Why is poetry important (or not)?

Interesting how many thoughts can arise out of a statement like this.  I like what Tracey points out - how marketing employs an artistic approach to achieve almost remarkable ends, which, to my mind, leads to the very justified cynicism that Alcuin points out.  To quote Handel (who was quoting Isaiah) "oh we like sheep have gone astray" - and all these marketing campaigns are some pretty devious, albeit talented, shepherds.  What I want to know is if it's even possible for the highly manipulated American public, as a whole, to finally wake up and realize just how much garbage they're being fed.  Maybe poetry is important as a means to wake people up.  Now if we can only get them to read it.  But, alas, watching tv is soooooo much easier, movies are sooooooo much more entertaining, and researching "facts" is soooooooooooooo much work.  On the other hand, music is a wonderful way to reach people and, at its best, incorporates the very strengths that poetry offers - an excellent use of language.