The Great American Tariff Scam — A Thom Hartmann Program Daily Song

"Steel was strong, but the truth is cold, He sold out the workers
for a bar of gold." This song, which was created by the Thom
Hartmann Program, was inspired by Greg Palast's latest article for
the Hartmann Report,The Great American Tariff Scam — read it here.
  The Great American Tariff Scam Lyrics  

[Verse 1] He stood in a mill with his red tie tight Told the boys
in hard hats, “I’ll stand and fight” But behind that grin and the
photo flash Was a deal with the devil and a payday stash


Steel was strong, but the truth is cold He sold out the workers
for a bar of gold Laid off in Gary, gone in Duluth While the
billionaires laughed in their tailored suits


[Chorus] It’s the Great American Tariff Scam A fist full of
promises, a smoke screen sham Jobs fall down while the prices
climb And the ones who get rich are the friends of the crime He
said “I’m here to help,” then he took what he can— That’s the
Great American Tariff Scam


[Verse 2] Steel rolls rustin’ by the railroad track While Wall
Street wolves keep slappin’ our backs They killed the deal that
could save the plant Now the furnaces cool and the wages slant


Imports rise with a tariff tax Domestic jobs? Ain’t comin’ back
From cars to cables, we all pay more While they cheer from behind
their private doors


[Chorus] It’s the Great American Tariff Scam Wrapped in a flag
with a glory cam He blocks the fix and blames the flame Says “I’m
the hero!”—but he lit the game He’s the arsonist in a fireman’s
van— That’s the Great American Tariff Scam


[Bridge] He said, “I’m here for the working man” But he hands the
loot to the richest hands From Nippon Steel to the union hall
It’s always the worker that takes the fall


[Verse 3] Now the ladle’s dry and the silence loud As the union
boys stand heads unbowed They know the truth from the spin and
smoke From every empty promise that the huckster spoke


[Final Chorus] It’s the Great American Tariff Scam With a hard
hat lie and a photo glam The jobs went south, the truth went cold
But he sold you pride like it’s solid gold Steel don’t bend, but
a worker can— In the Great American Tariff Scam


[Outro – spoken over a slow fade] “Praise me,” he said, “I
stopped the fire.” But he was the one with the gasoline and the
lighter.
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