Eric, I'm sure you know the history of the republic has played out, in large part, against a backdrop of states' rights vs. federal control. While I hesitate to equate arts/cultural support with, for example, the issues that led to the Civil War, I think the argument can be made that there are subjects that are better addressed at the national level, because, sometimes politics--and I hope this doesn't come across as knee-jerk elitist liberal dogma--can be TOO local (see Tip O'Neill): the arts are the first, best target in times of cutural conservatism and economic contraction. My state's arts agency, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, suffered huge cutbacks during the shift from Democratic (read Mike Dukakis) to Republican (presidential hopeful Bill Weld) governors. Sure, the state administration had become bloated during the 1980s, but the MCC was reduced to a shell of its former self, and I know many people--artists, educators, etc.--who, despite the efforts of the current MCC staff (fine people all, and, thanks again for the grant for the symposium!) who have up stakes and left the state (and us the poorer for it). Clearly, my opinion is that government funding of the arts is a good thing. Brian Wallace Media Arts Exhibit Developer/Manager Historical Collection The Computer Museum, Boston [log in to unmask]