“Social issues” – “Commie” code for basic human need
Providing equal aid to all is “Socialism’s” seed
There’s just no funds for schools right now we know you understand
We need this money now for our invasion of Iran
Our roads are not that bad at all – we’ve more important goals
Just take it slower when you drive – and steer around the holes
That bridge has stood a hundred years – your wife, and kids, and truck’ll,
Be safe and sound so drive across – don’t worry ‘bout that buckle
The news is good – your child qualifies for this procedure
And we’ll accept your house in payment for the anesthesia
But the doctor that you wanted lost his license yesterday
The Family Research Council just found out that he was gay
(Re gay: if a kid has a dad who’s locked away in Folsom
It’s better than gay parents – God, that’s just too unwholesome)
And we know your water isn’t good – erosion’s bad indeed
But the Keystone pipeline’s something that the oil companies need
You whine that times are hard and there’s no way to make ends meet
‘Scuse me – who’s preventing you from begging on the street?
You say you need a tax cut like the richest people got
But they are “job creators” and you? Well, we think not
Yes – “Citizens United” is the corporate New Deal
A license to destroy our electoral process – and to steal
You’re screaming that the money put in politics is bad
But friend it costs us millions just to run one TV ad
You protest that our money could be put to better use
Like infra-structure, schooling – but that’s playing fast and loose
With our free-market system – a Capitalist sin
Spread the wealth and “Socialism” just comes creeping in
(But bail-outs for the banks and corporations – that’s okay)
Again, the rich create the jobs – that’s always been the way
And “trickle down” ensures that those on top will help the bottom
So have yourself another beer and smoke ‘em – if you’ve got ‘em
We must be ever vigilant against the likes of Marx
The Corporation matters now – not healthcare, schools, or parks
‘N it matters too rich congressmen be comfy as can be
As they attempt to rid us of Social(ist) Security
Because, in suff’ring we find strength to scale the highest peak
We don’t need no stinkin’ help – it only makes us weak
And The New Deal was a “Socialistic” plot by F.D.R.
A plot that all Republicans called “commie” and “bizarre”
A plot concocted by some “Socialistic” minded slobs
(Which re-built our infra-structure while creating tons of jobs)
Which gave us roads, and bridges, schools, and dams, mass transit too
And used our money on ourselves while Republicans jeered “boo”
It’s “Socialism” plain and simple – a grave mistake we’re makin’
But it bailed us out of the Great Depression – saved our eggs ‘n bacon
And now the right-wing in lock-step unites to deny help
“If we can do it on our own, you too can help yourself”
It’s not that they don’t think it right to help their fellow man
But it’s in their DNA to see it as a “Commie” plan
And Congress has a health plan that’s more generous than most
And you, whatever you may have just goes undiagnosed
And if your father went to Yale you can go there too
A “legacy” scholarship – that’s the thing for you
Two entitlements that’re Socialism for the very wealthy
But entitlements for poor folk? Why that’s just too unhealthy
Of course their father’s money bought the schooling that they had
Which helped them get the job – so if your dad’s not rich too bad
The playing field’s not level so what chance have our kids got
And to level out the field? Why, that’s a Socialistic plot!
© tony powers and Barking in the Dark, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to tony powers and Barking in the Dark with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Any post with the word “ballad”, is a good post
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i think so too. thanks for the read and comment. continue…
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p.s. there are lots more of the “ballads” posted too. enjoy. continue…
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Whenever I hear a Congressman/woman/person talk about “Socialist” Europe there always seems to be a hint of venom in they way they use the word. As if we all have some sort of plague over here. It only goes to show to me anyway, that they don’t really know what they’re talking about since they seem to be trying to paint this picture that everyone in Europe is an idle layabout son-ofa- bitch…. and you wouldn’t want your daughter to marry one, wudjya ?
We’re fighting to keep our National Health Service from the “benefits” of the free market, because where the Tories see a mass of people they see a market and money to be made. And despite the selective scare stories you may hear most Europeans are proud of their free Health Service and the fact that for most people there is a safety net. If Newt or Mitt ever find themselves in Europe and get struck down with something we’ll sort it for free….leave your Visa in your wallet, have this one on us, we’re like that. 🙂
Keep up the good work, Tony.
