Here’s the really sad point about the piece above, the vulture venture capitalists I’m dealing with are lending SBA GOVERNMENT FUNDS. They’re using OUR TAX DOLLARS to engage in such chicanery.

Lenders are the worst. And the private equity venture capital companies are largely jokes too at the small business level. I’m on my 2nd case against two vulture capital firms that literally stole two small businesses by cash-crunching them and then stealing them in a down market cycle. I beat them handily the first time and will beat them even worse this time; but only after some very zealous and fearless advocacy. The government should be backing the small businesses, whether they be art galleries, restaurants or startup technology companies, as a means of economic development; and then stay out of the way. Certain criteria should be in place obviously; but the government could actually make money on this too via low-interest revolving loan programs. If we really want to provide opportunity to people other than the already rich, this is the way to do it.

In the U.S. there certainly is timidity, the NEA and NEH are afraid of their shadows after decades of Christian Coalition attacks. Probably true elsewhere as well, and as the writer says if the authorities get too involved it’s death by duck nibbling.

I have a friend who makes a good living as a painter selling through galleries. But her big mural commissions are all for public buildings, so far as I know.

On the other hand, the most fun art in Portland is small scale and spontaneous — but they all have other jobs. And yes, the messy urbanism is key to new things happening.

Ironically, as Portland gets lionized as a creative center, whenever there’s a study of how to encourage the arts everyone says more government funding. But in forums when musicians, playwrights and artists are asked why they moved here, they all say two things: Low cost of living and acceptance of differences.

Subsidized, contented artists are boring. They contribute little. Yet, governments seem to think its a good idea to subsidize them when it’s actually a big waste of money.