survival of the arts

the current state of the economy puts a new spin on starving artists.
while it's hard enough to stay motivated in an environment
that condones profit over substance, the very survival of the creative
community is at stake here. one false move and a whole slew of artists
and writers will be out on the street. i'm not suggesting that anyone
should be subjected to this or being elitist about artists. i'm simply
addressing the state of the arts, where i live and breathe and on which i
rely to maintain a healthy respect for the passion and spirit of the arts,
art as sustenance as critical as oxygen, food or life support.
how many of you out there have been so distracted by this
threat?