Rule of Law

If you want to destroy a society,
first you have to break the rule of law.
Change how judges are appointed,
and watch the dominoes begin to fall.

Say that the judges are all activists,
and give yourself power of judicial review.
You can destroy the power of the people,
and create a government for the few.

Say that you can’t be bound by any rules,
it’s a matter of simple sovereignty.
Break away from collaborative bodies
that are tasked with protecting democracy.

Say it imposes on your liberty
to be forced to respect human rights.
Your freedom is a form of tyranny,
and no one can question your might.

You won’t respect any rules
that protect the environment.
Corporations’ needs are societies wants
in your corrupted government.

The idea that workers have rights
is a threat to your order of things.
You say peasants should serve their lords,
and your ministers should act like kings.

Arrest those who express
they’re own opinion.
Make it the law that other’s
views are seen as sedition.

Denounce as traitors anyone who
threatens your supremacy.
It’s only might that makes right
in your demented vision of democracy.

Some people say this is all mad paranoia,
it can’t happen here, anyhow.
But it’s time for the sleepers to be woke.
It’s happening here. It’s happening now.

Nursery Rhyme for the Apocalypse

Bill Barr, Bill Barr, you’ve gone too far.
You find the peasants revolting.
The CIA in your day
was grounds for fascist training.

No care at all, for the Rule of Law.
Democracy is fleeting.
Just shock and awe from secret police
as the jackboots go out beating.

(chorus)
Bill Barr, Bill Barr keep it up
pushing autocracy.
We‘ll stand, we’ll fight, we’ll even die
to save our democracy.   

You’ve made it clear that some lives
Really should not matter.
We’re here to say we have rights,
And we’re done with passive chatter.

We came in peace but stood our ground
And now your army can’t persist.
We’ll stand up tall, win or lose,
And we will always resist.

(chorus)
Bill Barr, Bill Barr keep it up
pushing autocracy.
We‘ll stand, we’ll fight, we’ll even die
to save our democracy.   

No final win and no final loss
Will cause the struggle to cease.
You think you’ve won, but you’ll soon find out
without justice, you’ll never have peace. 

(chorus)
Bill Barr, Bill Barr keep it up
pushing autocracy.
We‘ll stand, we’ll fight, we’ll even die
to save our democracy.   

Democracy Died (#poem)

woman holding protest sign
Photo by Rosemary Ketchum on Pexels.com

Democracy died in the Senate chamber
When Supreme Court justice was never heard
Through a guileless force of legal obstruction.
Respect for law fell like old holiday garland.
A complacent nation did not demur,
Thinking true fascism could not recur,
Power transferred to a political poseur.
A complacent nation watched it’s legal destruction
And Democracy died.
They quickly forgot what they once were,
A nation of laws designed to deter
A tyrant seeking freedom’s complete destruction.
As the confident joked about his linguistic aberrations,
They let the unthinkable occur
And Democracy died.