Who's Steering The Ship of State?

Income inequality, where few hold all the wealth,

Hasn't proven helpful to our economic health.

As we lose the middle class we lose the driving force

For a strong recovery because we've lost its source.

I hate to sound cynical because I'm, mostly, not.

I'm inclined to give something a fair and decent shot,

But I'm an idealist who doesn't understand

How the situation's gotten quite so out of hand.

I've begun to wonder, since we've given this a try

(and we've seen it doesn't work since poor people can't buy

Anything but food and Walmart clothing for their backs.

Unemployment's bad without degrees and worse for blacks...)

Why don't we try something else?  I think it's time we did.

Politicians work for those who've placed the highest bid.

We have got to change the law that lets those bidders hide.

How else will we know if we've been taken for a ride?

Serving the Social Welfare

(Photo/Courtesy of Mother Jones)

Is our social welfare served through funding dirty ads,

Spending money on elections?  (Not a little...  Scads!)

Or is that political in nature?  I'd say yes;

Putting me at odds with Rove at Crossroads GPS.

Donors to a social welfare group don't have to say

Who they are nor give a reason why they'll, gladly, pay

Limitless amounts of cash to get their guys elected.

Watch-dog groups did "sniff tests."  A foul odor was detected.

Issue driven campaign ads, though they're protected speech,

Urge you towards a candidate...  They're not designed to teach.

That sure sounds political - where speech is also free -

Guaranteed to them...  Without the anonymity.

If these secret Super PACs have got a point to make

I think we should know who funds positions that they take.

Social welfare isn't served by people talking trash,

Not unless we also know who's putting up the cash.

Conspiracy Theorists Vindicated?

I.R.S. apologized because the agency

Singled out some Super PACs for extra scrutiny

If their applications for a 501(c)(4)

(That's the tax-free status social-welfare groups are for)

Happened to contain key words like "Patriots" or "Tea",

Thereby compromising donors' anonymity. 

If the group's political they use a different code

(Which still won't result in any taxes being owed)

But, it's not anonymous and - if you want my guess -

Losing that is why they're angry at the I.R.S.

Social-welfare groups are not supposed to organize

With a single candidate; a party in disguise.

In the current atmosphere; bi-partisan mistrust

Where attempts at compromise meet Tea Party and bust,

I.R.S. has questioned if the social welfare's served.

Frankly, I don't think it is...  So, why am I unnerved?