deepundergroundpoetry.com
Pay For The War
Meanwhile al-Qaeda hides Osama in the Afghan hills
Spun and fled, they live to produce terror another day
In his oval orifice George seeks funds to ease the battle bills
Against his father’s enemy, he swears that he will pay
He’ll win the war at any cost, no matter who he kills
1888 U.S. soldiers dead along with the children of Iraq
Perhaps a distraction of destruction by nature’s forces would prevail
As Katrina stormed the Gulf he opportunely turned his back
He might drown out one mother’s tears with Mother Nature’s gale
Or did he just not care because his latest victims would be black?
Some feared the worst would be costly oil spills
Till the Chevy sunk the levee and the price rose anyway
Filling with water that need not have crossed those hills
Drowning the barren streets but the dead float anyway
The sunken city of New Orleans starves while his hungry war chest fills
Repeating the call though we have heard it all before
Impeach Gee-Dubbaya before he passes on the blame
Evict his whole God dam regime and lock the White House door
For there’s no amount of money that can buy away his shame
And one way or another we will pay for the war
*09/03/2005
Copyright © 2004 JJ Johnson
US Copyright Office Registration: TXu1-162-978
Spun and fled, they live to produce terror another day
In his oval orifice George seeks funds to ease the battle bills
Against his father’s enemy, he swears that he will pay
He’ll win the war at any cost, no matter who he kills
1888 U.S. soldiers dead along with the children of Iraq
Perhaps a distraction of destruction by nature’s forces would prevail
As Katrina stormed the Gulf he opportunely turned his back
He might drown out one mother’s tears with Mother Nature’s gale
Or did he just not care because his latest victims would be black?
Some feared the worst would be costly oil spills
Till the Chevy sunk the levee and the price rose anyway
Filling with water that need not have crossed those hills
Drowning the barren streets but the dead float anyway
The sunken city of New Orleans starves while his hungry war chest fills
Repeating the call though we have heard it all before
Impeach Gee-Dubbaya before he passes on the blame
Evict his whole God dam regime and lock the White House door
For there’s no amount of money that can buy away his shame
And one way or another we will pay for the war
*09/03/2005
Copyright © 2004 JJ Johnson
US Copyright Office Registration: TXu1-162-978
Published 17th Oct 2011
| Edited 18th Oct 2011
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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It was just announced that Obama has decided to withdrawl all solidiers from Iraq by the end of the year. I have been waiting 10 years for this. I decided to post this poem and will post a few other peace poems tomorrow in celebration of the ending of this illegal war. Peace, JJ
17th Oct 2011 3:05pm
JJ, I will remain nutral on the polotics of who 's fault it is the "reds or the blues" having personally been at All the tragic events you quote in this poem except for the 1800's part lol I can tell you first hand what it is like to look into the face of those children of war and the weeping families affected by Katrina and so on.
WE as a people depend too much on our government to handle everything and WE fall back and let them take on and make all the hard choices and then blame them when it goes wrong.
If each individual let his or her voice be heard on these and many more matters we would have the kind of government we want. We think that casting a vote is all we need to do, NO we need to let these officials know they work for US we pay there salary and if they are not performing their duty WE need to fire them out right!
And when tragedies strike our homeland WE the people of this land need to do what we can to help one another not sit idly by lamenting others misfortune while comfortably watching the news on our comfy couch. Here is the key question for every American: what did I do for the victims of Katrina, did I, 1. donate blood 2.donate food 3.did I volunteer to help 4. did I donate money 5.donate household goods; Did I do anything?
food for thought...
gypsy red
WE as a people depend too much on our government to handle everything and WE fall back and let them take on and make all the hard choices and then blame them when it goes wrong.
If each individual let his or her voice be heard on these and many more matters we would have the kind of government we want. We think that casting a vote is all we need to do, NO we need to let these officials know they work for US we pay there salary and if they are not performing their duty WE need to fire them out right!
And when tragedies strike our homeland WE the people of this land need to do what we can to help one another not sit idly by lamenting others misfortune while comfortably watching the news on our comfy couch. Here is the key question for every American: what did I do for the victims of Katrina, did I, 1. donate blood 2.donate food 3.did I volunteer to help 4. did I donate money 5.donate household goods; Did I do anything?
food for thought...
gypsy red
If one were to assume I did not do the things you suggest, I would be upset, after all, I do those and more. I go on peace marches and to rallies to be seen and heard, as sitting at home and being silent is un-American.
I also go to poetry readings to voice my concerns in public and write letters to my elected officials to tell them of my concerns and to give them support.
I pay taxes and want my tax money to be used responsibly, so when something like Katrina happens, where the system fails and people are left stranded for days while nothing is done, I have to react and let the people in power know they F'd up big time.
