Wednesday, July 4, 2012

July Fourth

Since I have to work today, I set this post up yesterday... but in reality, I'm recycling a post from a couple of years ago. One of my all-time favorite songs is Fourth of July originally released by LA's X, but written by Dave Alvin, originally of The Blasters, who joined X for their See How We Are album. Here's a video of Dave performing the song with a reunited Blasters:





The song resonates today, with its tale of a couple struggling with economic privation, and the effects that it has on their relationship:


On the lost side of town, in a dark apartment,
We gave up trying so long ago.



The song ends on a hopeful note, as the narrator tries to rouse his significant other with the prospect of actually deriving some enjoyment on the holiday. Of course, his success, and the ultimate success of the couple's relationship, is never revealed in the song, but I like to view it as an optimistic song.

That being said, one of the biggest cultural problems facing the United States is the conflation of economic system "Capitalism" with the political system "Democracy". Free-market blatherskite notwithstanding, an autocratic society can embrace capitalism (China is a perfect example) while a socialist society can have a population with more freedom than the U.S. population (the Scandinavian countries are a perfect example). The old English jurist Lord Henley observed that "Necessitous men are not, truly speaking, free men, but, to answer a present exigency, will submit to any terms that the crafty may impose upon them."

I often rib one of my vanishingly few libertarian friends that Socialism will save Capitalism from itself. I think that it could also save Democracy from Capitalism as a side effect. Of course, even an incremental reform of healthcare is being fought tooth-and-nail by corporate feudalists, so we can look forward to Freedumb! ringing for the next four months. For one day, though, we can ignore the idiocy, and enjoy at least some measure of freedom, even if it just boils down to a one-day beer bash.

Enjoy your Fourth of July, and don't blow any digits off, now.

6 comments:

  1. Hmm. I love the song also, but my favorite version is the X one, because I love John Doe's voice....but I don't see it ending on a hopeful note, not at all. More like resignation that the love they had is gone, but for one day they can enjoy what they used to have. Bittersweet at best.


    Having said that: Bob Mould. BOB MOULD. I said it louder because of the ringing in my ears.

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  2. Amurka: Land of the Freedom Fry, Home of the Braves.
    ~

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  3. Enjoy your Fourth of July, and don't blow any digits off, now.

    4 just picks my ass. Must be the Huey Lewis association.

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  4. but I don't see it ending on a hopeful note, not at all. More like resignation that the love they had is gone, but for one day they can enjoy what they used to have. Bittersweet at best.

    How long you been married? Did Bob Mould play any Husker Du songs?

    Amurka: Land of the Freedom Fry, Home of the Braves.

    USA! USA!

    4 just picks my ass. Must be the Huey Lewis association.

    You've lost me on this one... will Google help?

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  5. OK, nobody checks the summerfest blog for updates. I get it.

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