one, in fact. But $200
million a year for military bands — a fifth of a billion bucks — is
ridiculous. Any brouhaha over that one in Congress? Nope. Martial music…good.
Mapplethorpe photos…bad.