I've never marched with people who were sitting on couches. It's kinda hard to march while ones ass is embedded in a couch.As I am one of US and I have a responsibility to vote, I always do. Have not missed a single election since I was old enough to vote. But you are right, WE must do more. Volunteering is great, but again, it requires that people have the time available to do so. Not everyone has enough money to take a leave of absence or quit their job to go and help others. When you have barely enough to survive on and would become homeless if you even took one week off, well, I would not be asking people in that situation to volunteer their time.
At the moment, I am unemployed, spending time looking for work. I don't have enough money to pay my rent this coming month, so I could very well be homeless next month. I am in no position to volunteer if some terrible event were to happen tomorrow even though I could make the time, as long as I was still looking for work while doing that.
Also, many people are poor and have nothing to donate, as far as food and clothing goes. I cast no blame on the individuals who cannot help. But I do blame our government when it could or should be doing something. For instance, President Obama has been trying to help Americans with Health Care.
I don't have health care coverage now that I have lost my job. I have diabetes and a few other health issue that I must see a doctor for. I cannot. I am not going to cost the nation more money and it is possible that I can die if I don't see a doctor. I need medicine I can't afford and can't get a prescription for now. I am risking my life every day by not going to the emergency room.
But Republicans have defunded the health care act, so millions of people are now costing our government, and therefore US, considerably more money by going to emergency rooms instead of to a doctors office to get taken care of. Republicans would rather let people die in the waiting rooms of hospitals than to help them. The law they tried to pass the other day was an abomination, to allow women to die who are miscarrying because they might be trying to get an abortion while they are bleeding on the floor asking for help.
The law already says no federal funds will be used for abortions, so the whole thing was just another attempt by republicans to control US. If you are a Republican and choose to support those who get paid to legislate but do nothing, those who get health care on OUR dollar, those who are making over a hundred thousand dollars a year with all kinds of special perks WE THE PEOPLE do not get, I can't understand why you are not protesting this. I can't imagine how you are not outraged at the arrogance and greed of those who have plenty and continue to get more, who could be paying their fair share to help, especially when that help would balance the budget all by itself and then get us back to the prosperity we had during the Clinton Presidency. The money they did not pay from the Bush tax cuts is the money that would have prevented the recession and can get us out of the hole Bush dug us into.
It has gotten worse since Obama became president for one reason, the Republicans have defunded what Obama has gotten passed. The House of Reps is the branch that controls the funding of our government, so Republicans are directly responsible for this failure. And now the House is refusing to pass President Obama's jobs act that could also help get us out of the hole. It's mind boggling that any Republican voter that makes less than a million dollars a year would offer any kind of support, words, money or as volunteers, to help them maintain the status quoe and do nothingness, while further exacerbating our financial woes. Elected Republicans who do nothing and make matters worse while having the ability to work with Obama and choose not to are guilty of financial treason and should be removed from office and imprisoned. And to think it's all for greed, hatred and pride. Hmmm, where have I heard those words before, oh yes, 3 Seeds.
While I do not agree with everything the Wall St protesters say, I do agree that the bankers who destroyed our economy and created conditions that caused foreclosures and then became filthy stinking rich on the back of Americans ought to be in prison. The only two things I take issue with President Obama and his administration is that they have not gone after those bankers and prosecuted them, and also have not had any Bush administrators responsible for lying to start an illegal war proscuted. There is a reason why international courts want to put Bush on trial for war crimes and I believe he and his cohorts should be.
Donating blood is the one thing even poor people can do. I have done this as well. In another week I may be going to the food pantry to get donated food. I may be applying for food stamps. I don't want to, but I have paid my taxes so these programs would be there for the poor, and now it just so happens I am among those in need. I wonder if I will become one of the hated because of it.
JJ
I also go to poetry readings to voice my concerns in public and write letters to my elected officials to tell them of my concerns and to give them support.
I pay taxes and want my tax money to be used responsibly, so when something like Katrina happens, where the system fails and people are left stranded for days while nothing is done, I have to react and let the people in power know they F'd up big time.
I've never marched with people who were sitting on couches. It's kinda hard to march while ones ass is embedded in a couch.As I am one of US and I have a responsibility to vote, I always do. Have not missed a single election since I was old enough to vote. But you are right, WE must do more. Volunteering is great, but again, it requires that people have the time available to do so. Not everyone has enough money to take a leave of absence or quit their job to go and help others. When you have barely enough to survive on and would become homeless if you even took one week off, well, I would not be asking people in that situation to volunteer their time.
At the moment, I am unemployed, spending time looking for work. I don't have enough money to pay my rent this coming month, so I could very well be homeless next month. I am in no position to volunteer if some terrible event were to happen tomorrow even though I could make the time, as long as I was still looking for work while doing that.
