Beginning of Essay
The arts should be supported through the National Endowment for the Arts. Artists should be allowed the freedom to produce whatever form of art they please. However, the taxpayer's money should not go towards art that is patently offensive to the general public. ....

Middle of Essay
.... please. No subject matter is forbidden. We should support free speech not suppress it. This can however, be taken to extremes. A selection of art can be deemed as offensive to the general public. This does not mean that restrictions should be placed on it preventing people from viewing it. The taxpayers money should not go towards the presentation of such works. A large percentage of funding of the arts comes from private giving. If a minority group wishes to view such art, they should have to support it themselves. In cases such as the Maple Thorpe exhibits, it seems to be self supportive. It is hard to justify spending tax dollars on somet ....