We lived in a Democracy

We lived in a democracy

until we decided to end it.

We anointed someone to call himself the decider

because we failed to see that we had failed

to understand and live by democratic rules

So we let him decide for us.

 

You hear them deride the constitution

you hear them deride the people.

You hear them if you listen to them

But they don't live in a democracy

and neither do we.

 

The Politburo and it's decider

fly over us from coast to coast

and they extract confessions by torture

while blaming a single city

But really the decisions are made in secret chambers.

and we are expected to go about our labors

and salute their grand old flag

 

Christopher H. Holte 2005