Kid Rock is in the news again today and appears to be still considering a run for the U.S. Senate.
Ritchie dismissed the allegations, issuing the following statement, “I am starting to see reports from the misinformed press and the fake news on how I am in violation of breaking campaign law. #1: I have still not officially announced my candidacy. #2: See #1 and go f— yourselves.”
For months, it has been far from clear whether Kid Rock intends to run for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., next year: He has made only cryptic remarks about his intentions and in July said he would hold off on a decision, using funds raised through merchandise sales to fund voter registration efforts instead.
As he gets closer to considering a run, it behooves us to begin a more robust analysis of his governing philosophy. As a sometimes consumer of his art, I think the best place to look is in his life’s work. This lyric from “Welcome 2 the Party (ode to the old school)” gives us a glimpse as his economic philosophy.
I don’t steal from the rich and give to the poor
I take from my bitches and give it to my whores
Let’s break that down and compare it to a classic Enlightenment economic outlook. The first part indicates that Kid Rock holds the view that wealth is the people’s – not the government’s:
I don’t steal from the rich…
The word “steal” shows that he considers wealth to be the property of the people and that government confiscation of it is considered “steal”ing. Furthermore, the first sentence, as a whole, is a full-throated rejection of the government’s redistribution of wealth from those who have it to those who do not.
So far, so good. Kid Rock’s view of the government as a coercive force that has no role in redistributing the rightful gains of the people is certainly in line with our Founder’s vision for our nation and modern libertarian-conservative thought. The second sentence gets more complicated:
I take from my bitches and give it to my whores
So in the first sentence, Rock has rejected straight redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor, but here he indicates a willingness to use coercive power to redistribute wealth based or the perceived moral failings or behavior of certain groups of people. It is unclear, however, how he defines these groups of people. It depends on the definitions of “bitches” and “whores.”
Given Rock’s full body of work, he seemingly defines “bitches” and something similar to “women of low character, weak morals, and below average intelligence who are easily manipulated to Rock’s personal benefit.” Rock holds these women in low regard.
In contrast, Rock appears to hold “whores,” by which he seems to be using as a synonym for “prostitutes,” in relatively high regard. While still of the same low moral character as the women refers to as “bitches,” Rock’s esteem seems to rest in the notion that “whores” work for their income.
What is further unclear is whether Rock supports forcibly confiscating bitches’ wealth to give to whores for the purpose of compensating them for their services or as a grant to, perhaps, subsidize their attempt to change their employment. That last possibility is probably a bit of a reach since I can’t find any references in his other writings advocating the reformation of whores. In fact, his predominant view on that subject is a laissez faire approach to prostitution in general.
Finally, although I have assumed that Kid Rock was only referring to women in delineating “bitches” and “whores,” that was an unsubstantiated assumption on my part. It is entirely possible that Rock is using a broader definition of those terms to encompass anyone along the gender spectrum. Indeed, the distinction between “bitches” and “whores” appears to be more based in the behavioral differences irrespective of sex or gender.
Clearly, we must further explore and clarify Kid Rock’s governing philosophy as he considers an attempt to join the most exclusive club in the world.
Have a Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone.
He only solidifies the notion that Hollywood is a cesspool.
The only reason to elect him is because is would drive the Hollywood left absolutely insane. Only Ted Nugent geing elected would drive leftist more insane. While tempting, that is not a good enough reason for me.