... and other deep discussions

Cliff and I had another conversation during a walk this week, a rather depressing one:  we both agree that America is broken beyond repair.  
We believe all the king's horses and all the king's men can't put Humpty Dumpty together again.   
In this country we elect politicians who, for the most part, are out for their own good, so far removed from ordinary people that they don't even know what we need.  We go to the polls and make a choice between Mickey Mouse and Goofy, knowing neither one is right for the job.  
Nobody asked me if I wanted to finance a war in Afghanistan, by the way.
But I digress.  
It isn't the politicians who are to blame.  It's "we the people".  
We're selfish.  We don't want to give up anything, and the only way this Humpty-Dumpty could be fixed is if everybody gave up some things.  
Here's an imaginary scenario:  Let's say somebody figured out that if 75% of the people in this country agreed to give up television and home computers, it would save the country; they ask for volunteers because, after all, it's a free country.  
I'd be thinking, "I'll give up mine if everybody on welfare gives up theirs; oh, and all the politicians, too."  
And in the end, only a few stalwart souls would take that step to try and save the country; it would all be for naught, because we needed 75% and only got 2%.  
Seriously... I don't want your answer, but think about it... would you give up television and Internet if you thought it would put America back on track?  If it would make the country a good place to live for your children and grandchildren?  
This is an imaginary scenario, so don't get me wrong.  I don't think getting rid of TV and the Internet would save the country; I only chose those two because they're things that most of us would have difficulty letting go of.  I'm just wondering what freedom is really worth to us. 
I'm as selfish as everybody else.  I don't want give up a single thing.
We're spoiled, living in the wasteland of the free, as Iris Dement wrote years ago. 


We got preachers dealing in politics and diamond mines
and their speech is growing increasingly unkind
They say they are Christ's disciples
but they don't look like Jesus to me
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got politicians running races on corporate cash
Now don't tell me they don't turn around and kiss them peoples' ass
You may call me old-fashioned
but that don't fit my picture of a true democracy
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got CEO's making two hundred times the workers' pay
but they'll fight like hell against raising the minimum wage
and If you don't like it, mister, they'll ship your job
to some third-world country 'cross the sea
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

Living in the wasteland of the free
where the poor have now become the enemy
Let's blame our troubles on the weak ones
Sounds like some kind of Hitler remedy
Living in the wasteland of the free

We got little kids with guns fighting inner city wars
So what do we do, we put these little kids behind prison doors
and we call ourselves the advanced civilization
that sounds like crap to me
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

Here's why I love Iris Dement

WASTELAND OF THE FREE

written by Kansas City's own

Iris Dement

We got preachers dealing in politics and diamond mines
and their speech is growing increasingly unkind
They say they are Christ's disciples
but they don't look like Jesus to me
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got politicians running races on corporate cash
Now don't tell me they don't turn around and kiss them peoples' ass.
You may call me old-fashioned
but that don't fit my picture of a true democracy
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free.

We got CEO's making two hundred times the workers' pay
but they'll fight like hell against raising the minimum wage
and If you don't like it, mister, they'll ship your job
to some third-world country 'cross the sea
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

Living in the wasteland of the free
where the poor have now become the enemy
Let's blame our troubles on the weak ones
Sounds like some kind of Hitler remedy
Living in the wasteland of the free

We got little kids with guns fighting inner city wars
So what do we do, we put these little kids behind prison doors
and we call ourselves the advanced civilization
that sounds like crap to me
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got high-school kids running 'round in Calvin Klein and Guess
who cannot pass a sixth-grade reading test
but if you ask them, they can tell you
the name of every crotch on MTV
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We kill for oil, then we throw a party when we win.
Some guy refuses to fight, and we call that the sin.
but he's standing up for what he believes in.
and that seems pretty damned American to me,
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

Living in the wasteland of the free
where the poor have now become the enemy
Let's blame our troubles on the weak ones
Sounds like some kind of Hitler remedy
Living in the wasteland of the free

While we sit gloating in our greatness
justice is sinking to the bottom of the sea
Living in the wasteland of the free
Living in the wasteland of the free
Living in the wasteland of the free