It's amazing to me that no one is up in arms protesting the choices of governments recently politicians are suposed to be civil servents, not CEOs, but today I see little difference. Both award themseleves bonuses and raises while the average citizen watches their standard of living go backwards. I know things are bad all over and much worse in the non developed world. I just hear so much frustration, I am so frustrated, yet not enough of us are willing to rise up and shout and hold our elected civil servents accountable. Okay enough of my ranting, there are those out there that can do it much better...and here I give you lyrics by Crass. Some of the references are dated, but the message still applies: (Note: I do not endorse all sentiments expressed in this song, but the overall message of personal responsibility always makes me think...and most often feel guilty I'm not doing more)
Big A, little A, bouncing B
The system might have got you but it won't get me
1 - 2 - 3 - 4
External control are you gonna let them get you?
Do you wanna be a prisoner in the boundaries they set you?
You say you want to be yourself, by christ do you think they'll let you?
They're out to get you get you get you get you get you get you get you
Hello, hello, hello, this is the Lord God, can you hear?
Hellfire and damnation's what I've got for you down there
On earth I have ambassadors, archbishop, vicar, pope
We'll blind you with morality, you'd best abandon any hope,
We're telling you you'd better pray cos you were born in sin
Right from the start we'll build a cell and then we'll lock you in
We sit in holy judgement condemning those that stray
We offer our forgiveness, but first we'll make you pay
External control are you gonna let them get you?
Do you wanna be a prisoner in the boundaries they set you?
You say you want to be yourself, by christ do you think they'll let you?
They're out to get you get you get you get you get you get you get you
Hello, hello, hello, now here's a massage from your queen
As figurehead of the status quo I set the social scene
I'm most concerned about my people, I want to give them peace
So I'm making sure they stay in line with my army and police
My prisons and my mental homes have ever open doors
For those amongst my subjects who dare to ask for more
Unruliness and disrespect are things I can't allow
So I'll see the peasants grovel if they refuse to bow
External control are you gonna let them get you?
Do you wanna be a prisoner in the boundaries they set you?
You say you want to be yourself, by christ do you think they'll let you?
They're out to get you get you get you get you get you get you get you
Introducing the Prime Sinister, she's a mother to us all
Like the dutch boy's finger in the dyke her arse is in the wall
Holding back the future waiting for the seas to part
If Moses did it with is faith, she'll do it with an army
Who at times of threatened crisis are certain to be there
Guarding national heritage no matter what or where
Palaces for kings and queens, mansions for the rich
Protection for the wealthy, defence of privilege
They've learnt the ropes In Ireland, engaged in civil war
Fighting for the ruling classes in their battle against the poor
So Ireland's just an island? It's an island of the mind
Great Britain? Future? Bollocks, you'd better look behind
Round every other corner stands P.C. 1984
Guardian of the future, he'll implement the law
He's there as a grim reminder that no matter what you do
Big brothers system's always there with his beady eyes on you
From God to local bobby, in home and street and school
They've got your name and number while you've just got their rule
We've got to look for methods to undermine those powers
It's time to change the tables. The future must be ours
Big A, little A, bouncing B
The system might have got you but it won't get me
Be exactly who you want to be, do what you want to do
I am he and she is she but you're the only you
No one else has got your eyes, can see the things you see
It's up to you to change your life and my life's up to me
The problems that you suffer from are problems that you make
The shit we have to climb through is the shit we choose to take
If you don't like the life you live, change it now it's yours
Nothing has effects if you don't recognise the cause
If the programme's not the one you want, get up, turn off the set
It's only you that can decide what life you're gonna get
If you don't like religion you can be the antichrist
If your tired of politics you can be an anarchist
But no one ever changed the church by pulling down a steeple
And you'll never change the system by bombing number ten
Systems just aren't made of bricks they're mostly made of people
You may send them into hiding, but they'll be back again
If you don't like the rules they make, refuse to play their game
If you don't want to be a number, don't give them your name
If you don't want to be caught out, refuse to hear their question
Silence is a virtue, use it for your own protection
They'll try to make you play their game, refuse to show your face
If you don't want to be beaten down, refuse to join their race
Be exactly who you want to be, do what you want to do
I am he and she is she but you're they only you
Your link doesn't work. I saw part of the Ventura interview. He does have balls but he is hard to take seriously.
There is nobody out there willing to take on the lobbyists. Arguing about which Dem. Repub. for presient makes me want to vomit
Fuck official Washington - they are Romans waiting for Rome to burn. Which it obviously will. S&P is thinking of lowering the US Government's bond rating from AAA+. Talk about all down hill from here!!
As much as I love dissen the RepubliCONs:We enter a kitchen in middle America. The family is gathered around the kitchen table. An old woman is crying over a pile of medical bills. Her Son and his wife try to comfort her. On the TV Sen. Bohner rails against Medicare and Social Security. Her 5yo grandson speaks, " Daddy why is the Mean Orange man trying to Kill Gramdma? "
Any real news about some Northwest dates before the rain comes back in Sept?
Like in August?? We are beginning to feel left out .
I can't do the June 3.4 Shoreline shows as my Wife will be in the Hospital
Actually it's still raining here and has made it to a blistering 44 deg today
423shows and counting.
The Bus came by and I got on a Long strange time ago
What does everyone think of the Dapper Don's Presidential motivations? My take is; same old song and dance... just a different hairdoo.
Of all the political items I've seen lately on TV; the Jesse Ventura interview on CNN a few weeks back takes the cake for balls. Way to go Jesse! I'll vote for you if you run!
"What's gonna happen to the arms industry when we realize that we're all one?" ~ Bill Hicks
....every year Ted. I knew this was going to be a big year but are you sure that it's cresting 38-39 feet ABOVE flood stage above Fargo? (Checking)
"FARGO – The Red River crested in Fargo-Moorhead at 38.75 feet at about 6:15 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
Meanwhile, widespread breakout flooding Sunday was causing the highest flood levels ever seen in northeastern Cass County and northwestern Clay County, the Weather Service said.
Saturday’s crest in the metro area ranks the 2011 flood as the fourth highest on record behind 1897 (39.10); 1997 (39.72) and 2009 (40.84).
Since cresting Saturday, the river has been slowly falling in the Fargo area and Sunday’s rainfall, just under three-quarters of an inch by 10:30 p.m., was not expected to push the river back to crest level.
However, the river will remain high for many days and it is not expected to fall below 36 feet before Sunday"
It is great news that Fargo made it over the hump this year. The city had made a comeback and that ain't no small thing for a Dakota plains town. I really wish those people the very best as well as those downstream. It never ends in Fargo, just makes the biggest headlines there.
It would seem that the figures sighted are official crest of the river, not the number of feet above flood stage. 38 feet above flood stage would be biblical.
~ Wake of the flood, laughing water, forty nine
Get out the pans, don't just stand there dreaming, get out the way
Get out the way ~
After a marathon winter in North Dakota and Minnesota, the north-flowing Red River is cresting 38' or 39' above flood stage, inundating communities north of Fargo. Sandbags and levees may not be plentiful or strong enough to hold back the water.
Feds are off to work this morning after a shutdown was averted with an 11th hour agreement Friday night. Let's see what tomorrow brings, eh?
Did another tremblor hit Japan this morning???
I appreciate your mental picture of me with patches and pipe. Slightly different life path, that could have been me, for sure. And I AM moderately reasonable, within reason...
Can we set up the gallows and hang Boehner, Cantor, Reid and Pelosi right now? While the cherry blossoms are in bloom? In front of the Lincoln Memorial?