What would they say about today's headlines?
Trump plans to close Kennedy Center for about two years, starting in July - The Washington Post
Context · Marcus Cole
President Trump, citing budget cuts and declining attendance, proposes shuttering the Kennedy Center for renovations significantly exceeding routine maintenance.This sparks debate about federal support for the arts versus fiscal responsibility, especially during a period of increased military spending and tax cuts.The underlying tension: is the Kennedy Center a vital national institution deserving of continued public funding, or a discretionary expense ripe for trimming.
Abraham Lincoln
"Closing the Kennedy Center seems a penny-wise, pound-foolish proposition. During the war, even amidst great strife, we found solace in music and theater. The arts uplift the national spirit. Are we so impoverished that we must abandon beauty for the sake of a few saved dollars?"
John C. Calhoun
"The proposed closure exemplifies federal overreach! The Kennedy Center, a pet project of centralized power, leeches resources better allocated to the states. South Carolina understands fiscal prudence; Washington does not. Let the states decide arts funding, not dictate from on high. It IS a discretionary expense."
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