IN YOUR FACE
Political Expression In Song
BuyBack Band
I. Introduction
In his Farewell Address to the Nation in January 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
cautioned:
"In the councils of government, we must guard
against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the
military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power
exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our
liberties or democratic processes. We take nothing for granted. Only an alert and
knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military
machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that they may prosper
together."
The purpose of IN YOUR FACE and BuyBack Band is to further
alert our citizens to these dangers in our time. Fifty years after Eisenhower, the
military-industrial complex has joined with corporatism and has co-opted the Executive
Branch and even Congress. Hence the phrase "Industrial-Military-Executive
Complex" (IMEC), or, even, "Industrial-Military-Executive-Congressional Complex
(IMECC).
IMEC et. al. has purchased it's influence & control
over many of our democratic processes, and hence our liberties are being increasingly
endangered. Free speech is severely impaired; over two million Americans found themselves
incarcerated in 2007; and at some time in their life, a citizen now faces a c. 30% chance
of incarceration. The noose is tightening.
This country & government were founded to ensure two
fundamentals:
- To preclude the possibility that the central government
would ever gain power whereby it could oppress its citizenry (because if it could, it
eventually would).
- The preeminence in that society of each law abiding
individual citizen above government, protected by freedom of speech, freedom of religion,
etc.
Groups with power & money have replaced the voice and
standing of the individual.. Once venerated and protected, the individual is now
increasingly ignored by the very government created to protect & serve these
fundamental ideals.
Events (9/11, etc.) & trends of the last eight years
have moved us away from the core of who and what we are as the American people. President
Eisenhower cautioned us here. The nation is now out of balance. It is time we reassess our
course.
We hope you enjoy our music.
Gratefully,
K Berry
Writer - Producer, BuyBack
January 2008
02/11/2008
