Felgraf: I wonder what would happen if someone introduced them to John Prine?

COUNTRY MUSIC THAT ACTIVELY OPPOSES WAR? DOES NOT COMPUTE. ERORR.

/No your flag decal won't getcha into heaven anymore...

Guthrie and Prine are far more representative of the true soul of "country" music than Folks like Toby Keith.

The Idea that country Music is "conservative" music isn't all that old, or accurate. Folk music that country music grew out of was the mountain music of the hard-rock miners of WV and the mournful blues of the sharecroppers and migrant farmers of the south, and the slowly vanishing cowboys of the west. It was the people's music, and back then the people had no great love for their oppressors and "overseers". It reall wasn't till the Vetnam war that a lot of country artists started being so reactionary. And even then it's important to note that while the drunken hillbillys of Skynrd sang about hout much they loved (the rabidly pro-segragationist) Gov. Wallace of Alabma, Johnny Cash was still singing stuff like:

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.

NDP2: It's never mentioned in TFA but Guthrie's social and political attitudes were formed during the Great Depression when laissez-faire capitalism had collapsed, 25% of the people were unemployed, widespread poverty was the norm, and the people who were the ideological precursors to Lee Habeeb and the National Review were blaming the jobless and impoverished for their own plight. Seeing the disaster that was the 1930s, Guthrie was just one of many people at the time who turned to communism and/or socialism. In fact, if you ever talked to family members who were alive during that decade, you'll probably find views similar to Guthrie's were common and, given the situation, understandable.

Yep, I know... He even wrote a column for The Daily Worker, I believe. The "bullshiat" part is that he "didn't like his own country". I should have been clearer there. : )

CSB time: My great-grandparents were both active in the labor unions here in Fall River, MA before and during the War. My grandfather was also involved with the unions when he returned from the War. We found a whole bunch of Woody Guthrie sheet music and albums when we cleaned out his House after his death.

Yup. Woodie Guthrie hated America so much that he wanted the nation to live up to its promise.

Paul Robeson hated the country so much that he wanted it to not lynch black men's families while they fought in Korea.

The Wobblies hated America so much that they wanted to have a slice of the American Dream for their members, and not have goons from the factories and mines lean on them for daring to ask for better wages and conditions, and maybe to not have judges throw labor organizers in jail for simply breathing.

Did it occur to folks, that the Labor movement would have even gotten a toehold in this country, if there wasn't a reason for it.

Here's the kicker, for all the folks who HATE labor unions: are you equally against the Chamber of Commerce? How about industry associations? Because if you support their right to assemble and to discuss ways to do business, and organize those businesses, and keep from stepping on each others' toes, and the legislation that they should support, then you'd best polish up your signs to support labor's right to do the same thing.

That's the thing. Labor "bosses" are actually employed by the workers. Just like the RIAA and MPAA folks are employed by studios, distributors and musicians. Not the other way around. Since the folks IN a union are actually busy with their jobs, they pay dues to have folks take care of stuff for them. The union works for the laborers. Works for the writers. Works for the actors. Works for the grips and the cameramen and lighting guys and sound guys. Why do you hate worker's right to hire their own representatives to meet with the hired representatives of their actual employers?

That's what folks get hett up about. The workers dared to hire folks to do things while they were busy working. Why are folks against job creators so much that you don't want hired representatives to meet with managements' hired representatives? Why do you hate America and free enterprise so much?

hubiestubert: Did it occur to folks, that the Labor movement would have even gotten a toehold in this country, if there wasn't a reason for it.

And you know one arguement I have heard too many times, "There was a time for unions, but we don't need them now with all the government regulations and laws to protect workers"
Funny thing the people who hate unions want to do away with "industry strangling relgulations"

spongeboob: hubiestubert: Did it occur to folks, that the Labor movement would have even gotten a toehold in this country, if there wasn't a reason for it.

And you know one arguement I have heard too many times, "There was a time for unions, but we don't need them now with all the government regulations and laws to protect workers"
Funny thing the people who hate unions want to do away with "industry strangling relgulations"

Pretty damn much.

If you LIKE the freedom to associate, and you LIKE industry associations, then you should LIKE unions. Unions are paid representatives, just like the OTHER paid representatives sent to negotiate. They are an outgrowth of a capitalist system, and the outgrowth of our democracy. Freedom of association means folks you don't like get the same freedom. Just like freedom of religion, and freedom of speech.

America. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out if you don't like that...

Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame?
She flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the free
But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea.

Now check out that tribute to some of our first casualties of WWII -- five weeks before Pearl Harbor -- and tell me again that Woody Guthrie hated America.

NDP2: It's never mentioned in TFA but Guthrie's social and political attitudes were formed during the Great Depression when laissez-faire capitalism had collapsed, 25% of the people were unemployed, widespread poverty was the norm, and the people who were the ideological precursors to Lee Habeeb and the National Review were blaming the jobless and impoverished for their own plight.

And the economy that collapsed was different from Ronpaulistan mainly in having the Federal Reserve. Gold standard, little or no regulation, few if any social programs.

OH SHIAT!! Do I need to brush my HAIIIIRR!!!????


aaaaaagh


_haha

I defy you!

I spit on your lies!

Come forth, cowards and show me your faces!

Eff Guthrie, we need more Lee Greenwood!

Altogether now....


If tomorrow all the subsidies were gone,
That others worked for all their life
I'd have to beat again
That face of my children and my wife

I'd thank my lucky Bible
To be hating Muslims here today
Because the flag still stands for freedom
As long as you don't count rights for gays!

Cuz I'm proud to be an Amercian!
Where at least I can be tax free!
And I won't forget the men who lied
To give that derp to me
And I'll proudly stand up next to you
And defend Dick Armey's crap today
Cuz their ain't no doubt, I love some T.E.A.
God Bless the U.S.A.!