Why theirs and not yours?

Well, have you APPLIED for a grant?

If you want a grant, I'm sure you can apply for one. I'm sure their are grants for women writers out there that you would qualify for. Your good manners thing could be spun as cultural heritage or something.

Of course, there's always the chance you won't get it because these things are competitive. But sheesh. Why not apply?

The government can pick art like it can pick businesses. Has anyone forgotten Solyndra, where half a billion of our money was flushed down the toilet?

"I'm all for charitable work -- I do some of it myself. If you want to do charitable work, fabulous! Raise money from private sources."

I went to an arts magnet school in high school. I loved it. I majored in an art subject, I formed friendships (which was difficult for me) and really loved the whole vibe. And I agree with you 100%. My friends are always appalled when I say that. But I look around at what our country needs, and I can say without shame that the first thing I would do in a recession like ours is cut arts funding. There are enough private benefactors out there who I honestly think would pick up the slack.

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone."

-H.D. Thoreau, Walden-

The irony!!

OK, then don't ask "Why not me?", there's your answer.

A "Walden" based video game is perfect.

Thoreau had no job and no income.

The land at Walden was actually owned by a friend of his.

At Walden, Thoreau lived a short distance from Thoreau's mother's house where he often went to get his laundry done and for meals. He "dined out" frequently at the houses of friends.

And Thoreau was "working on a book" while he lived at Walden.

On second thought, forget the video game. Just tell the people living in their parents' basements to look around at their own lives and then go back to playing Batman: Arkham City.

Ok, NicoleK, let us ask a different question:

Why is it the government's job to support the arts?

Or any (GM, Solyndra, the other "green" projects that have gone belly up) business for that matter?

The idea of a Walden video game is intriguing. It would be wonderful challenge to build a world that would reinforce Thoreau's work. Building a world that feels like communing with nature, providing a digital place for contemplation that still has some kind of "win state." And to somehow incorporate all the elements of Walden.

USC might be up to the challenge. It's one of the best video game design schools in the country. If they do it right.....my god, that would indeed be art. And that is what the NEA is for after all.

Now as to the value to the taxpayers of the NEA..... well that's a WHOLE 'nother kettle of fish.

Conan, you may have stumbled onto something! As you said, Old Henry lived at his buddy's place, did his laundry at Mom's house, and hung out with his friends in the evenings. How about these titles:

"Slacker, the Video Game," or "Humanities Major: The Curse of Self-Absorption"

The power-ups are obvious: Venti Starbucks strewn about the play area. I don't know what the enemies would be, though. Evil Math Professors? Heartless Graduate School Admissions Officers?