Art & Design – The Smithsonian Institution's eight art museums are "drastically underfunded" and have "seldom lived up to their names," according to an external review released Wednesday. The voluntary review by a panel of seven prominent museum directors gives recommendations to strengthen each museum.
Godimmad-- Smithsonian IS awsome. But it's free because YOU as an American citizen already own the museums. It's like being charged admission to a public school or public library. (Of course, I remember in the 1970s when the City of New York went bankrupt and began to charge admisson to the museums there and also tuition to City University colleges (after 125 years of free tuition!) People aren't happy, but they deal with it. But it's one of those "slippery slope" things. Once you open the door, things just keep escalating. And once you charge admisson, your people with the most need are the ones to be excluded first.
Funny they claim to need funding when they are so lavish with the officers of the place. $15,000 for new french doors in the guys own house. $48,000 for two chairs and a table in his office. $160,000 to redecorate his office. All told he spent over $2 million in the past 6 years that had nothing to do with the actual museum or what visitors see, just his own home and office.
http://prorev.com/2007/03/smalls-his-name-but-huge
if you don't believe it.
Simple answer is to fire this worthless clown and you've instantly increase the funding available for the place.
Thomas, it's true-- the people who run the nation's top museums are well-remunerated. But have you ever noticed that, on the whole, people don't mind when businesspeople make tons of money -- but if the top execs of educational institutions also make good money, everyone screams foul? I don't know why anyone sends their kids to college when they hate to see the well-educated get paid well.
the difference is that the businessman has to take the risk and investments and liabilities that go along with attempting to make a profit. if some businessman strikes it big with an idea or service or product, they shouldnt be expected to give at anothers discretion. the arts are publicly funded and the employees are well taken care of. it seems to me that many peoples target with their education is the coffers of the taxpayer, allowing them to live at a more comfortable level than the average taxpayer. when living off the govt it takes away all the need for competition in the work place, and opens up the door for a class of workers that only see that others who have taken chances on their own as selfish, instead of their check writers. most well educated public servants belief they are entitled to what the most successful have, without having to take the risks. and thats socialism at the roots, and ladies and gentlemen thats politics 101 today
Not only is this Smithsonian exec not risking anything as a businessman, he isn't in an education institution. An education institution like a university is still competing for students (consumers). The Smithsonian compete for nothing. He is paid whether the people flood the exhibits or don't bother to show up. I have no problem with an executive or head of a university making boat loads of cash, I don't even get my feathers ruffled when a director at a place like the Smithsonian make a reasonable amount of money - however expensing $15,000 for 2 doors at his own house. Using taxpayer dollars to purchase $4,000 office chairs. I'm sorry but that makes the navy buying $150 toilet seat look reasonable. This guy is playing king and the American taxpayers are footing the bill. If you can't see that that is wrong then I feel sorry for you.
Well Educated is a subjective term. A doctorate in library science and a buck and a half will get you a cup of coffee. What value do you bring to the table? What can you do to make this business/library/hospital better achieve it's goals? The Degree is a gate keeping device, nothing more.
Teach your kids that it's what you do, with what you know, that counts.
I will interject this one example of obscene payscale within America, Home Depot. That CEO failed to improve this company yet he received millions to depart. Something wrong with this analogy for the sane. As I said this is America. In Europe and Japan the CEOs received aroung 25 to 35 percent higher wages than the average worker, in America where the corporate elite rule our government the average goes up to 400 percent and more. Yes I know some idiot is going to blog in and say they deserve it. No response.
Guess I'm that idiot. Yep. Corporate CEOs deserve exactly what they get. Bob Nardelli with HD committed no crime. He received exactly what his contract called for and when he left...he left an expensive lesson for all future HD boards. HD has learned. The New CEO makes no where near what Nadelli did.
Corporations across this country paid attention to the HD debacle. Good Ole private enterprize is putting a halt on overly lavish CEO paychecks. Their shareholders demand better. Guess what? All this is done without Government interference. Ain't America great?
I agree with MOST of what all of you are saying; however, museums are libraries are indeed educational institutions (whether private or publicly funded.) And I absolutely agree with you all about the obscenely overpriced items mentioned. As far as what these people spend in their own homes, I am not aware of other holdings in the family -- does he have a rich daddy? or wife? Were there lucrative investments? As for the commercial bigwigs taking risks, you will need to convince me further. Corporate laws include a whole lot of protections, including "limited liability." As to Toddfuller's allegations of socialism; in the last century this socialism existed names like "the Great Society." It was okay for Americans to care about what was happening to their fellow Americans. Doesn't sound too bad to me.
hey marijoh
whether it sounds good to your or not, simply it is socialism. the main reason we have the problems we have today is because of programs like the great society. im not against compassion, or social programs. but the idea that using taxpayer dollars to provide services that could be privatized, allowing competition is the way to lower the costs and liabilities that the federal state and local have with employees. socialism is simply the idea that the govt provide services, education, healthcare, and utilities according to your need. sound like whats taking place to you. does to me. so anymore proof that socialism is slowly being fed to our nation as a progressive agenda, just ask im sure i can give dozens of examples. thanks go america
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Hey, you heard it here first, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Smithsonian had a new exhibit between the Space and Cars exhibits. Hip Hop... The Past... The Present... and The Future. The exhibits contain special featured artists such as Biggie and 2Pac and of course FLAVA FLAV!
Mr. Dallas