Did anyone hear Jeremy Vine's arty guest today?

[mrs_overall]

The Arts Council are facing cuts. I was incandescant ith rage when the arty farty toff said that buying art was more important than buying kidney dialysis machines for the NHS! I was so mad I emailed the show but it wasn't read out.

[Bobbisox]

not in the real world , are they mrs o?

[mrs_overall]

One of his arguments was that a painting will still be around in 100 years but a dialysis patient wouldn't

[jackthehat]

Perhaps the show was broadcast 2 days early, Mrs O ? :o)

[mccfluff]

its wrong but i do want him to come down with a kidney disease now

[Bobbisox]

really?, obviously true but how callous

[gingejbee]

Yes, I did hear that fool - almost choked on my banana sandwich. How crass!

[mrs_overall]

Some of the bloody callers (more arty types) agreed with him!!

[Zeuhl]

Whilst The Arts are very important and one of the things that make being alive worthwhile in the first place I don't think anyone can successfully present an Arts vs Dialysis argument.
It would have been much better to argue that it shouldn't be an either/or choice.

Clearly there is a sensible line to draw on the black hole that is healthcare and a sensible proportion of our GDP that should be spent on The Arts, Museums, Parks etc

I thought the better question came from a caller who asked why the NHS or The Arts were under threat when we can afford to drop half million pound missiles on people?

Quentin Letts also did himself no favours with his snooty 'you need to be in the know about Art' attitude.

Somehow I don't think he relies on the NHS too much!
.

[mrs_overall]

Zeuhl, he sounded like a Gold Bupa member to me

[Zeuhl]

LOL mrs o

I've not seen it called that before!