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thanks Al, it’s too bad we’re so dumb here. i always appreciate your wit-filled comments. continue…
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Great post as usual. You were able to capture the republican hypocrisy in all its nuanced…ummmm…disgrace!
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thank you V. my hatred for these cretins knows no bounds. i appreciate your props. continue…
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Top of your game Tony. Had to tweet this one.
This is all so goddamned true, each and every point.
To put it in a rhyming mode
Will knock them out of joint
-grin-
I can barely survive on SSD, and have never taken a hand-out or welfare in my life. Worked since junior high school, put myself through college, paid my taxes and now am just about reduced to eating cat food for meals.
Many poor people get fat because they can only afford starchy foods; meat and vegetables are out of reach when one doesn’t have the ‘legacy’ education and family money to fall back on. Nor make enough to take advantage of those fabulous tax cuts.
Yet any programs for the elderly or disabled are slashed over and over. There isn’t even the government cheese anymore. Not only do many more go hungry but the loss to comedic punch lines appalls me.
Our county is a disgrace to other western countries.
When I would hear the ex’s friends all call me ‘Libby’ and say ‘why don’t you move then!?’ my answer was always… ‘can you spare the change for a flight to Denmark, Sweden or Norway?’
Playing catch-up on my favorite blogs again, and am so happy to have reached this one today. Thankfully you have the verve, wit and intellect to keep on writing and publishing your thoughts here.
Rock on boyfriend.
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wow! “Not only do many more go hungry but the loss to comedic punch lines appalls me.” double amen to that. thanks Rachael, it’s the intelligent, witty, readers such as yourself that propel me…that, and the disgrace that’s become the republican “party”. i so hope the Reno fires have not impacted you. continue…
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All well said; and you’re so right, its a “legacy” when the rich do it, but a hand out/entitlement when it happens on the other side of the tracks !
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yeah, how ’bout that? i think they think that we’re as stupid as they are Janet. anyway, thanks so much for the comment. continue…
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Nailed it again with this one……
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thank you WB, i appreciate the props…thanks for the kind comment. continue…
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194I would like to thnkx for the efforts you’ve put in wrnitig this blog. I’m hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming also. In fact your creative wrnitig skills has inspired me to get my own web site now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings fast. Your write up is a great example of it.
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Their mantra is: “Hooray for us, and the rest of you’s can go fuck yourselves.”
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amen to that Don…and they do think we are as stupid as they are. continue…
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Brilliant immersion into the right wing mind, Tony.
Hope you were able to take a good long shower afterward to slough it all off.
Also wouldn’t be surprised if Rove or one of his ilk printed this as a Manifesto. I don’t think they recognize irony…
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EG, funny, i know they don’t have an ironic bone in their corpulent bodies. and they’ve demonstrated clearly that they are incapable of being embarrassed but… thanks man. continue…
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Again, they’re wondering why their ears are burning. It’s okay, though. They have plenty of money to waste on specialists and over-priced salves.
I’m in full agreement with Michelle, Tony. Rock on.
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Re, did you mean salves or slaves? either way i take the meaning. thank you for reading and commenting…you might wanna check out the blog “on my square”…if you haven’t already. continue…
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I feel good… we post blogs at the same time with an FDR reference. HA!
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yeah Rob, but yours is some real street-wise music/poetry of anger. a marvelous piece…FDR was/is my political idol, both as a politician and as a man…especially in view of the fact that he was a patrician, high born, who cared about the common man. sadly, that kind of a man could never be a republican. thank you for reading, and as always, for commenting. continue…
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So sad, so true. And so incredibly well written! Thank you!!
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no Michelle – thank you…for reading, for all your kind comments, for the conscious posts you put up…and please – continue…
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Michelle, are you hip to the blog “on my square” if not, check it out. continue…
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Actually yes… and no. 🙂 I had been to him before, linking off a comment on one of your posts, but at the time, didn’t realize the little “follow” button in the top bar was enough to follow a blog. He doesn’t have a suscribe option in his sidebar, so (at the time) I didn’t think there was a way to subscribe. I don’t do RSS simply because I just cannot keep up with RSS’s, emails, etc. so gave up the RSS feed a while back. But thanks… went back and used the “follow” in the top bar.
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