Pink Bike in Madison

smashed pumpkin

wake up amerika!

(December 2007)

Wake up amerika!
I’m tired of your
relaxed attitude –
your,
“let me sit back
put my feet up
and take whatever shit
the politicians
and marketers
and media feed me.”
You know something’s
wrong!
You see something’s
wrong!
You see through
the smokescreen
of political extremists -
cable television
talking (shit) heads
You let these (shit) head
create simple issues
that are easy to file
and judge
while making sure
the real issues -
hunger
greed
corporate finagling
amerika’s dead
sons and daughters
on foreign soil (for foreign oil)
lack of children’s rights – and lack of healthcare
insert one here ________
These issues – the real issues -
remain unseen
Liberals = Bad – Conservatives = Good
or
Conservatives = Bad – Liberals = Good…
how easy that all is…
No, sit back
on your couch
amerika!
Insert beer or favorite cocktailof your pretentious choice
In one hand
A channel changer in the other!
Come on amerika!
Shouldn’t you demand
that the bar be raised
just a little?
Shouldn’t you demand
accountability
from those acting on your behalf?
Shouldn’t you demand
a substantive conversation on the issues?
Shouldn’t you demand
That your candidates
STOP
being chosen by big money
and big media
(I mean…
these guys have gotten
to the point
where you don’t even see
the strings attached
as special interests
and corporate amerika
makes the candidates
dance for you!)
Shouldn’t you
STOP
the puppet show?

What would you say amerika
If George Washington
came back?
How would you explain
the mess
we’ve made of democracy?
No doubt,
the father of our country
would be pretty pissed off
and wonder
HOW?
The ancestors of
the brave revolutionary war
soldiers and families
and ancestors of those
who sacrificed
in their moving to
the land of opportunity
could be so comfortable
in their bleacher seats
just watching as the democracy
that these brave people bled for
has turned into little more
than political porn

Where is the amerika
I used to know?
And love!?!
Filled with rebels
and revolutionaries
who wouldn’t trust anyone
in the “establishment”?

Where are they?

Where did you go, amerika?

WAKE UP!!!!

NO, actually,
Go back to sleep
Go back to watching TV
And text messaging
And seditary surfing on a fuck’n machine

Go back to sleep!
There’s nothing for you here!
Only a country in need of its citizens!

No!
Go back to sleep
You people make me fuck’n sick!