Russell Smith

Russell Smith, novelist, discusses the arts and the Harper Government.

Canadian Election 2011, Speak Up Parler Fort

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Russell Smith
• arts
• galas
• Harper Government
• Laureen Harper
• funding
• ordinary Canadians
• artists
• wedge
• philistinic
• black tie
• politics
• Canada
• Election 2011

[Graffitisounds]

@cmoker99 Any canadian tax money put into arts in an investment, Not a waste. The arts bring in huge tax revenue. It's even better when it's Canadian Artists. Then you get their income taxes too instead of giving our money to Visiting artists.

I wonder if all these arena's built with tax monies could finacially survive without the arts filling seats.

Why should tax payers prop up failing athletes???

[LordProtractor]

I can't understand statements that assert that art, at it's foundation, is a commodity and that monetary value is a direct reflection of worth. By that logic, the most "successful" art is the best. Celine Dion is better than Leonard Cohen. Porky's is better than Black Robe...

What's more, history is littered with examples of artists whose genius was only recognised after their death speaking to the fact that good art is visionary, but not always digestible.

[ThinkingManNeil]

Harper  devalues his wife's causes because Harper belongs to a church that devalues women as a whole, requiring them to defer and submit to men

[valentin6li]

@sylvestb

"You're an elitist punk. I hope the cuts at the Globe eventually find their way to you."

What a hateful and presumptuous comment! At least Russell Smith was expressing from real life experience and facts. You back your thoughts with nothing but opinion, no facts whatsoever. Do you know Russell Smith or his background? Is there any concrete basis when you accuses him of being an "elitist punk". If not, a person of character would at least apologize for their venom. I know you won't.

[johnnysoho]

Bread and circuses still, eh? Can we ever get beyond this? The notion of what constitutes a civil society in this country is ideologically arbitrary at best, ignorant and self-serving for the most part and repugnant, spiteful and hostile at its worst. Bloody hell.

[boyswillbeb0ys]

@cmoker99 what makes making something beautiful not a job but making a big-mac is?

[MookieWilson71]

I don't know about failing athletics... We had the most golds in Vancouver in the winter Olympics. Our women athletes are some of the best in the world. We basically supply the NHL with talent. Tons of great MMA fighters are now coming out of Canada. Look in all sports - you'll see great Canadians.

Failed athletics? Why? Because we don't win the 100m dash anymore?

[sylvestb]

I hardly think Mrs. Harper needs your pity, Russell. I also think that she would very much bristle at the term "estranged." You're an elitist punk. I hope the cuts at the Globe eventually find their way to you.

[Barituneful]

Following the logic of some of the anti-arts commenters, why should my tax dollars go to pay for roads? I don't have a car, I don't need them. If drivers want roads, they'll find a way to build and maintain them themselves. Why should my taxes go towards subsidizing ridiculously massive spectacles of dubious public worth like the Vancouver Olympics and the G8/G20 summit? Why subsidize farmers? industry? the military? If these things are worth doing, they'll pay for themselves. Same logic.

[TheDaftMonk]

@cmoker99 You're joking. Please tell me you're joking.

[DevynBrugge]

@shonitus What, fund only the good artists? As a singer, you should know more your industry. We're talking investments, investments in culture that may not ever have a return in years, or ever. But theres a lot more value in art, even if the Canadian government funded Scott Pilgrim vs. The World bombed in the box office, it's still regarded by many as one of the best films of 2010.