Scalia: Government Has Right To Deny Arts Funding

US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says the government has the right to deny funding for art of which it disapproves. “The First Amendment has not repealed the basic rule of life, that he who pays the piper calls the tune. When you place the government in charge of funding art, just as when you place the government in charge of providing education, somebody has to pick the content of what art is going to be funded, what subjects are going to be taught. The only way to eliminate any government choice on what art is worthwhile, what art isn’t worthwhile, is to get the government totally out of the business of funding.”