As a fellow who scrapes out a living in the arts I can tell you that, from my perspective, the national endowment is no friend to the artist.

The acceptance of art is a subjective thing, but its acceptance in a culture is highly suggestable.

When I do an art fair it is quickly evident that success breeds further success. When I'm busy selling, I significantly increase the likelihood that I will do more business. People go from interested crowd to interested crowd more than they go from booth to booth. In matters of taste people want what others want--there are very few taste pioneers.

When the gov't takes my tax money and gives it to my competition (other artists) that is insult.

The further injury then inflicted by that act is that they more than implicitly endorse my competition (with my tax money). They become the crowd at my competition's booth.

irony--the grant goes to the deserving by virtue of their skill, a skill that should make the grant unnecessary.