Tom Chapin Performs Live

Tom Chapin was a big part of our daughter's childhood. Even 20 years later, we still sing about "Good Garbage" at Thanksgiving time! Recycling never seemed so "cool".

This "testimony" is in the best Pete Seeger tradition. I was thrilled to find it. If Tom sees this please know that Harry's "Commitment" has been my lifelong guide for living.

The arts are the only thing worth while in life, the only noble thing a person can do...

You also can't spell "fart" without "art".

I appreciate the time and sincerity that Mr. Chapin put into it, but I hope that other people advocated for restoring funding for the arts in a reasoned approach. Although arts might be "touchy feel-y," one can make an intellectual argument why we should support the arts.

"I attended a hearing to protest $7 million cut from the State Council on the Arts budget. [...] Some speeches were impassioned, some dry; some long-winded, some to-the-point. All were moving, and frequently the assemblymen and senators were sympathetic. The hearing went on for a couple of hours, so when Chapin presented his testimony in song, it was a welcome moment, and a relief from what had gone before." --Suzanne Vega, NYT, 3/6/09.

Did you *really* think *everyone* testified in song?

Thank you Tom et al. I fear it will be a Sisyphean task to convince politicos that the arts are more important than guns. One month of upkeep on machines of war ($8 billion per month) could fund arts in education nationwide for years. The budget for the NEA nationally amounts to $150 million (Down from $340 million in '05). Time to put the hood on the hawks and empower the artists. Art is our best chance to educate toward peace and understanding between nations. Peace = Prosperity.

Oh yes indeed. How clever, to perform at a 'hearing'. Remember, "You can't be smart without art!" True, true, true.

Why are people not commenting?! Every study ever conducted on this topic shows that exposure to the arts helps learning in ALL subjects.
We need to find a way to keep the arts in our schools. The lack thereof contributes to the steadily dumbing-down of Americans.
As a country, we may be becoming poorer; must we also become more ignorant?

astardrifter,
You are correct! SCIENTIFIC studies have concluded time and again, that science and math grades (and general aptitude) are increased among students who participate in the arts. Music was the art most studied, but all the arts improve brain function.