Politicians the world over: take note about budget cuts

The current ruling Party in The Netherlands, the VVD (part of the center right coalition) has proposed a new way to deal with budget cuts in the Arts and Culture: a Cultural Lotto.

The link above, in Dutch (sorry, nobody has dared translate this moment of genius politics yet), explains the mechanism they wish to implement by saying that the current government wants to make people involved in arts and culture less dependent of government subsidies. So, to promote this idea, they want to start a fund that would allow them to sell Lotto tickets, with the proceeds going to support different artistic and cultural endeavors. The jackpot would be supplemented by artist donated prizes (like works of art, or workshops with renowned writers) so that people would have extra incentives to buy tickets.

Now, imagine this newly found wisdom to plan budgets, applied across the board! Lotto for reproductive justice! Lotto for public schools! The Highway Maintenance Lotto! The possibilities are endless. And if planned carefully, they could create this semi Randian paradise where only those Lottos with the most attractive jackpots get any kind of funds.


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