Born Again American

[brian0918]

I used to watch Bill Moyers Journal before jumping from one side of the political spectrum to the other. I still occasionally check it out, and it's more frightening than ever. Tonight he talked about a movement called "Born Again Americans", who are paving the way for socialism in the US, under the guise of Freedom and The American Way. They even have a catchy country/gospel tune to promote, and a music video! Here are the lyrics:

Just a workin' man without a job

It got shipped off to China via Washington, D.C.

But I know I'm nothing special, there are plenty more like me

But just the same

I thought I knew the rules of the game

My brother's welding chassis at the plant

He's earning what our granddad did in 1948

While CEOs count bonuses behind the castle gates

How can they see

When all they care about's the do, re, mi.

It's getting where there's no where left to turn

Not since the crash of twenty-nine have things been so unfair

So many of our citizens are living in despair

The time has come to reaffirm that hope's not just for some.

The promise of America surrendering to greed

The rule is just look out for number one

But brace yourself 'cause some of us have sown a different seed

A harvest of the spirit has begun

I'm a born-again American conceived in liberty

My Bible and my Bill of Rights

My creed's equality

I'm a born-again American, my country 'tis of me

And everyone who shares the dream from sea to shining sea.

Bill Moyers's final comment:

There you have it - the promise of America is not alone a government project; it's in our hands, and requires each of us to take our own oath of commitment. As Simon Schama writes in the American future, this republic is shouting to be remade. That's a job for everyone.

Edited January 17, 2009 by brian0918

[KurtColville]

Bill Moyers / Bertram Scudder

Edited January 17, 2009 by KurtColville

[Jake_Ellison]

My brother's welding chassis at the plant

He's earning what our granddad did in 1948

While CEOs count bonuses behind the castle gates

1. That's not true.

2. Perhaps his brother should've brushed up on some of them technological advances that made it possible for some of us to produce a lot more than our grandparents. Then he would be able to do quite well.

Or he could actually make some advances of his own, and then he'd live in a castle next to those CEO's he envies so much.

As long as he has the same knowledge his granddad had, or even less, why on Earth would he have more? Where would that more come from, if not stolen from those who have more knowledge?

Edited January 18, 2009 by Jake_Ellison

[softwareNerd]

... technological advances that made it possible for some of us to earn a lot more than our grandparents. ...

Beside the technological advances in the final product, there have been technological advances in manufacturing those products. The result is that it takes fewer hours of work to buy an item, and it is of better quality than it was decades ago.

On the other hand, non-manufacturing: i.e. construction and food (which are huge components of expenditure) may not tell the same story.

Economist mark Perry has recently been posting some details from an old Sears catalog on his blog. Here is one example: In 1949, a washer cost 83 hours of work at the average manufacturing wage of $1.26/hr. Today, a washer costs 18 hours at $18/hour.

[Zip]

The result is that it takes fewer hours of work to buy an item, and it is of better quality than it was decades ago.

Blasphemy! Everyone knows it was all better in the "good old days" when children were stricken by polio, men earned a dollar a day to dig ditches by hand and all of our products were made here, by hand and painted with lead paint.

We should be so lucky!!!

Progress is for looo-zors!