Springsteen has not hesitated to write about police shootings (Forty-One Shots) or social injustice in songs like The Ghost of Tom Joad.
Perhaps Springsteen is simply reflecting a widely held view that the whole circus is just beyond words and that language simply fails to have anything more to say.
He could have reframed the lines from one of his most famous songs Born To Run and sung it as: "Trump's not like us / maybe he's just a moron."
Mind you, one of his other songs, Born In The USA, has been misunderstood and misused so often by politicians as a patriotic anthem despite it being a lyrically hard-nosed rebuttal of the American dream, so probably Springsteen was reluctant to go there.
Testing 2
Whanganui's promotional slogan "All you need (and then some)" has been released into the media wilds to fend for itself among the various other regional catchphrases.
Marketing people, who make a living telling us we need these slogans, are convinced it is a good way for them to make money but I have never been entirely convinced why such branding exercises are needed.
There is no doubt that Whanganui is a gem. As cities and bigger centres all over the world become outrageously expensive traffic jams, places like Whanganui are gaining the advantage and defining the communities of the future.
We should apply some reverse psychology to our marketing and make the place a secret destination that only those in the know will know about. A bit of mystery can go long way.
If we wear our branding dark glasses, people will want to know why. Is it because of our wonderful sunny weather? Are we so famous that we need to disguise ourselves?
Maybe our slogan could be: "We don't need a slogan to be wonderful because we are already."
Testing 3
Police Minister Judith Collins' comments about parental failure being the main contributor to the increasing level of deprivation for children was a test of the view that being poor is a personal fault rather than something connected to the wider issues of low incomes and unaffordable housing.
Both are factors that could be addressed by robust policy.
Housing costs are now reaching levels where the only way you might be able to afford one is if you are a government minister and can use the salary and perks of Parliament to assist with your accommodation.
This may explain why so many MPs have numerous properties listed on the pecuniary interest register but are somehow unable to act on making housing affordable for low income families which would, in turn, improve outcomes for children currently living in overcrowded, poor standard housing or in cars.
Deprivation testing 1, 2, 3 ... can you hear us?
-Terry Sarten (aka Tel) is a musician, writer and social worker - feedback welcome: tgs@inspire.net.nz
