Punk Fourth of July! II

“However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” 

– President George Washington, Farewell Address 

Jello Biafra

Before you go out of your mind worrying about the Deep State or the Russians, take a deep breath and ask yourself: am I a critical thinker who seeks out diverse and reliable sources of information before weighing all sides of an issue, reflecting, and then forming a sound opinion on matters of public policy; or am I an ill-informed, reactionary tool of an out of touch political party that puts its own survival ahead of what’s good for our country? Hopefully you are a thinker and not a tool and if you’re a thinker then you know America may be politically divided but we’ve been divided before and the day we’re no longer divided may be the day democracy is dead because even though it’s ugly and messy the very fact that two political parties are in conflict is usually a good sign that our democracy is still alive. 

Blondie

That being said, I agree with George Washington- political parties threaten our freedom- yet if we must have political parties in this country then I think what we need is a third party which stands for common sense and works for the common good. I could say the current bullying, fear mongering, and general lack of civility in our politics is un-American but then I’d be lying since populist goon rallies, racism, and vitriol have been around since the dawn of the republic when Burr shot and killed Hamilton. But at least on this day- Independence Day- let us be united in celebrating our freedom from the British Empire and thank God for the countless blessings we continue to enjoy as Americans; and let us ask ourselves: do we want to be the land of hope, freedom, and the American Dream- or just another country? 

Ramones playing before an unfriendly crowd in Toronto, Canada 1979

Fun holiday fact: most people know John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the same day- the Fourth of July- exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence; but Adams and Jefferson were not the last of the signers to die. That honor goes to Mr. Charles Carroll of Maryland- the only Roman Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence- who died in 1832 at the age of 95 in Baltimore. Here are some more of my favorite punk songs in honor of the Fourth of July including cowpunk, ska punk, pop punk, skate punk, punk pioneers, and old school punk. Enjoy the fireworks!

The Clash – British, yes, but probably would have supported the American Revolution

01. Bad Religion – “Change of Ideas” (1989)
02. Ramones – “I Wanna Be Sedated” (1978)
03. Blondie – “Dreaming” (1979)
04. Screeching Weasel – “I Can See Clearly” (1991)
05. Rancid – “Wrongful Suspicion” (1998)
06. Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon – “Where Are We Gonna Work (When the Trees Are Gone?)” (1994)
07. Bad Religion – “You Are (The Government)” (1988)
08. Rancid – “Up to No Good” (2009)
09. Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon – “Love Me, I’m a Liberal” (1994)
10. The Queers – “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got an Ugly Daughter” (1998)
11. The Clash – “I Fought the Law” (1979)
12. The Queers – “You’re Tripping” (1993)
13. Screeching Weasel – “Planet of the Apes” (1994)
14. Greg Graffin – “Millport” (2017)
15. Descendents – “’Merican” (2004)
16. Ramones – “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment (40th Anniversary Mix)” (1977)
17. Common Rider – “Cool This Madness Down” (2002)
18. The Clash – “(White Man) In Hammermsith Palais” (1978)
19. Rancid – “Last One to Die” (2009)
20. Rancid – “Civilian Ways” (2009)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...