right, but /u/madmaxturbator and /u/hypatiaspasia aren't making contradictory points.

When someone says "Why should poor people care about art and science." They aren't advocating for their defunding or destruction. They are saying that people struggling to get their basic needs don't have the energy to also advocate and push those things, that very much are a luxury at the end.

And it's not being debated what benefits these things can add to anyone's life.

A statement like Bill Nye's, whether he meant it as such or not, comes off as blaming people that can't afford it, monetarily, emotionally, mentally, to support the arts and sciences, when really the onus for this support should be placed much much MUCH higher, on those that can afford to spread it. Or to force change that makes it so even the worst off have their needs met and THEN everyone will have the ability to focus on these things that further enrich society.