Also, many people are poor and have nothing to donate, as far as food and clothing goes. I cast no blame on the individuals who cannot help. But I do blame our government when it could or should be doing something. For instance, President Obama has been trying to help Americans with Health Care.
I don't have health care coverage now that I have lost my job. I have diabetes and a few other health issue that I must see a doctor for. I cannot. I am not going to cost the nation more money and it is possible that I can die if I don't see a doctor. I need medicine I can't afford and can't get a prescription for now. I am risking my life every day by not going to the emergency room.
But Republicans have defunded the health care act, so millions of people are now costing our government, and therefore US, considerably more money by going to emergency rooms instead of to a doctors office to get taken care of. Republicans would rather let people die in the waiting rooms of hospitals than to help them. The law they tried to pass the other day was an abomination, to allow women to die who are miscarrying because they might be trying to get an abortion while they are bleeding on the floor asking for help.
The law already says no federal funds will be used for abortions, so the whole thing was just another attempt by republicans to control US. If you are a Republican and choose to support those who get paid to legislate but do nothing, those who get health care on OUR dollar, those who are making over a hundred thousand dollars a year with all kinds of special perks WE THE PEOPLE do not get, I can't understand why you are not protesting this. I can't imagine how you are not outraged at the arrogance and greed of those who have plenty and continue to get more, who could be paying their fair share to help, especially when that help would balance the budget all by itself and then get us back to the prosperity we had during the Clinton Presidency. The money they did not pay from the Bush tax cuts is the money that would have prevented the recession and can get us out of the hole Bush dug us into.
It has gotten worse since Obama became president for one reason, the Republicans have defunded what Obama has gotten passed. The House of Reps is the branch that controls the funding of our government, so Republicans are directly responsible for this failure. And now the House is refusing to pass President Obama's jobs act that could also help get us out of the hole. It's mind boggling that any Republican voter that makes less than a million dollars a year would offer any kind of support, words, money or as volunteers, to help them maintain the status quoe and do nothingness, while further exacerbating our financial woes. Elected Republicans who do nothing and make matters worse while having the ability to work with Obama and choose not to are guilty of financial treason and should be removed from office and imprisoned. And to think it's all for greed, hatred and pride. Hmmm, where have I heard those words before, oh yes, 3 Seeds.
While I do not agree with everything the Wall St protesters say, I do agree that the bankers who destroyed our economy and created conditions that caused foreclosures and then became filthy stinking rich on the back of Americans ought to be in prison. The only two things I take issue with President Obama and his administration is that they have not gone after those bankers and prosecuted them, and also have not had any Bush administrators responsible for lying to start an illegal war proscuted. There is a reason why international courts want to put Bush on trial for war crimes and I believe he and his cohorts should be.
Donating blood is the one thing even poor people can do. I have done this as well. In another week I may be going to the food pantry to get donated food. I may be applying for food stamps. I don't want to, but I have paid my taxes so these programs would be there for the poor, and now it just so happens I am among those in need. I wonder if I will become one of the hated because of it.
JJ
17th Oct 2011 8:22pm
A tea bagger i know called Obama the worst president ever. I was shocked. Bush started two wars, one useless and the other unwinnable, He failed to capture or kill Bin Lauden when he had a chance. He turned a natural disaster, Katrina, into a national tragedy. Bush ran the economy into the ground and helped turn the gulf of Mexico into a toxic waste dump with his free market no regulation crap. Obama would have to start a nuclear war with France to equal that record of stupidity and mismanagement.
18th Oct 2011 00:02am
Everyone has made very good valid points and JJ, trust me when I tell you sweetheart been where you are and done that, believe it or not, so I know where you are coming from. The US government, all of it, should be ashamed of it's self and the f**ked up job they are doing. I say hang'um all; the socioelitist bastards are running this country into the ground, is that what we have fought for?
gypsy red
PS JJ what you have done is more than many even attempt to do, yet they wine.
gypsy red
PS JJ what you have done is more than many even attempt to do, yet they wine.
18th Oct 2011 2:14am
Well, who are the socialist bastards you speak of. We do not have a socialist party in America that I am aware of. I think the people who ran this country into the ground are not socialists, far from it, they are Republicans.
But then I am a bleeding heart liberal progressive American. I happen to believe we should not allow our fellow Americans, no matter there color, race, religion, national origin or class status to starve or die, or be forced into homelessness by greedy, wealthy bankers and politicians. I don't think they all need to hang and personally, justice is better served by putting them in prison and forced to live with little to nothing with those who lived under their greedy thumbs for so long they were forced to break the law to survive. Sometimes, life in prison is the best justice of all. There doesn't need to be a death penalty when suffering at the hands of other prisoners for the rest of their lives is the sentence.
