• CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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      2 hours ago

      IIRC this program is invite-only, because yeah, otherwise it’d end up being for everyone.

      Edit: And that’s sus, and might just end in politician’s cousins getting invited.

    • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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      7 hours ago

      Art is a skill that takes time and dedication to cultivate, and often at least a seed of talent to boot.

      I can’t just wake up one morning and say “I’m an artist now” anymore than I can wake up and say “I’m a doctor today.”

      • yeahiknow3@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        6 hours ago

        That’s the point. People want to simultaneously pretend that art is the trivial pursuit of effete dilettantes but also that supporting artists is unfair since it would take too much sacrifice and effort for any random person to become an artist.

        • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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          6 hours ago

          I see. Yeah, that makes sense.

          I view arts and humanities as occupying the top of Maslow’s hierarchy. A healthy arts and humanities scene is a sign that society is flourishing. Someone who can pursue those as careers instead of hobbies is self-actualized.

          I think public patronage of the arts and humanities is ultimately a good thing, and should happen in addition to all the other, more basic needs. Food, housing, and utilities should be prioritized, and the jobs that provide those things. Then healthcare, education, social work, public servants, parks & rec, etc.

          Arts and humanities shouldn’t be neglected, but the fabric of society should be built from the ground up to support a healthy arts scene.

          • yeahiknow3@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            6 hours ago

            Yeah, plus we’ve achieved the economic conditions where everyone’s basic needs can be met. That they are not is a deliberate and vincible evil.

            • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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              6 hours ago

              I agree. I think a good starting place would be assessing the cost of living by region or district, and then anyone who makes below that amount should receive a supplementary allowance (funded by the wealthy, of course. If they were paying people fairly then nobody would be making below the cost of living).

              Other things should be in the purview of public goods, of course. For countries that don’t already have it, healthcare and education should be top priorities. They should be seen as investments in a healthy society, not as merely handouts to individuals.

              Eventually food should be produced and distributed by public (state-owned) entities, at-cost rather than for-profit. But that’s a longer-term goal that needs careful planning and implementation, so pushing too hard for it too soon could derail progress on other priorities like healthcare, education, and guaranteed basic income.