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Eat the Rich

April 6th 2009 in Americana, Country Music, From where I sit, News, alt.country

I read the ridiculous article in the New York Times about John Rich and believe Rich, and the Republicans he stumped for in the last election, are about as concerned about the plight of the common man as a vegetarian is about the finer points of aged beef.

I believe Rich’s populism is nothing more then window dressing and crass opportunism. My Grandparent’s generation used to call the Republicans the cocktail party because they were the party of the wealthy, for the wealthy. They still are, they just have better PR. Which brings me to Shuttin’ Detroit Down, the new song by the shorter, darker half of the country music comedy duo Big and Rich.

It’s hard for me to buy a song about the common man coming from a guy that wears $1000. fur coats on his realty television show. Shuttin’ Detroit Down oversimplifies the bad guys that led to the economic crisis as cardboard villain Wall Street Fat Cats with nary a lyric spent on the politicians (from both sides) that wrote the legislation that allowed them to do get away with it. For all his righteous bluster Rich forgets thise key words from wayetgatre. Follow the money. Who did Madoff make contributions to? What about the main guys as AIG? I’m thinking thier right in line with Rich’s own financial support.

I think if I want quality songs about crony capitalism I’ll go to musicians that have been doing it longer, better and with more credibility – Steve Earle, Kris Kristofferson (who is broadening his market by appearing in the video for Shuttin’ Detroit Down), hell even the Okie from Muskogee has eased up and taken a wider view of the world. Or maybe I’d go with one of the new artists like William Elliot Whitmore or the Drive By Truckers.

Rich is like Ann Coultier in drag, a different mouthpiece to appeal to a different demographic spouting the same old fake populist bullshit while stumping for the very same fat cats he names in his song.

8 comments to...
“Eat the Rich”

DRob
wrote on April 7th, 2009

If you’re going to refer to an article, please link to that article. I would love to read it.

Jason
wrote on April 7th, 2009

Rich and Coulter could actually be the same person.Coulter has a huge frickin’ adam’s apple.

Saving Country Music
wrote on April 7th, 2009

Spot on man, I could not say it better myself.

Greg
wrote on April 8th, 2009

Too right, Brother! And don’t forget Larry McMurtry.

Battles
wrote on April 8th, 2009

Right on! Right on! Yes!

That thing read like a press release! What the heck was Caramanica thinking? I was just as puzzled as I was angered by the article.

glory2001
wrote on April 8th, 2009

So, in other words, as far as you guys think, you can only comment on the aig and bailout scandals, if your poor. Wow, How about somebody that has worked for 17 years to get where he is, and is entitled to an opinion. Broaden your thinking and let everybody have an opinion, instead of just you guys.

Baron Lane
wrote on April 8th, 2009

@glory2001- I have no problem with well to do people griping about the financial scandal as long as they’re will to accept some responsibility on behalf of their party for creating it. Clinton is just as much to blame as Bush Jr. for deregulation. But as everyone know Reagan’s 11th commandment is never speak ill of a fellow Republican.

But this post was specific to Rich and his own special vile brand of hypocrisy.

Justin
wrote on April 11th, 2009

Rich is just seeking opportunism and exploiting the economic situation for his own gain. With that being said, everyone needs to learn that capitalism is the only way to go. It’s the crony capatalism of big government/big corporations that has destroyed our economy. Of course I thought with the election of Obama we would actually see some change, but it’s the same old thing. Bailout after bailout and gigantic “stimulus” packages that bankrupt us even more. Some how the term spending has been turned around to mean investing.

I thought whenever you were in debt you saved and payed off the debt. Not create more debt! The only way to end the corruption of government working hand in hand with big business is to rid us of the Federal Reserve System and give us actual hard currency instead of paper monopoly money that continues to be printed off the presses at break neck speed further destroying the value of our dollar.

Oh and maybe actually sticking to the Constitution for a change! Republicans and Democrats are all the same. They should be called Republicrats or Demopublicans. Obama is just as corrupt as Bush was. He just talks more smoothly. Most of his administration is tied in with Wall Street. Hell he received campaign contributions from AIG for crying out loud!!

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