The Thin Man Pays The Band

[Dr. Shane]

While some of the priviledged like Pat Tillman and Deryk Schlessinger have joined our military, most of our military is made up of the poor. I live in one of the poorest areas in the country and nearly every month we have fallen soldiers come home from Iraq. Since the war started our flags have been flown at half staff almost constantly. Last week we had two make their final voyage home. Today another arrived.

We have a completely voluntary fighting force but it seems our recruitment is really a poverty draft. The members of our military are not really a cross section of America. Some 14% of Americans live in poverty and I suspect that over 50% of soldiers come from a poverty background.

I am really in favor of either a draft or manitory military service. It reminds me of one of Travis Tritt's songs:

All around I hear the sound of money

But I ain't got a nickel to my name

And everywhere I look I see temptation

She stands on every corner and calls my name

Won't you tell me if you can

Cause life's so hard to understand

Why's the rich man busy dancing

While the poor man pays the band

Oh they're billing me for killing me

Lord have mercy on the working man

Uncle Sam's got his hands in my pockets

And he helps himself each time he needs a dime

Them politicians treat me like a mushroom

Cause they feed me bull and keep me in the blind

Hey, St. Peter look down for a minute

And see this little man about to drown

There's quicksand all around and man I'm in it

Please help me up Lord cause I'm going down

Won't you tell me if you can

Cause life's so hard to understand

Why's the fat man busy dancing

While the thin man pays the band

Oh they're billing me for killing me

Lord have mercy on the working man

Please, Lord have mercy on the working man