I disagree pretty hard on this. Oliver Anthony and my views on corruption at the federal level don’t align whatsoever, even if we ultimately end up with nearly the same conclusion. He spends more time blaming people on welfare for the struggles of other working-class people without providing a reason why they’re responsible. And where he could spend time deriding politicians for accepting corporate buyouts to strengthen their iron grip on the working class, he simply says politicians ignore the working class because they’re too busy visiting Epstein island. Which, while not wrong, ultimately ignores that politicians are corrupt due to corporate buyouts - a consequence of capitalism. It’s a song - sure, maybe nothing’s literal. But I don’t consider Oliver Anthony’s views and my own views to be compatible, even if we end up with near the same conclusion.
Additionally, I would urge others to not feel like they must accept others’ viewpoints just because they end up near the same place, because co-opting the language and causes of the left is a legitimate tactic the far right uses to gain legitimacy. Think of how TERFs co-opted the feminist movement to make their hatred of trans people sound like it’s coming from a place of “feminist consciousness.” Songs like “Rich Men North of Richmond” do the same thing, but they’ll make it sound like a burning hatred of “the undeserving” (coming from the pot shots at people on welfare) comes from a place of class consciousness.
I disagree pretty hard on this. Oliver Anthony and my views on corruption at the federal level don’t align whatsoever, even if we ultimately end up with nearly the same conclusion. He spends more time blaming people on welfare for the struggles of other working-class people without providing a reason why they’re responsible. And where he could spend time deriding politicians for accepting corporate buyouts to strengthen their iron grip on the working class, he simply says politicians ignore the working class because they’re too busy visiting Epstein island. Which, while not wrong, ultimately ignores that politicians are corrupt due to corporate buyouts - a consequence of capitalism. It’s a song - sure, maybe nothing’s literal. But I don’t consider Oliver Anthony’s views and my own views to be compatible, even if we end up with near the same conclusion.
Additionally, I would urge others to not feel like they must accept others’ viewpoints just because they end up near the same place, because co-opting the language and causes of the left is a legitimate tactic the far right uses to gain legitimacy. Think of how TERFs co-opted the feminist movement to make their hatred of trans people sound like it’s coming from a place of “feminist consciousness.” Songs like “Rich Men North of Richmond” do the same thing, but they’ll make it sound like a burning hatred of “the undeserving” (coming from the pot shots at people on welfare) comes from a place of class consciousness.