Martin Luther King said that peace without justice is no peace at all and Justice is what I seek.
jj
But then I am a bleeding heart liberal progressive American. I happen to believe we should not allow our fellow Americans, no matter there color, race, religion, national origin or class status to starve or die, or be forced into homelessness by greedy, wealthy bankers and politicians. I don't think they all need to hang and personally, justice is better served by putting them in prison and forced to live with little to nothing with those who lived under their greedy thumbs for so long they were forced to break the law to survive. Sometimes, life in prison is the best justice of all. There doesn't need to be a death penalty when suffering at the hands of other prisoners for the rest of their lives is the sentence.
Martin Luther King said that peace without justice is no peace at all and Justice is what I seek.
jj
18th Oct 2011 4:55pm
JJ I don't know if you are misunderstanding me or I am not making my self clear; I did not say socialist I said socio-elitist two very very different things. Also I'm On your side I agree with you, with a small exception I am not one sided about this subject, All the politicians and elitist rich are to blame for what has happened but WE also have become complacent and whinny about this if we all came together and became one voice unison, the endangered middle class and the working poor we would be a force to be reckoned with. I never said to hurt or kill anyone it was just a poor figure of speech "Hangum All" it means hang them by the short hairs or their shorts.
The old adage stands true politics and religion should never be discussed by friends.
gypsy red.
The old adage stands true politics and religion should never be discussed by friends.
gypsy red.
18th Oct 2011 9:11pm
Indeed you did, and I apologize. I read it wrong, have heard people accuse liberals of being socialists so many times, my eyes saw one word, and it wasn't the right one. To me, hangum all means what it says, I am not familiar with any metaphors. So I took what you said at face value and don't condone hanging anyone but the worst of killers. So both of those things got me all riled up. It's a good thing I like you or I'da said more than that, LOL!
I actually lost a good friend during the early part of the war. He was an avid Bush lover, and I mean that. He used to vacation near Kennybunkport and showed me pictures of the Bush mansion out there. We were always arguing politics, but it got so bad that I just couldn't talk to him anymore. And that was before it came out that Bush lied about the wmd's.
It's funny because I wasn't going to post any of my anti-war poems out of respect for you. It was only because President Obama announced an ending to the war, I was so happy that I decided to post those. I have others, as I was quite active in the peace movement 10 years ago. I lived it for about 4 years until I burned out from non-stop rallies and marches and peace-poetry readings. And when Bush got reelected I almost burst into flames. Politics and religion are most definitely hot topics with me.
When I thought you were calling me a socialist, I was so shocked and angry I had all I could do to contain myself. I hope you can forgive me.
Peace, JJ
I actually lost a good friend during the early part of the war. He was an avid Bush lover, and I mean that. He used to vacation near Kennybunkport and showed me pictures of the Bush mansion out there. We were always arguing politics, but it got so bad that I just couldn't talk to him anymore. And that was before it came out that Bush lied about the wmd's.
It's funny because I wasn't going to post any of my anti-war poems out of respect for you. It was only because President Obama announced an ending to the war, I was so happy that I decided to post those. I have others, as I was quite active in the peace movement 10 years ago. I lived it for about 4 years until I burned out from non-stop rallies and marches and peace-poetry readings. And when Bush got reelected I almost burst into flames. Politics and religion are most definitely hot topics with me.
When I thought you were calling me a socialist, I was so shocked and angry I had all I could do to contain myself. I hope you can forgive me.
Peace, JJ
18th Oct 2011 9:47pm
All is forgiven, I am a firm believer that just about anything can be resolved if people just think before they speak and speak before they leap.
Gypsy red
Gypsy red
18th Oct 2011 11:17pm
Isn't that supposed to be look before you leap? LOL...
That would have helped, as I obviously did not look closely enough before I spoke. And in my case, I did think before I spoke, I just thought wrongly because I didn't look closely because I let myself get all worked up before lept.
So how was your day?
jj
That would have helped, as I obviously did not look closely enough before I spoke. And in my case, I did think before I spoke, I just thought wrongly because I didn't look closely because I let myself get all worked up before lept.
So how was your day?
jj
Well to be honest crappy I'm a lil under the weather and got chewed out by you and another friend, in short having a bad day but it can only get better I guess.(sigh)
gypsy red
gypsy red
18th Oct 2011 11:59pm
I'm sorry for chewing you out, so at least it's not as bad as it seemed.
I hope you feel better soon. I've been bogged down with allergies to something. At least i was able to get a flu shot at work before I lost my job. I have a feeling this is going to be a very long winter. Keep warm...
jj
I hope you feel better soon. I've been bogged down with allergies to something. At least i was able to get a flu shot at work before I lost my job. I have a feeling this is going to be a very long winter. Keep warm...
jj
