In Colorado, where the state arts budget has been slashed 55 percent, “the arts community has spent much time and oxygen organizing a proactive response to the systematic dismantling of the state’s arts council, which has annoyed members of the joint budget committee less than if a fly were to land in their soup. Artists yell indignantly about the shame of Colorado falling into 50th place in state arts funding without having the slightest notion that those who think of the arts as an entitlement wear that stat – not to mention that ubiquitous button – like a badge of honor. What we have here is a failure not only to communicate, but to educate.”