Sometimes I believe Henri is right when he says that the best way for someone to support art, is to buy it. It is in this way that the wealthy have done so, to a greater degree than anyone else, at least through the purchase of original art, rather than reproductions.

Wealthy people are more likely to have grown up with art in their homes, and to have learned more about it, in various ways, from conversation to visiting museums and art galleries. When it is easy to criticize those with means, it should be remembered that it is they who saved the redwood forest, and who will likely save the rainforest in the same way, by buying it. If it were not for the donations of royal hunting grounds such as Hyde Park and St. James Park, would not this land have fallen to greedy urban developers (who I realize can be termed rich by economic standards)? Has it not always been the wealthy who have appreciated the most beautiful natural spots in the world, and settled there, allowing them to be kept... at least until everyone else discovered them and started turning them into fast food chains, high rises, and parking lots (better known as `paving paradise').

I could be wrong, but I do not believe it was `old' money that came up with the idea of franchises, which is just another word for total emotional, and creative bankruptcy.