I’ve been singing the song “Masters of War” a lot lately. Every time I practice, I play it. I’d guess I’ve worked through it, either listening or playing, at least 500 times since September. The verses are burned into my consciousness. Every word is still relevant; the military industrial complex is every bit as powerful now as it was when Dylan wrote about it in 1963 at the ripe old age of 22. 22! And he created what’s gone down as one of the most succinct, eloquent protest songs of all time, certainly one of the landmark antiwar pieces.

But for all its brilliance, what futility he must have felt. A guitar and a voice vs. the military-industrial complex. These people didn’t hear a word he said. They were tucked away, safe and sheltered. That their trade was a curse on the whole world was not their problem, and mere criticism could not and did not move them. If Bob Dylan was president, maybe they’d mind, but he wasn’t even a speck. But he did have two things: the moral high ground, and the First Amendment. That’s all anybody has, really. If right is on your side, you can be vocal about it and hopefully others will hear and join. Accusation, for all its pitfalls, is a necessary step toward justice.

According to a new Gallup poll, a whopping 80% of the American people are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. at this time. Only 19% answered the opposite, the lowest rating registered since January of 1992 (the start of the final year of George Bush Sr.’s term in office). The only time the poll has ever found a lower number was in 1979 (tail end of the Carter years, during the Iranian Hostage Crisis, soaring gas prices), when a 14% rating occurred.

You might be thinking, “hey, why’s the number gotten so low now…. I’ve been dissatisfied with the direction of the country for awhile“. But see, all that means is you’ve been paying attention for the last five years… The extreme number of 19% has only been reached because Republicans have finally turned. Yeah, that’s right, even the GOP is uncomfortable now! Gallup sayeth:

Since January 2007, U.S. satisfaction has dropped by nearly half, from 35% to 19%. However, it has dropped much more among Republicans (from 60% to 33%) than among Democrats (from 16% to 7%).

The 33% of Republicans satisfied with the country today is the lowest Gallup has found for members of President Bush’s party since he took office in 2001.

About five minutes ago I was on Big Orange writing a comment in another candidate diary and suddenly I was like, fuck it. I need to stop reading these. This is terrible. But I like hanging around because there’s so much interesting commentary and excellent points being made on all sides. I seriously can’t turn away, it’s so entertaining. Call it navel-gazing, blood sport or what, but damn. This is world class entertainment.

Forgive the shorthand and oversimplification, but it’s like Rambo, seeing the Hillbots go in against the ABH diaries, and vice versa, and pissed off Edwards people all over the place, some rampant ageism, and then people calling for calm, some just trying to ride it out, some really obnoxious trolls, lots of posters just going SNAP and leaving, and then some people offering the most brilliant political commentary I’ve ever read.

But since reading them or commenting in them isn’t doing me or the world any damn good, I decided that every time I wade into one, I’m going to immediately leave. If I want to be on a blog, I’ll start writing a diary on Docudharma or Lose the Label about something decidedly NOT related to the election. Better yet, I’ll just run away from my computer.

Anyway, for my first exile from Candidasia, here are some lyrics videos for songs I wrote. Except the first one, which is a cover. Feel free to pick at it, or snag free downloads here.

So I walked into the kitchen last night to make dinner and I could hear my mom helping my little brother with his history homework in the other room. He’s in 8th grade, learning about American government. She was teaching him how the presidency and Congress work, what the amendments are, etc. She told him how the president has to take an oath before he takes office.

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

But it’s all bullshit.