Get Rid of the National Endowment for the Arts
By David Holcberg (Washington Times, January 31, 2004; New York Sun, February 5, 2004)

President Bush is wrong in proposing to increase the budget of the National Endowment for the Arts. Why?

Because art is a form of expressing ideas, and using taxpayers' money to promote ideas they may disagree with is immoral and violates their rights. Such misuse of taxpayers' money is a violation--not a promotion--of freedom of speech. As Thomas Jefferson explained, "To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical." 

The Bush administration should stop demonstrating its "commitment to the arts" and focus instead on protecting individual rights. Getting rid of the National Endowment for the Arts would be a small step in the right direction.