Story Behind The Song

The US likes to hold itself above all other governments as a model for Democracy, with voting rights, free speech, etc. The truth is more sinister. In about 2004, I learned that our government was making propaganda films can called Video News Releases (VNRs), disguised as real news, complete with fake reporters, but embedded into broadcasts on real TV stations. Ironically, I learned of this on a TV news show (something I rarely watch). Here's another VNR that hyped the First Gulf War. But it turns out that government propaganda and manipulation of opinion on a grand scale are nothing new. In a 1941 declassified memo, OSS (later CIA) media master Frank Wizner bragged about how his group could 'play the mighty Wurlitzer' of the press (print & radio back then). In fact, you should read all about it in a book just published: The Mighty Wurlitzer: How the CIA Played America. With the election of Barack Obama, I'm gonna ajdust the lyrics in the third Chorus to talk about the criminal GOP purging of legitimate voters, the hacking of voting machines, maybe a bit about the state of healthcare. As I say, Get Informed (read MediaMatters, FAIR).

Song Description

The pervasive perversion of the media & government by the corporate pimps. Awards: 8/31/08 Hon. Mention The Billboard World Song Contest 2/17/08 Top 30 Durango Song Contest 2008 6/30/07 4th Place 11th Annual Unisong International Song Contest

Lyrics

Now the White House is makin news videos, just to make sure I know what to know
About legislation that affects nation, Let 'em think for me, don't disturb my vegetation

Cause I've got 500 channels of hi-def TV, in my so-called democracy
Dis-information in crystal clarity in my so-called democracy
The rise of American Idiocy in my so-called democracy
Home of the neo-con consent factory in my so-called democracy

Where the 4th estate is bought by the 2nd, I'm sure this is just what The Framers had reckoned
Where town hall meetings with the president are screened for the right kind of sycophant

And I've got justice for all who have enough money in my so-called democracy
Unfair, unbalanced crazies on TV in my so-called democracy
Don't look toward the FCC in my so-called democracy
Dude, where's your accountability? in my so-called democracy
In my so-called democracy, In my so-called democracy

If the White House needs to pay the press, well, they're only looking out for my best
If the NYPD must suppress protest, well, they're only looking out for my best
And if rich folk are feeling oppressed let's give 'em more tax breaks, cause that's what's best
And if they need to draft us for their next conquest, well, they're only looking out for our best
Looking out for our best, can't you see just don't call it democracy

Where White House reporting is just stenography in my so-called democracy
Cause don't you dare question their policy in my so-called democracy
Let's make some laws in secrecy just don't call it democracy
Let's call it a theo-plutocracy just don't call it democracy

In my so-called democracy, In my so-called democracy
In my so-called democracy, In my so-called democracy