Well, I’m indifferent to the flag, and I found the bible to be a pretty compelling read, but I’m against using either of them to bludgeon people who disagree with me.
No, there was no question, just you trying to mischaracterize and “hyperbole” away the people who live in public housing in the inner city. Just as you tried to miscatagorize prayer in public schools.
What, exactly, are you basing your claim that inner-city dwelling, public housing living New Yorkers are NOT paying out more in taxes than they are getting? Besides what you’ve seen on Good Times?
But there aren’t many people who are against the Bible or the flag. His imagined victimhood depends on the idea that there’s folks who are anti-flag and anti-Bible keeping him down. Of course that represents liberals - that’s pretty standard anti-liberal sentiment if you read the letters to the editor in the newspaper. The message is obvious. Don’t pretend otherwise.
From here:
“17 of the 20 (85%) states receiving the most federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Red States.”
“11 of the 14 (79%) of the states receiving the least federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Blue States.”
Godless Evolutionist Communist Homosexuals, apparently.
I bet those meetings are interesting.
From here:
“17 of the 20 (85%) states receiving the most federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Red States.”
“11 of the 14 (79%) of the states receiving the least federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Blue States.”
Exactly. There isn’t anybody who’s against farmers or “the guy working the third shift” or a single mother raising her kids either. The entire song is an assault on an army of strawmen.
Uh, 1776? The republican ideal, and all that?
He’s trying to show solidarity with with the downtrodden. That way they’ll waste more of their money on his CDs. I wonder if he’s “for” the kid downloading that song for free. 
I’m writing a country anthem that I think’s gonna be a big, big hit.
“I was born in a small town,
taught the fear of God in a small town.
Still live in that small town,
can’t find work in my small town.
Got a girl pregnant in a small town,
Can’t support the baby in a small town.
I love my small town,
because I fear - I meant don’t fit into the big city!”
Work in a bit about meth labs and you’re there.
Of course. These types of songs are all about strawmen. It’s that whole, “The conservative politicians just speak for the rich, and the liberal ones just speak for the people who want to ban the pledge in schools, and nobody speaks for the average guy who loves his country and God and can’t cut a break.”
I doubt that having the GOP in power and a swing to the right on the Supreme Court wildly empowers the people mentioned in the above lyrics (*excuse me for leaving out the pore preachers on their knees etc.). The major dopeyness of the song lies in who it blames for their downtrodden state (i.e. “I wouldn’t have to work third shift if it wasn’t for the Godless Liberals.”)
That sort of “confusion” is quite common among advocates of organized prayer in public schools. Good to see the immediate and factual response by other posters (oh, and nice pirouette, Bricker)
Garsh thanks.
I take it you believe that schools shoud sponsor prayer? Are there any limitations on such sponsoring? Cuz Merle seems to think that the Bible is the way to go, according to your explication. How about Wiccan prayer? Santeria prayer? Voodoo prayer? Should we let Fred Phelps pop in for a mornin’ meditation down to th’ elementary school?
So… the American War of Independence was not mainly about the American colonists rejecting British rule in favour of self-rule, but was in fact the poor downtrodden farmers rising up against the urban oppressors? 
Something, in fact, rather like, “Workers of the world, unite!” ? 
Wow! Ya learn something new every day. Thanks for fighting my ignorance Metacom!
Instead of getting worked up over a song (or perceived trend in country music), go out and pick up a copy of Kinky Friedman’s They Ain’t Makin Jews Like Jesus Anymore.
The American President. I usually don’t like Michael Douglas, but God I love that movie.
If that’s how you feel about your job, fine. But I hope you don’t think physically-demanding jobs are inherently more virtuous or important than office jobs. Our society needs all types. We need big strong guys to lug the cinder blocks from one corner to the next. We need the shrimpy woman to type up the purchase order for the cinder blocks. Both paychecks are earned and equally honest. Both are hard work and should be respected.
That guy ain’t nothin’ but an asshole from El Paso. It is, however, hard to keep a good man down.
Especially the flag. I mean, the Bible’s got some heft to it, but how do you bludgeon someone with a flag? I suppose you could get it wet, twist it up, and give someone a few good welts with it, but that’s hardly the same thing as “bludgeoning.”