As a grouchy old man whose letter to the editor (link given by Bob above) inspired this thread, I will be the first to join the float.  My "snob elite" comment wasn't as sophomoric as Bob and others have suggested.  The main thrust if my letter was to decry the tragic loss to the entire community of the Eugene Celebration, Parade, the Jacobs, and the Mayor's Art Show and the fact that all we have left are a few private galleries.  I didn't mean to suggest that the "control" was direct but rather part if a system, very much like the influence of the media, or as we have seen recently, the DNC. Yes, we could use more of the type of elites that create great public venues for the arts to be enjoyed by all.  Absent that, we will have to do it ourselves. Maybe the new group of Berners, "Our Revolution Oregon" can help bring about something?  Angela and I did manage to get support for the Jacobs (a Jacobs-like venue) into the platform of the Democratic Party of Lane County.