"Some will rob you with a six-gun and some with a fountain pen."

Readers' Responses

Downtown Plan Politics in Lyrics

September 4, 2006

Newspapter Tree
Copyright 2006

It came as no surprise that in July the city council voted 5-3 to ignore the many voices who spoke out against the downtown plan, and voted again for eminent domain abuse.

For those who didn't attend the community meetings, I'll try to summarize the various comments made against the downtown plan. And since this is a self-proclaimed "progressive" city council, I'll to try to present these comments in a different, progressive sort of way, through the lyrics of folk music songwriters.

From the song entitled Pretty Boy Floyd:
"Some will rob you with a six-gun and some with a fountain pen."

From Bob Dylan:
"Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king."

Also from Dylan:
"These people that you mention, yes I know them, they're quite lame; I had to rearrange their faces, and give them all another name."

From Kinky Friedman:
"I'll give you all of the dreams you can use, before all hell breaks loose."

From Leonard Cohen:
"Everybody knows that the deal is rotten."

From Chuck Brodsky:
"I can tell with every handshake whose lying through their skin."

From Townes Van Zandt:
"If you want good friends, it's gonna cost you."

And finally the lyric which probably best captures the essence of the downtown plan.

From Loudon Wainwright:
"It's OK to steal, ‘cause it's so nice to share."

I believe it was Tom Paxton who once said that politicians give him so much material that he'll never run out of ideas for songs.

Between the toll roads, the downtown plan, and other schemes that will be promoted by special interests groups and this city council, expect El Pasoans to be burdened with more song ideas that will further divide the city, and increase the distrust of local government.

Marvin Rosenbaum
El Paso

© 2006 The Associated Press: www.newspapertree.com