While we’re waiting for the new economic stimulus plan to be unveiled on change.gov, or while we’re waiting for it to kick-in, how about developing a backup plan at sparechange.gov?
Here’s Tom Waits in a YouTube video singing the Depression-era “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”, lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Jay Gorney (1931). It’s a little rougher than the traditionally smooth Bing Crosby version.
They used to tell me, I was building a dreamWith peace and glory ahead.Why should I be standing in lineJust waiting for bread?Once I built a railroad, I made it runI made it run against timeOnce i built a railroad, and now it's doneBrother, can you spare a dime? ...Once in khaki suits,Ah, gee we looked swellFull of that yankee-doodle dee-dum!Brother, can you spare a dime?
There are more and more people all around us needing our help.