Wednesday, November 3, 2010

GOVERNMENT

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one."
- John Lennon -


In the wake of yesterday's significant election results, over the next day or two there will be an overabundance of interpreters and commentators. I will not be one of them. I will reserve making specific comment for a few days, until I have had time to fully absorb and ponder all that has just transpired.

Meanwhile, I will simply offer my initial gut reaction in verse. This is a piece inspired by, patterned after, and to which I offer my humble apologies: John Lennon's 1970 effort that he called "God." Like that effort of 40 years ago, it is a wistful and angry observation and accounting of a personal set of beliefs. I call it "Government."

GOVERNMENT

Government is a concept
by which we mete out and measure our pain.

I'll say it again:

Government's a concept
by which we mete out and measure our pain.

I don't believe in Wall Street.
I don't believe in Nafta.
I don't believe in Bank of America.
I don't believe in Gates.
I don't believe in Friedman.
I don't believe in Pfizer.
I don't believe in Cargill.
I don't believe in WellPoint.
I don't believe in Adam Smith.
I don't believe in Romney.
I don't believe in Bernanke.
I don't believe in Lenin.
I don't believe in the Pentagon.
I don't believe in Reagan.
I don't believe in Palin.

I just believe in me;
you and me,
and that's reality.

The dream is over -
lasted 200 years plus.
I was a dreamer,
but now I've woken up.
I was an Obamaist,
but now I'm a dissident.

And so, dear friends,
we'll just have to carry on.
The dream is over...


The dream ISN'T really over, folks. At the moment, it just seems that way. But like the dream for freedom from tyranny Russian dissidents Alexander Solzhenitzen and Andrei Sakharov once shared, the dream for economic justice the Pullman strikers of 1894 and Cesar Chavez and migrant workers of the 1960s shared, and the dream for individual dignity and civil rights that 1960s activists Rosa Parks and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King shared, we current progressives, too, must lick our wounds and carry on. Like them, we must unceasingly continue to battle for a government truly of, for, and by the people rather than one strictly for the benefit of repressive social conservatives and the wealthy. Like them, we must NEVER lose hope or abandon our dream and continue to fight for social and economic fairness and justice. And, like pre-Civil War slaves and all of those already mentioned, with each scourage inflicted on us we must strengthen our resolve and determination to overcome temporary setbacks and continue to press strongly for the sensibility and justice which MUST and eventually WILL prevail!

6 comments:

mud_rake said...

Yes, Jack, we will prevail although up until that time, quite a lot of damage will have been done- damage that another Democratic Congress will have to attempt to fix.

The American electorate is too dumb to understand that pattern and so it gave Obama and the Dems 2 years to 'fix' the 8-year mess of Bush.

Two years from now, they will be singing a different song, but, oh what a mess will have been created in those 2 years!

Jack Jodell said...

You raise some very good points, mud_rake!

Max's Dad said...

Ugh! It's almost as bad as the Twins losing. But the fight goes on. Let's hope the fickleness continues in 2 years and Obama looks good compared to these nuts and obstructionists gumming up the works. It worked for Clinton in 1996. Go ahead, Boner, shut it all down. Keep punching, Jack!

Jack Jodell said...

Max's Dad,
Yes, those scoundrels and their big money buddies don't care about anyone but themselves and getting back total power for themselves, and they will fail miserably as a result. It will be MUCH different in 2 years when we come roaring back, so let's both keep punching!
R eactionary
E xtremist
P lutocratic
U nderhanded
B oorish
L ying
I gnorant
C antankerous
A rrogant
N asty
That's what being a modern conservative Republican is, all spelled out for you.

Darlene said...

It's really hard to see the big picture today, but I know we have been through idiot periods before and we will prevail. I may not live to see it, but I still have a glimmer of hope.

Jack Jodell said...

Darlene, you are absolutely correct, and I DO hope you outlast this current Dark Ages!