An article appeared at Breitbart on Tuesday about the National Review deigning to do a review of rural Virginian Oliver Anthony’s very popular “Rich Man North of Richmond” song attacking almost everything beloved of the political and media establishment.
Dear. Oh, dear. The screed, even secondhand, immediately triggered memories of a saying shared by both my grandfathers. “The hit dog barks.” The increasingly Woke media and political powers that be understood clearly that the song wasn’t talking about Fredricksburg or Manassas – or even the soon-to-be former Fort A. P. Hill.
That elite who deem themselves masters of our States (and the world) seem very thin-skinned at times, don’t they? Or do they just rightly fear almost anything can escalate into a version of France 1789?
But it wasn’t just about DC either: NYC and Philadelphia and Boston, among others, are all north of Richmond. And filled with rich men. Far too many of them seem to have become incredibly wealthy as “civil servants” and serving in elected office. The elite, or as some put it, the technocrats.
The entire article is worth reading. And the song is worth listening to as well, if you can put up with the raw, foul language of this redheaded, redbearded hillbilly singer. (Meanwhile, expect to be “entertained” by a deluge of factoids about this guy, his family, his foibles, his community and background – and anything they can find that he has ever typed, written, said, or “liked.” Cancel culture in action.)
Anthony’s song triggers other memories too, from American history: bitter, sarcastic songs pointing out (often profanely, if later cleaned up) talking about the way common people are treated by powers that be. About freedom and liberty denied. And not all from “leftists” (though many are.) Some are known: the Guthries, for example. Others are unknown, or at least unnamed, rabble: unionists, even hobos.
As a second major “anti-government” (and “anti-elites”) country song in recent weeks, it is worth listening to and thinking long and hard about. And enjoying the way it ticks off the regressives, the media, and politicians and bureaucrats in general.
And the National Review article certainly reinforces many of Anthony’s points. The reviewer of the reviewer (John Nolte, to give him credit) sums things up pretty good in the last twelve words of the commentary:
“What whores won’t do for a dollar.
“We have the worst elites.”
Amen.
About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.
The Price of Liberty 
The hit dog barks
An article appeared at Breitbart on Tuesday about the National Review deigning to do a review of rural Virginian Oliver Anthony’s very popular “Rich Man North of Richmond” song attacking almost everything beloved of the political and media establishment.
Dear. Oh, dear. The screed, even secondhand, immediately triggered memories of a saying shared by both my grandfathers. “The hit dog barks.” The increasingly Woke media and political powers that be understood clearly that the song wasn’t talking about Fredricksburg or Manassas – or even the soon-to-be former Fort A. P. Hill.
That elite who deem themselves masters of our States (and the world) seem very thin-skinned at times, don’t they? Or do they just rightly fear almost anything can escalate into a version of France 1789?
But it wasn’t just about DC either: NYC and Philadelphia and Boston, among others, are all north of Richmond. And filled with rich men. Far too many of them seem to have become incredibly wealthy as “civil servants” and serving in elected office. The elite, or as some put it, the technocrats.
The entire article is worth reading. And the song is worth listening to as well, if you can put up with the raw, foul language of this redheaded, redbearded hillbilly singer. (Meanwhile, expect to be “entertained” by a deluge of factoids about this guy, his family, his foibles, his community and background – and anything they can find that he has ever typed, written, said, or “liked.” Cancel culture in action.)
Anthony’s song triggers other memories too, from American history: bitter, sarcastic songs pointing out (often profanely, if later cleaned up) talking about the way common people are treated by powers that be. About freedom and liberty denied. And not all from “leftists” (though many are.) Some are known: the Guthries, for example. Others are unknown, or at least unnamed, rabble: unionists, even hobos.
As a second major “anti-government” (and “anti-elites”) country song in recent weeks, it is worth listening to and thinking long and hard about. And enjoying the way it ticks off the regressives, the media, and politicians and bureaucrats in general.
And the National Review article certainly reinforces many of Anthony’s points. The reviewer of the reviewer (John Nolte, to give him credit) sums things up pretty good in the last twelve words of the commentary:
“What whores won’t do for a dollar.
“We have the worst elites.”
Amen.
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About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.