I'll pay it, but if the Arts Tax isn't overturned in court, let's get it repealed in a future election. Do we really want piecemeal tax bills arriving in the mail? That only some of us will bother to pay anyway? I know that I do not.
Disagree with it all you like, justifiably or not, but simply refusing to pay it and hoping that it eventually gets thrown out as "unconstitutional" (don't hold your breath) seems about as effective and reasoned a response as a little kid refusing to do his homework, arms crossed and smirking a smirk, because it "isn't fair".
Then you'll be tagged with a late fee. And then another. At some point your arms won't be able to cross any tighter and your neck will grow tired from shaking your head for so long.
Anyway, we all know that the second they threaten to send you to the Principal's office you'll quickly, if grudgingly, pay it. So why not just pay it now? If it's indeed found to be unconstitutional in the future, you'll be refunded.
The irony is, Frankie, that regular arts instruction is scientifically proven to increase math and science scores, improve attendence and graduation rates and create learners who are better equipped for higher level courses in high school and college. Turns out that spending money on arts education is actually better at raising science and math achievement than spending money on more math teachers.
It also has a side benefit of encouraging empathy (which provably lowers bullying behavior), curiosity (fundamental to the scientific process) and spatial reasoning skills (necessary for higher level math). So, yeah. Nobody's asking you to pay to make more unemployed painters. They're actually asking you to level the playing field so kids whose moms can't afford to send them to piano lessons still have a shot at graduating and succeeding in math and science.
Then you'll be tagged with a late fee. And then another. At some point your arms won't be able to cross any tighter and your neck will grow tired from shaking your head for so long.
Anyway, we all know that the second they threaten to send you to the Principal's office you'll quickly, if grudgingly, pay it. So why not just pay it now? If it's indeed found to be unconstitutional in the future, you'll be refunded.
It also has a side benefit of encouraging empathy (which provably lowers bullying behavior), curiosity (fundamental to the scientific process) and spatial reasoning skills (necessary for higher level math). So, yeah. Nobody's asking you to pay to make more unemployed painters. They're actually asking you to level the playing field so kids whose moms can't afford to send them to piano lessons still have a shot at graduating and succeeding in math and science.
Opposite of the expected result, indeed.