On May 15, John McCain delivered a speech in Columbus OH in which he fantasized about what the USA would be like after his hoped-for first term as President. Later that week, Barack Obama addressed supporters in Portland OR on his plans for retirement security. I conjured up a couple of campaign songs for the candidates based on the underlying principles they champion.
You're on Your Own (YOYO) (sung by McCain to the tune of To Each His Own)
So, to those who disdain and won't vote for McCain:
BushCo's lovely promise has come true.
You're on your own. You're on your own. And, we now own you.
We're in This Together (WITT) (sung by Obama to the tune of So Happy Together)
Imagine me and you. I do.
We'll stick together day and night. It's only right,
To care about the world we love, yo use our might.
We're in this together.
The United States has experienced several years of robust economic growth, and Americans again have confidence in their economic future. A reduction in the corporate tax rate from the second highest in the world to one on par with our trading partners; the low rate on capital gains; allowing business to deduct in a single year investments in equipment and technology...Health care has become more accessible to more Americans than at any other time in history. Reforms of the insurance market; putting the choice of health care into the hands of American families rather than exclusively with the government or employers...The reduction in the growth of health care costs has begun to relieve some of the pressure on Medicare; encouraging Congress to act in a bipartisan way to extend its solvency for twenty-five years without increasing taxes and raising premiums only for upper income seniors. Their success encouraged a group of congressional leaders from both parties to work with my administration to fix Social Security as well, without reducing benefits to those near retirement. The reforms include some form of personal retirement accounts in safe and reliable index funds...Scores of judges have been confirmed to the federal district and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, who understand that they were not sent there to write our laws but to enforce them and make sure they are consistent with the Constitution. They are judges of exceptional character and quality, who enforce and do not make laws, and who respect the values of the people whose rights, laws and property they are sworn to defend.
His vision of the future is divorced from his roadmap to get there. ...It's one of the most important arguments progressives can make between now and November, and it's simple, compelling, and unarguably true: we've tried it their way, and it hasn't worked. ...I describe the vision as YOYO (you're on your own) economics...The reason, of course, is that the benefits of the economy's growth flowed largely to those at the top of the scale, an outcome long associated with YOYO'ism.
By the way, about two years ago, Bernstein's book All Together Now: Common Sense for a Fair Economy came out. The New York Times published some excerpts from the introduction, Ready or Not, You're On Your Own, and from chapter 3, The 'All Together Now' Plan. Last month saw the release of Bernstein's new book Crunch: Why Do I Feel So Squeezed? (And Other Unsolved Economic Mysteries). Both books look to be some mighty-fine reading for Progressives and to be full of some great talking points for the upcoming elections.
Obama delivered his speech to a record-breaking crowd estimated at 75,000 people. He concluded with these remarks (emphasis mine):
Since the New Deal, we've had that basic understanding in America. If you work hard and pay into the system, you've earned the right to a secure retirement. That's the promise that was kept for my grandparents and Michelle's parents, and for so many families here in Oregon and across the country. But in George Bush and John McCain's Washington, the message to the middle class is: "you're on your own."
Well I'm running for because we must be the country where we say that we're all in this together. We can do this. We can come together to keep America's promise - not just for this generation of seniors, but for our children and our grandchildren. That's a principle worth fighting for. And with your help, that's what I will do every day when I am President of the United States of America.
McCain v Obama. Retirement, health care, New Orleans, college tuition, civil rights, privacy, unemployment, poverty, homelessness, child care, hunger, fuel prices, veterans' benefits. YOYO v WITT. That's it, in a nutshell.
I hope you enjoy the songs.
To Each His Own, was written in 1946 by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. This version was recorded by The Platters. You'll find the original lyrics here.
You're on Your Own (YOYO)
So, to those who disdain and won't vote for McCain:
BushCo's lovely promise has come true.
You're on your own. You're on your own.
And, we now own you.
Who cares if we're wrong? Hear our words. Just run along.
'Cuz this dream is not a dream for you!
We're fine alone. You're on your own.
You can just make do.
It's our game. It's our show. We have lots of dough,
To open each door. That's the key.
Don't need you, although, we can't let you go.
Your bucks buy our stuff, you see.
Resist and be pissed. You need us to exist.
For we control your world - and you.
You're on your own. We've found our own.
Get your own! Screw you!
It's our game. It's our show. We have lots of dough,
To open each door. That's the key.
Don't need you, although, we can't let you go.
Your bucks buy our stuff, you see.
Resist and be pissed. You need us to exist.
For we control your world - and you.
You're on your own. We've found our own.
Get your own! Screw you!
(So) Happy Together was written in 1967 by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon and performed by The Turtles. You'll find the original lyrics here.
We're in This Together (WITT)
Imagine me and you. I do.
We'll stick together day and night. It's only right,
To care about the world we love and set it right.
We're in this together.
If I should call you up, invest my time,
Will you say you'll stand strong with me and all mankind?
Imagine how the world could be so very fine!
We're in this together.
I can't see me makin' it through without you,
To help me out.
When you're with me, baby, the skies'll be blue.
We'll work it out!
Me and you must spread the word.
No matter how they push their lies, we must be heard.
The only way we can prevail is undeterred.
We're in this together.
I can't see me making it through without you,
To help me out.
When you're with me, baby, the skies'll be blue.
We'll work it out!
Me and you must spread the word.
No matter how they push their lies, we must be heard.
The only way we can prevail is undeterred.
We're in this together.
Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba O-ba-ma!
Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba O-ba-ma!
Me and you must spread the word.
No matter how they push their lies, we must be heard.
The only way we can prevail is undeterred.
We're in this together.
We're in this together.
Birds of a feather.
We're in this together.
So, let's work together.
We're in this together.
Get it together.
We're in this together.
We're in this together.
We have a big job ahead of us making sure we turn INDIES into WITTs before they become YOYOs. So, let's get busy!
What is health justice? How are health & human rights fiercely connected to the wellness of our neighborhoods? How do we reframe policy debates? How do we continue dreaming and building instead of just reacting & surviving? And how do we support each other in our healing?
Cure This is an online space for storytelling, discussion, & radical transformation. Create an account to write a diary or comment. Questions or thoughts: lotusfeet [at] hotmail [dot] com
News: CureThis was part of an exhibit in Chicago: "Visual resistance in feminist health movements, 1969-2009" [link]
