The City of Keene’s Hall of Shame

The Homeless – They’re easy to marginalize and blame for their situation. With the economy in a tailspin, the dollar facing hyperinflation, the FDIC billions in the hole, a commercial real estate bubble ready to pop, lending restrictions tightening, Obama spending money like the Weimar Republic, and over 2,000 banks expected to fail next year, unfortunately many more may end up joining them.

It is said the compassion of a society can be measured in the way the poorest and most misfortunate are treated. So after regulating, licensing, and taxing this community out of prosperity, now this unfortunate element of society; this unintended consequence; stands as a black mark the city’s bureaucrats are working to erase. Take an honest look at how government helps the poor who don’t go along with the welfare program:

(Video for Part 2  below)

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A Commercial for Liberty

I know my own experience was shared by at least one other mover in this movement, and that was what gave me the idea for the song “Choices,” which I’ve posted elsewhere. While helping that same person move this weekend, I was surprised how prophetic the song I’d written earlier that week proved to be, particularly in the sixth verse. The title popped into my mind — one of those slight variants on a familiar phrase that appeals to the inner (and my case, overly outer) paronomastic, and it seemed like a good topic for what I call “commercials for liberty.”

I GAVE MY LIFE TO LIBERTY AND HAPPINESS PURSUED

I held a near monopoly on freedom ideology.
Lonely and reclusive nights were warping my psychology.
Discussing my ideas with the hometown population
Earned me reactions ranging from bewildered to abusive;
A few sincere discussions gained me quite a reputation.
At work I kept my mouth shut and grew ever more reclusive.
My life was one dull cycle of work, shelter, clothing, food.
Frustrated with my anomie, I’d sit at home and brood.
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Now Is the Time for All Good Porcs to Come to the Aid of Their Brethren

As the court is clearly not going to do the right thing with Kurt, it’s become necessary to ratchet up our protestation to a new level. There are now daily candlelight vigils, as announced on the forums within, and it’s time to let the general citizenry — the folks who really matter in all this — know that options are available to them. We need to start getting down to the court each morning, as the crowds are arriving to be processed through the obedience machine, to tell them, with signs, songs, flyers, and discussion, that this could happen to any one of us, and will, if we don’t start pushing back!
I have plenty of appropriate signs, and anyone may come over to paint a personal one — just contact me. I’m also working on an outreach flyer with an artist. I’d like to hear from anyone else who has other suggestions for making this a success.

One of the problems with these events is the silence — often broken and filled with patter, chatter and inappropriate laughter. (more…)

A Cautionary Tale

I always had a soft spot for story songs — too much of one, perhaps. I even quite liked “Tie a Yellow Ribbon,” until overplay and dubious associations ruined it permanently.
It was inevitable that I’d try writing some of my own. (more…)