- ROB MOITOZA (2002)
Although I'm not personally that knowledgeable about American politics, being a Canadian I can certainly relate to the opening track - "Democracy" - and how the preservation of that enlightened platform is being jeopardized through mainstream indifference and the subtle infiltration of fascist policies that go unchallenged by the voting public.
Although it's an age-old conundrum to "swim or sink", perhaps brought to a head by the Hippie Movement of the '60s, where millions of young adults protested being forcibly drafted into a war they felt was not theirs to fight, the issue has been raised to a boiling point with both the September 11 terrorist attacks and an increase in monopolistic corporate and government greed, especially where civil rights are concerned.
"Chicken Hawks", a bass-and-banjo litany of Republicans who have been added to a database registry of mostly Vietnam War "draft-dodgers", with George Bush being "AWOL" - absent without leave). This database of "chicken hawks" apparently has very little to do with "conscientious objectors" (most of whom scooted to Canada) and a lot more to do with cowards who are now hypocritically advocating war in the Persian Gulf. Rob Moitoza himself served aboard a U.S. Navy Destroyer in 1965-71 and feels personally justified, as do many other Vietnam and Gulf War vets, participating in the current anti-war movement. He believes, in retrospect, that he may well have ended up being my next-door neighbour here in Hamilton [or certainly somewhere in B.C.], if the decision were offered again.
"Great Deceivers" is a gospel-like sermon attacking this hypocrisy of the Bush administration and likening it to a political circus - "H.P. Barnum & Bush". Ironic lines like "They said they had compassion, they gave you a ration, the Bill of Rights they're dashin', your cheque they be a-cashin'" are reinforced by the inclusion of a taped campaign quote by Bush claiming that "I trust people, I don't trust the federal government. You need somebody in office to tell the truth." As John Mellencamp once said, "Uh, huh."
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