More important by far
Than our ritual dissent
Were the energy, money
And time we all spent
Supporting what we
Ineffectually curse;
How could our votes improve
What our choices made worse?

Lies we won’t contradict,
and opinions we fear —
Idols that we indulge
And truths we will not hear —
We lament as we watch
Our society fall,
But our character issue’s
The gravest of all.

Even fads that we follow,
Songs that we’ll sing along to;
Or shows that we watch
(While admitting it’s wrong to) —
Compromises we make
(And pretending we’ve got to …)
Thus we’ll ruin our culture
‘Til we decide not to.

Let us carefully choose
What we give precious time to —
Tell uncomfortable truths
Now, before it’s a crime to;
Teach the next generation
Virtues worth respecting —
Then perhaps someday, there’ll be
Someone worth electing.