Peter Garrett Online Forum

I too have an inherent distaste for governments as we know them to be currently. I have noted this elsewhere on this site. My view is that Governments are necessary, but should be highly constrained in their activities, limited to defending the country (army), defending its citizens (police), and maintaining and enforcing contracts (judicial system). All else can be done by non-government businesses. I agree with Noel's statements: "I think that the funding from art should primarily come from the business of art. That is, from selling the product. Entrepreneurship, in short. I know that patronage is important and I applaud those private companies and individuals that give it, but I utterly derogate Government contributions." And in particular: "either produce work that your customers want to buy, or pay for it yourself". However, I do believe science is essential, as essential as everything else mentioned. "Love" won't cure a brain tumour, but applied "science" will.