Vultures Every One

Vultures every one, they pluck at the carcass.

Oh yes, it is dead and has been for some time,

But they choose to masquerade it in lively rhetoric.

Speaking not of how they will resuscitate the corpse

They prefer to spew bile at those they accuse of murdering it.

Solving nothing, they offer up a civics lesson as hope,

A promise of a return to days long gone by.

They know this can never be,

That we should never return to the cesspool of the past that got us here,

Still they desire with a selfish heart, to thrust this upon us.

No longer a land, by the people, of the people, for the people,

We have devolved into a country of the corporation,

By the corporation, for the corporation.

Our politicians, beholden to these behemoths disregard the people,

Believing their constituents too inept to notice.

Sadly, our elections show they are too often right.

Seats of government are filled with crazies, radicals and thieves

Looking to promote their own self-interests,

Their own delusional ideals,

The interests of those that bought their loyalty.

Their records show nothing but opposition to the other side,

No compromise, no debate, just blatant obstruction,

This they do, all the while claiming to be patriots and waving their tattered flags.

Perhaps we are as much to blame for this violent death as they.

Each vote cast inflicts another gangrenous wound on this once vibrant body.

I fear it too late for meaningful change.

Our young prefer social media and video games to interest in things political.

What the future holds is anyones guess,

But with crystal ball in hand I foretell a funeral, the body in shrouds,

No taps being played, no mourners present to pay their last respects,

They can’t because they are too busy texting and watching youtube to notice.

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

In This Gilded Age

In this gilded age

What is old is new again.

Worship of the golden calf

Has supplanted our rights.

Blood shed over these many years

Washed away with the bleach of power.

Fault lies squarely with us,

We allow their deceptions to dissuade.

Staying home we complain

Or cast vote against our own interest.

Each time we give them greater power

Plunging ourselves ever deeper into their pit.

How long will it be before it is too late,

When our eyes are so shielded as to be blind.

You think they are not displaying hateful smiles;

Proud of their accomplishments…

Give yourselves a pat on the back.

You believe that they care about you;

Their coffers are their only love.

Spending to kill their opposition…

This is their way and you are but pawns.

Their complicit media does nothing to inform,

Deceiving and perpetuating their propaganda.

With a populace too lazy to seek the truth,

They are easily swooned by soundbites.

Repeat them often enough and people believe,

How sad this truly is.

We base decisions on 140 characters…or less,

We take statements as fact from anonymous sources.

As a people, we claim to appreciate due diligence,

But not when it comes to those that govern us.

Quick to believe rumors, mass emails and tweets,

We call ourselves informed.

What is it Jefferson said about an enlightened citizenry?

“…it is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic.”

Many of us have proved to be a disappointment…

Social media is not enough, soundbites are not enough;

Ignorance is not an excuse!

You shout your patriotism as if it’s fact

While wrapping yourself in the American flag.

Meanwhile you seek to distance yourself from the poor,

Treating them all as abusers of our system, a drain on society,

Unworthy of saving….better left for dead.

Our health and security you put on the chopping block

Or sell off for the profit of privateers.

You desire to corporatize the education of our young

For so long a public mainstay,

Now raped and pillaged then labeled dysfunctional.

You should be ashamed!

Every institution we hold dear is up for sale.

One day as you enter your sunset years

You will look back, perhaps longingly

And wish for those things that you slaughtered

Out of pure ignorance and deadliest of sins

–Greed.

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

Humanity Lost

Humanity lost
Our dignity up for sale
What little is left
Elected to destroy us
By the uninformed
More sad than ever
I fear our future
You will see what you have done
By supporting these devils
Schools will be sold for profit
Security privatized
Healthcare back in greedy hands
This is what you chose
You gullible Red Foxes
Believing the spin
Selling your best interests
For six long years full of lies
I hope you’re happy
For now our children suffer
At your bloody hands
Left to live worse than you did
Goodbye American Dream

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

We Believe The Lies

We believe the lies
Drinking in hollow kool-aid
The magic potion
Then morning comes–hangover
Surprised that you have been fooled.
The ads–deceitful
Never had any substance
Yet you watched and cheered
Now, live with your ignorance
May it be all that you hoped

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Serve At Our Pleasure

Serve at our pleasure

This, the politicians role

Most have forgotten

Hypnotized by gold’s allure

They bow before oligarchs

Doing their bidding

As if we do not matter

We can prove them wrong

Because voting is power

And their lives are in our hands

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

It Is Ironic

It is ironic

Considered a democracy–

Republic really

We treasure our vote

Though in many ways a farce

Given candidates

By parties that are corrupt

These are our choices

Pick from the best of the worst

Either way they always win

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

Blindly Following

Blindly following

Taking their words as gospel

Some would call it faith

A recipe for failure

When it comes to politics

Is it not our job

To be informed and question

Weeding out their lies

If it’s not then we are doomed

Like so many empires past


~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Gone

Gone

Greatness

This country

Spiraling down

Grand Experiment

Being stretched very thin

Perhaps it has run its course

Government is broken

Diplomacy dead

General angst

Future bleak

What next

Vote!

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

Shock Of All Shocks

Shock of all shocks!, A conclusion has arrived,

What you may ask drove me to this.

I look at this nation and its leaders that drive,

And sadly I find so much amiss.

 

Squabbling and indecision on the left and the right,

It’s politics at their very worst.

From top to the bottom it’s no easier a fight,

Unable to decide what to do first.

 

Managing from crisis to crisis is no way to proceed,

As the ball is too easily dropped.

We look to our leaders to stand up and take heed,

Of all that must be started and stopped.

 

From debt ceiling to healthcare, ebola, ISIS and more,

They fight each other all of the way.

Afraid am I of what may very soon be in store,

For greater horrors may come into play.

 

We have hearing after hearing and nothing gets done,

They are sound bites for the next campaign.

Fodder for the platform on which they will run,

With lies and aggression to inflame.

 

I look at the response to ebola with a smile,

This comedy of errors that it is.

The protocols, what protocols all to beguile,

What’s the answer is part of the quiz.

 

What do we call them–ISIS or Islamic State,

Would somebody make up their mind.

We got into this one perhaps a little too late,

Over time I am sure we will find.

 

In these two crisis’ congress isn’t without fault,

Ask McCain, he was friend to our foe.

Yelling arm the rebels their advance they will halt,

As always putting on quite a show.

 

Now congress has called a meeting, the CDC to berate,

For its failure to institute adequate tools.

It was fine leaving West Africa to suffer its fate,

Denying funding like cold hearted fools.

 

Messages are mixed on all things from above,

Agreeing on nothing is their way.

Failing to compromise when push comes to shove,

I suppose this is how things will stay.

 

So what is the conclusion from this long winded rant,

More trouble ahead is surely brewing.

Our government is broken and their solutions are scant,

I’m confident they don’t know what they are doing!

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

Growing Frustration

Growing frustration!

ISIL laughs in our faces

…America bleeds.

Again we are being used

Because we’re slaves to their oil.

The coalition–

Where are they in this struggle?

This fight should be theirs!

Instead we do their bidding

As hostages to these captors.

We’re fooling ourselves.

This isn’t just about safety,

It’s economics.

 

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~