Criminal Cool

So we work through our days, save and try an make it, and the Frank Lorenzos, Bernie Madoffs, Michael Milkens come play on our weaker sides and clean us out. Those of us who don't get clipped exhibit a weird schadenfreude that results in feelgood. It's weak. It results in the glamourization of criminals. It goes back to Robin Hood. Or at least Jesse James. But it really came of age during the roaring 20s.
World War 1 had left America, as the world's arms supplier, the economic alpha bear of the planet. Middle class wealth abounded. Everybody speculated. Some bible pusher decided booze was bad and prohibition succeeded in making 80% of the population criminals. At that point, Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone, and the rest of the lawless gunslingers didn't look so bad. That started it. It's been downhill ever since (except for a brief hiatus during the Eisenhower years when good ol' Leave it to Beaver steered our moral compass.)
Again, good intentions gone bad.
Anyone who knows me knows I believe in meritocracies. Effort should be rewarded. I never begrudge the wealth a person achieves, no matter how great. (I might not like his/her methods bu that's another thing altogether). It's become popular to beat up on the rich and that's a cheap shot. (heh?). Having said that, there is a social responsibility that comes with the accrual of wealth. Dammit the rich OUGHT to behave better the wealthier they become. So when they get sleazier, greasier, and altogether more sociopathic I just....get well pissed and write songs like this.

Criminal Cool, from the CD "Beautiful Accident" by
The Third International
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