The future of American elections (Photo credit: Cory M. Grenier)
Who think of us merely as marks
Have contributed 80 per cent
Of all of the PAC money spent
To keep us down under their thumb
To keep us in fear, deaf, and dumb,
And lost in this cloud of dissension
That keeps us from paying attention
While this terrible one-ninety-six
Moves us like so many sticks
Nothings to be used as kindling
Suckers deserving of swindling
Pawns in their cruel game of chess
And no thought for all they oppress
With laws to protect all their crimes
With armies at drop of their dimes
With more than they ever could need
And still they continue to feed
On the blood of the people who sweat
As they play human Russian roulette
With the ones who cannot find the cost
Of food and whose jobs have been lost
Who’ve no health care, existing in slums
Lost jobs – dread when rent day comes
Whose children will not have a chance
Without college to ever advance
While the heirs of the one ninety six
Whose game has been already fixed
Whose success is already insured
Who’ve inherited comfort secured
As well as their lack of concern
For those who have nowhere to turn
Save a nation who could help its weak
But will not because PAC dollars speak
And we’re all of us left in the cold
While the one ninety six count their gold
And when bullet tears flesh in their war
It’s mere overhead – nothing more
One hundred and ninety six ghouls
Who continue to play us like fools
Whose surrogates defund our schools
Whose flunkies have traded their soul
For power and cash and control
Whose puppets all butter their bread
With silver received from the dead
Like the Kochs and their pals at the top
Who need to suck every last drop
Who feed never caring to ask
Who drink without passing the flask
And a nation goes slowly to seed
And the one per cent watches us bleed
The one hundred ninety six who
Must be held accountable to
The mother who can’t feed her kids
The indigents kept on the skids
The child who will never learn
The father ashamed he can’t earn
The young soldiers forever maimed
While the one ninety six unashamed
Without the least twinge of remorse
Continue to beat a dead horse
Having bought off the laws of our land
Thereby cleaning the blood off their hands
Having all that they ever could use
Continue with turning the screws
Though I believe that all life is eternal
I trust death takes them somewhere infernal
© 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.
Barking In The Dark 
“Who drink without passing the flask” for sure. Sometimes I wish I believed in hell. Thanks for making me feel all pissed off and nauseous, as usual. You have a knack for telling it like it is.
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Posted by girl in the hat | April 28, 2012, 1:53 amsorry it “is” this way too. thanks Anna. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | April 29, 2012, 7:25 amThe last lines sum up my feelings exactly. I am saddened by this as well, I had high hopes that all the internet and publicity would help people see the truth, but instead it seems to make it easier to pray on those eager to believe anything…..
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Posted by MJ, Nonstepmom | April 27, 2012, 7:08 pmyup. very sad. thanks Janet. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | April 29, 2012, 7:26 amPoetic but potent…..
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Posted by a diamond uncut | April 27, 2012, 4:06 pmthanks Diamond. i appreciate it. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | April 29, 2012, 7:27 amWow!
The following makes me so want to cry….
“And still they continue to feed / On the blood of the people who sweat / As they play human Russian roulette / With the ones who cannot find the cost / Of food and whose jobs have been lost / Who’ve no health care and exist in slums / Lost jobs – or dread when rent day comes / Whose children will not have a chance / Without college to ever advance”
What has happened to our country? Not that we were perfect, but we were moving in the right direction. Now, we’ve completely changed and it is not for the good of the people.
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Posted by Michelle at Motley News | April 26, 2012, 6:41 pmservices have been cut, people are made angrier and desperate, at the same time they have gotten dumber and more gullible, as the right-wing propaganda machine has spread throughout the media via money, and the 5 clowns on the supreme joke etc etc. thanks Michelle, sorry i had to write it. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | April 27, 2012, 6:37 amNo, don’t apologize. It is excellent! It may be horribly tragic, but it’s the truth and what is happening. I refuse to hide from it, play house and pretend everything is okay.
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Posted by Michelle at Motley News | April 27, 2012, 6:43 amAppreciated. That is what you are…appreciated.
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Posted by jotsfromasmallapt | April 26, 2012, 1:20 pmthank you Jots…i appreciate that. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | April 27, 2012, 6:38 amAnd that my folks is how it’s done…Spoken word Po at it’s finest..
You grabbed my hand and did not let go until the last word.. well done Tony!!
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Posted by free penny press | April 26, 2012, 11:35 amthanks Lynne, i appreciate it…but it’s sad that it had to be written. continue..
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Posted by barkinginthedark | April 27, 2012, 6:51 amAgreed! Powerful in its imagery and rhythm.
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Posted by lisahgolden | April 27, 2012, 3:37 pmi appreciate the props Lisa h. thanx. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | April 29, 2012, 7:52 amThis truly was a ballad, Tony. I love the last line 🙂 You’re so clever!!!
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Posted by WordsFallFromMyEyes | April 26, 2012, 10:28 amnot clever Noeleen – just fucking angry at what’s happened to my country. thanks. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | April 27, 2012, 6:39 amvery powerful poetry 🙂
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Posted by Soma Mukherjee | April 26, 2012, 9:52 amthank you Soma. i really appreciate it – coming from a real poet. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | April 27, 2012, 6:40 am*snap* *snap* *snap*. Beautiful.
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Posted by joesix | April 26, 2012, 6:25 amthanks for the snappy comment Joesix, i appreciate it. will check you out too. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | April 26, 2012, 6:27 am