Whenever Democrats accuse the Republicans of sculpting policy to favor the rich, the Republicans respond by yelling "Class war! Class war!" Apparently they think that merely yelling it in derision makes the term seem quaint, Marxist, and discredited, makes the Democrats look like they're living in the past, and haven't caught up with the new realities. There really is a class war, of course, of the rich against the poor, but by pooh-poohing and thus disallowing the term, the Republicans make it look like no such thing is going on.

Ever since I've started writing in this blog about differences between Downtown and Uptown music, Uptown (or at least non- Downtown) bloggers and composers have been ridiculing me for using the term "Downtown music." Apparently they think that by pretending I'm the only one who still uses the term and making fun of me, they can make the Up-/Downtown distinction look quaint, old-fashioned, and discredited, and make me look like I'm living in the past and haven't caught up with the new realities. Meanwhile, Downtown composers, who know who they are and still use the term, write to thank me for carrying on the fight. It is in the interest of whatever class is in power to discredit the idea that there is any distinction between them and the class they are oppressing.

Copyright 2007 by Kyle Gann

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