EVERCLEAR - Jesus Was A Democrat

I'm glad to admit that I enjoyed the music of Everclear during the 90s. Songs like Santa Monica, Herion Girl and Heartspark Dollarsign were favorites. And, although it lacked the irony and jaded nature of the so-called "x" generation, Father of Mine always hits close to home for me.

Anyway...fast-forward to 2008 (and well beyond Everclear's arc of flight). The band has posted the song Jesus Was A Democrat on their website for free download. I could do without some of the overtly partisan claims (and the shelf-life of the McCain reference will expire in less than 3 weeks). If you take those for what they are (and ignore them as such), there are a few things to consider about Jesus.



Jesus Christ didn't have blue eyes or blond hair
He looked just like all those people that you want to kill
Spin your hell into a heaven you can sell
Make it look like California with a bible belt

Jesus didn't look like the boy next door
Unless you live in Palestine
I wonder what you mean by the golden rule
I think it is a scary play on words
I wonder what they taught you back in Sunday school
I bet you think of him
As a nice clean long haired Republican, nah

He would be all locked up in Guantanamo Bay
If he were alive today
He would have been a revolutionary
Wanted by the CIA

I picture him in all the wrong places
Finding diamonds in the dirt
A star of David tattoo
And a Che t-shirt
Jesus Christ was a left wing radical Jew
Murdered by people like you

If Jesus was a Democrat like the bible says he was
I don't think he's going to want to take the blame
For all the awful things you say and do in his name
If Jesus was alive he would be sad to see
That it is no different than it used to be
Someday he's going to call you out
I am pretty god damned sure ......He is going to be angry
He is going to be angry

You want to know what I think?.......I think Jesus would have been a card carrying liberal
If he was a young man born in the USA
He would not be "fiscally conservative"
And he wouldn't vote for John McCain

All those so called Christians that you see on TV
Maybe they scare Jesus like they scare me
Kick you the hell out of my temple too
Too many elephants in the room

If Jesus was a Democrat like the bible says he was
I don't think he's going to want to take the blame
For all the awful things you people do and say in his name
If Jesus was alive today he would be sad to see
That it is no different than it used to be

Someday he's going to call you out
I am pretty god damned sure......He is going to be....mad
He is going to be angry
He is going to be....mad
He is going to be....mad

You say Jesus loves the little children
And I say I know that's true
I say he loves all the Muslims and the Jews
All the addicts and the porn stars too

You say Jesus died to save us all from a fiery hell
I say Jesus died to save us
Save us from ourselves
Will you save me from myself?

If Jesus was a liberal like the red letters say he was
I know he would have big love for all the killers and the racists
And the bullies in this world
If Jesus was alive today
And you had a chance to meet him face to face
I'm pretty God-damned sure that you and your friends
Would find some way to kill him all over again

You would kill him all over again
Again and again and again
Just like you always do
You do just what you always do

My Neighbor's Health Is Not Yours To Sell To Them

I just finished watching the second presidential debate (transcript) and wanted to publish a public "Thank You"...

...to Lindsey Trella.

In the "town hall" format of this debate, audience member Lindsey Trella asked a question that I found to be the highest moment of this debate:

L. Trella: Senator, selling health care coverage in America as a marketable commodity has become a very profitable industry. Do you believe health care should be treated as a commodity?

I found this question to be framed in such a beautifully important way. It identifies the true challenge at the heart of this issue. It's not about government control. It's not about choice of providers. The issue at stake that needs to be discussed is the troubling fact that the current healthcare industry has found ways to profit off of the medical struggles of their neighbors.

I am not naive enough to think that healthcare-produced revenue is altogether wrong. Doctors, nurses and the people who clean the floor and cook the meals deserve to make a living from their lifesaving work. Piles of money is necessary to fund the research that will find treatments and cures for AIDS, cancer, autism, and the many other infirmities that impact lives every day.

What is not acceptable is any form of healthcare being operated from a profit motive. My wife's health is not yours to sell to her. My neighbor's health is not yours to sell to them. It is not your golden ticket. Refusing care is not a "cost saving measure". If we can't agree to the fundamental truth that a person who is sick or injured must be helped in every way possible, we are in trouble. If we can't accept the moral obligation to demand that every person's right to have their life saved or their illnesses and injuries treated, we have lost our morality.

During the debate, Senator McCain offerred a $5000 credit to pay for health insurance. We already have insurance and that is less than our out-of-pocket most years. My parents have to buy their own policy, and $5000 will get them from January to March. I was glad to hear Senator Obama identify healthcare as a "right" during the debate. It is time for leaders like Senator Obama to be bold and courageous on this issue for the sake of those who need an advocate.

It's time to put divisions aside and agree on the simple truth revealed by Lindsey Trella: the health of our neighbor is not a commodity to be bought and sold. Quality healthcare must not be reserved for the person who can afford it. And if you're making a good living off of the healthcare industry, it better be because you are treating the sick and saving lives...and not because you found a way to keep their money by doing the opposite.