This Is Radio Clash

This week's challenge from the Unpaid Punditry Corps was one of those "where do I start" things.

What overtly political music inspires you?

Now, I first became aware of politics when Thatcher came to power in the UK. It didn't take me long to figure out that, whatever else I was, I was against her brand of conservatism - one which has now infected the US.

The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
(John Kenneth Galbraith)

So the soundtrack to my politics is still made up mostly of the hot, fierce protest songs of the late 70's and early 80's, with a sprinkling of later works. As the Republican assault on unselfish government continues, some of those old songs are still inspiring, still giving me the urge to protest. And yes, there will be a lot of songs by The Clash in this list.

The Clash - "This Is Radio Clash". From that first crazy laugh to the driving drumbeat, it's a wake up call.

Hazel O'Connor - "Big Brother". Pure pop-punk but still effective, especially in the movie version.

They'll tear out your heart, throw it neatly in a cart
'Cause that's what they do, with scum like me and you
And you feel as if you died. Whilst you're standing on the line
And you wonder all the time why can't you cry?
But the people in control don't care for you
Dear, you're just a robot with a job to do
And when your used, exhausted, they'll be rid of you
As soon as look at you - go to the back of the queue!

The Clash - "The Magnificent Seven".

So get back to work an' sweat some more
The sun will sink an' we'll get out the door
It's no good for man to work in cages
Hits the town, he drinks his wages
You're frettin', you're sweatin'
But did you notice you ain't gettin'?
Don't you ever stop long enough to start?
To take your car outta that gear.

Hazel O'Connor - "Monsters in Disguise". Gitmo Bay, Abu Graib, Florida gun laws - plus ca change, plus ce la meme chose.

Today you went out to inspect your servants
I saw you wave and rave from my T.V.
You promised soon that they would have a paper
Give them the right to kill quite legally
So you hide in your palace of bureaucracy
I hope that you never contaminate me.

The Clash - "Clampdown". A prophetic look at how conservatives only ever change scapegoat - from jew to muslim to "liberal" and employ echo-chamber droves of ideological parrots to push their agenda into the mainstream.

What are we gonna do now?
Taking off his turban, they said, is this man a Jew?
'Cause they're working for the clampdown
They put up a poster saying we earn more than you!
When we're working for the clampdown
We will teach our twisted speech
To the young believers
We will train our blue-eyed men
To be young believers.

The Clash - "London Calling". London was the powerhouse of the punk movement, the place where Thatcher most often used the police as her personal brownshirt battalions to violently break up protest, and if y'all had only listened you wouldn't have Bush wrecking your nation.

Hawkwind - "Days of The Underground".

what ever happened
to those chromium heroes
are there none of them
still left around
since the days
of the underground?

Well, what did happen? Where are the protest singers now? Where is the mass movement of anger? Too many have been made over, even the rap stars are more interested in bling-bling than in the message - working for the clampdown.