In my last post I used lyrics from my song Mob Rule to point out the similarities between modern Democracies and mob rule. In both cases it really is the majority which has the power whether that be noble or bigoted. Obviously most people are just part of the heard so in actuality it is the people who motivate the herd who have the power. Likewise in mob rule the same holds true the power is in the mob, but mainly in who incites the mob.
In Puppeteers I deal with another aspect of rule and influence and that is the power of the audience. Modern democratic elections are little more than popularity contests with a great deal of attention paid to polls and presentation managed by handlers. Political platforms are more fashioned by public reaction than personal conviction. Speeches are molded by public reaction as a politician fine tunes his speeches based on applause and poll information from previous addresses.
The only thing that keeps modern politicians from becoming complete slaves to the voting public’s reaction to them is their ability to use perceptual management techniques (propaganda). In this regard people are conditioned to support or reject views and policies of the candidates and the government in general.
Modern politics is a blend of power of the political machinery through perceptual management in which emotions such as fear, hatred and patriotism are molded and the power of the populace as a voting machine. The only true power we have as a group is in our role as voting audience in which our politicians are truly public servants dancing to our tune.
The following lyrics are from Puppeteers a song I wrote years ago when I was performing out. The song was born out of my recognition of the power of my audience. It was their applause and indifference which molded my stage performance and guided my artistic development. No matter how revolutionary of an artist one considers oneself one is always beholding to one’s audience no matter how iconoclastic that audience may be.
This song was written in the late 70′s. You can hear it by choosing the TeenAngster album in the music section and clicking of the mp3 icon for Puppeteers.
Puppeteers
I did pace all night long as others celebrated
Everything felt all wrong, my fears elongated
I just read a book by a man so educated
The inner workings that usually hide, his vision penetrated
But where is he now, where is his voice?
My vision is not so complete, yet I’m compelled to speak
My insight is far surpassed by I cannot, I will not live this way
If I could I would remain quiet, and modest, aloof from your gaze
Fearing losing my form to the puppeteers
My steps, you take, you’re mistaken you tug at my strings
My body shivered in the sweat that grew from my compunction
I thought and thought and prayed, till I could no longer function
I wish somebody else would take my place
For my body is folding under the force of your weight
Please don’t pump me up, have me look at what I’m saying
As I gain I lose control, the power to make a statement
I’m not sure where I begin, I’m talking, you’re talking, I’m talking again
Like my silhouette on the shade it’s growing, it’s shrinking
The light cuts my shape
Fearing losing my form to the puppeteers
My steps, you take, you’re mistaken you tug at my strings
Take these strings from the top of my head
Jim Guido