the misery index

see note for reviewers.

add inflation & unemployment stats,

(its highest level in 28 years)

an absence of universal healthcare,

(its highest level in 28 years)

foreclosures, lost pensions, dead 401K’s, etc.

(its highest level in 28 years)

&

(its highest level in 28 years)

you get a whole lot of angry people

(its highest level in 28 years)

waiting for something to happen---

(its highest level in 28 years)

are you ready for this?

(its highest level in 28 years)

are you gonna save up all your strife &

(its highest level in 28 years)

pretend that it matters when you walk into

(its highest level in 28 years)

the ballot booth on 11/2/12?

(its highest level in 28 years)

gonna try & make yourself believe that

(its highest level in 28 years)

those in power are gonna save you?

(its highest level in 28 years)

that they are going to have a sudden change of

(its highest level in 28 years)

heart---

(its highest level in 28 years)

and suddenly they will just feel sorry for the rest of

(its highest level in 28 years)

us &

(its highest level in 28 years)

wash us all over with their cash

(its highest level in 28 years)

allowing for the 99% to get

(its highest level in 28 years)

just an

(its highest level in 28 years)

itty

(its highest level in 28 years)

bitty

(its highest level in 28 years)

piece of what the other 1% has?

 

what does it take to wake you up from your slumber?

 

gonna go to your priest,

(its highest level in 28 years)

when he’s not raping little boys &

(its highest level in 28 years)

beg him for help from your big imaginary friend in the sky?

(its highest level in 28 years)

is he gonna help you?

(its highest level in 28 years)

you think you have an ace in the hole,

(its highest level in 28 years)

something that can be drawn upon at the last minute---

(its highest level in 28 years)

well,

(its highest level in 28 years)

the clock is ticking &

(its highest level in 28 years)

the index is rising.

Author's Note

“Bare witness to tha sickest shot while suckas get romantic
They ain't gonna send us campin' like they did my man Fred Hampton
Still we lampin' still clockin' dirt for our sweat
A ballots dead so a bullet's what I get”

-from the song “Down Rodeo,” from Rage Against the Machine’s album, Evil Empire