Are art programs necessary? And didn't I state that I didn't think all money should go to the military? I didn't specify whether that 5 bil would be better spent on either.
Yes, they are. Art and literature help people develop ethics, aesthetics, expressiveness, compassion, empathy, imagination, and a whole long list of qualities that are necessary for a functioning community--many of which are crucial for the development of effective engineering programs, as well. Trust me, I'm a math student. I've seen a wide variety of examples first-hand of those who are good in technical areas but elect to totally neglect their cultural education.
Silly Vector, culture and painting don't real. The only thing we need to teach our children are math, science, and football. It was good enough for your parents so it will be good enough for you.
Developing ethics: I.e the ones that are deemed "ok" by the government.
Uh, no. That's what happens when you
don't teach ethics. Teaching ethics isn't about telling you what is good or bad, it is about teaching people how they can determine on their own what is good or bad.
Aesthetics: Well, I don't like modern architecture. Taking classes in architecture won't change that.
Aesthetics is not architecture. Aesthetics is about the quantification of sensory input and output, which would include architecture alongside hundreds of other things.
Expressiveness: Schoolyard, with their friends...?
Compassion: Same.
Empathy: Same.
Kingfisher, allow me to reveal to you a great secret. People do not know things before they are taught about them. While a person can certainly develop pro-social qualities without outside help, a child could also theoretically learn algebra without outside help as well. The schools are around to expedite the process of learning.
A child might have compassion and empathy for others, but are they going to know how to express that healthily? Are they going to know the psychological and sociological implications of their interactions with others? Are they in the mindset of seeing others as being real people, equal to them (even if they accept it intellectually, they may not truly accept it in their actions)?
School is not just about learning how to find x. It is not even about learning things so you can get a job with them, despite what some people might tell you. School is about learning how to live as a person who can stand on their own merits in our societies. And as the name implies, societies are primarily social entities.
Imagination: Art does not have a monopoly on imagination.
But it is a catalyst. Having a flexible imagination may not necessarily solve your problems, but it certainly increases the possibility that you can imagine a solution you otherwise might not.