Dylan's Soothsaying

Is it just the new order
the way things in this world will be
big M rules, materialism
from sea to shining sea

Do you care that wealth's pleasures
may have nothing to do with hard work or intellect
in fact profit seems so flow so freely
from someone else's hurt, pain, or neglect

Frightening to look at senior homes
despite denials even elders underfed
the bottom line isn't quality care
but rather in each room can they put another bed

For it becomes a game of numbers
state and federal monies to be had
well I am sorry but if my parents we living
that is the last place I would put mom or dad

Can we say our schools are that much different
daily attendance a primary concern
board members who never visit classrooms
not a clue as to what the children learn

Oh yes but standardized testing
the panacea with dollar signs
multiple intelligences give weak lip service
leaving the struggling children behind

Or how about the prison system
my state locks up more than yours
maintaining law and order oh great
from where does our humanity pour

Should we close our eyes to the conditions
that draw people to repeating a crime
if reform is what is going on
why repetitive lockups time, after time, after time?

And can you tell me a weed smoker
is on par with mass murderer's acts
or even white collar scoundrel
law breaking in stock exchange pacts

But the white collar pro has crafty lawyers
who can whittle a charge away anytime
next time the key not to get caught
even raid public pensions oh so blind

So I am to smile and say "yes sir"
'cause a brother gets in that White House
while congress does it's best Nero
running around like a weak do nothing mouse

And the saddest thing of all
no collective responsibility
for when one world citizen suffers
we are all less the we should be

Now I know we can't stop is all
but is that a reason to not try
is it fate for a nation to trend imperialistically
and how long until it's is known as late?