The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
If you're anything like me, you expend a lot of psychological energy attempting to put the political views of your favorite artists or entertainers out of mind. It's a somewhat healthy exercise, I think.
It's a widely-shared tenet of conservatism that there's much more to life than politics, and it seems just as churlish to abandon an actor or musician because of their liberalism as it would to stop going to a dentist or a mechanic for the same reason (exceptions, of course, apply to individuals who are compelled to make even the most idle small talk into a political symposium).
Still, the minority status of conservatism in the arts always makes it heartening when support comes from an unexpected corner. While perusing the website of one of my favorite lyricists of all time, Bernie Taupin (Elton John's songwriting partner -- and no conservative he), I came across this entry on his blog:
James Garfield didn’t wear shoes until he was 4 years old and he became President of the United States. Nowadays the President suggests that anyone over a certain income level give their shoes away.
I pose a question. How many of the people who are screaming, “Share The Wealth” do you think would be prepared to share their wealth if they were wealthy?
And one might add that the vast majority of America’s wealthiest are self-made, coming up from nothing and achieving everything through a combination of perseverance, street smarts and blood sweat and tears.
Another question. In the tent cities of the “Occupy Movement” what percentage of the inhabitants do you think actually know why they’re there?
In several “Occupy” encampments the environmentally and socially concerned inhabitants are doing their part by spraying public buildings with graffiti, harassing innocent shopkeepers and throwing rocks at the police, all very noble indeed.
The “Occupy Movement” is a rudderless ship. At least they have one thing in common with the government.
Share the wealth, level the playing field and stifle the will to prosper. Well yea! I remember the Khmer Rouge too.
Bracing stuff from a guy who probably isn't signing up for any Tea Party rallies anytime soon. I'm not sure if you can hold on to the vital center if you're losing the guy who wrote "Tiny Dancer".
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Apr '11
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
Man, we are lagging! I don't recall anyone here comparing OWS to the Kmer Rouge! If he's left of center, and we're going to be a right of center site... It's just hard to come up with a more extreme comparison. This isn't to say he's wrong (he's obviously not), but stronger than a Pol Pot attack.... I got nothin'.
May '11
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
" How many of the people who are screaming, “Share The Wealth” do you think would be prepared to share their wealth if they were wealthy?"
They are wealthy, at least compared to the rest of the world. Most of America is in the world's 1%, and the poverty of Asia and Africa makes the conditions that the Occupants whine about seem ridiculous in comparison. Well, actually they seem pretty ridiculous even without comparison, but you get my point. And how much have they shared? Pretty much nothing.
Dec '10
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
I heard the funniest thing yet about the occupy movements today. A guy called into Dennis Miller's show and said that at an occupy site in Michigan some parents dropped their kids off with a pop-up camper and the property values went up.
Apr '11
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
Larry3435: " How many of the people who are screaming, “Share The Wealth” do you think would be prepared to share their wealth if they were wealthy?"
They are wealthy, at least compared to the rest of the world. Most of America is in the world's 1%, and the poverty of Asia and Africa makes the conditions that the Occupants whine about seem ridiculous in comparison. Well, actually they seem pretty ridiculous even without comparison, but you get my point. And how much have they shared? Pretty much nothing. · Nov 16 at 3:49pm
They're wealthy in comparison with the rest of the US; those college degrees really aren't worthless (despite being worth less than they'd hoped), nor the nice homes that were recorded in their arrest warrants. This is a struggle of the revolutionary elites, not of the poor. Their interactions with the genuinely poor have been of distaste and horror, trying to get the police to evict them from their comfortably middle class revolutionary hangout.
Apr '11
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
Oct '11
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
In other words, Troy, he's telling the OWS protesters to get a meal ticket. To survive they need a meal ticket.
Here's a softball: what should the Philadelphia OWS protesters really be seeking?
Aug '10
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
Has Captain Fantastic weighed in yet?
Jul '11
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
I followed the link and read the post direct from his blog. The OWS bit isn't even the best part. I think this was my favorite passage from the whole entry:
"So let me get this right. You just have to look at a woman sideways these days and your political campaign is in the toilet. John F Kennedy however arguably one of the most idolized and revered Presidents in American history turned impropriety into an Olympic sport."
Jun '10
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
Troy Senik
If you're anything like me, you expend a lot of psychological energy attempting to put the political views of your favorite artists or entertainers out of mind.
I don't spend any psychological energy on the political views of artists or entertainers. I have not interest in their political views whatsoever. Come to that, I don't listen to a politician's music either.
Apr '11
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
QuickerBrownFox: In other words, Troy, he's telling the OWS protesters to get a meal ticket. To survive they need a meal ticket.
Here's a softball: what should the Philadelphia OWS protesters really be seeking? ·
OWS is probably a pretty good place to pick up a trust fund meal ticket. Sadly, it's perhaps the best route in America today.
Oct '11
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
Yeah, well, he also wrote this:
And that does not endear him to me.
May '11
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
Troy, I just hope you are not dissing "Tiny Dancer".
Aug '10
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
Isn't that the song that goes: "Hold me close, I'm Tony Danza"???
May '10
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
Don't forget that his gay writing partner played at Rush Limbaugh's wedding...strange things are happening to Brits with property...
Re: The Brown Dirt Cowboy Takes on Occupy Wall Street
I would never, SP. I really am a huge fan, although the song that first hooked me (when I was still in grade school, no less) was "Tiny Dancer"s album-mate "Levon." The first time I heard that string arrangement was one of those musical moments that imprints on you forever.