(Cross posted at Greater Democracy)

In 1906, John Philip Sousa told congress, "These talking machines are going to ruin the artistic development of music in this country. When I was a boy ... in front of every house in the summer evenings, you would find young people together singing the songs of the day or old songs. Today you hear these infernal machines going night and day. We will not have a vocal cord left. The vocal cord will be eliminated by a process of evolution, as was the tail of man when he came from the ape."

My daughters' piano teacher mentioned this at a piano party sometime back, and it has always stuck with me. She went on to cite the piano party as an example of how Sousa was wrong. This came back to me again on Saturday, as Miranda performed at a Young Musician’s Festival in Fairfield.

I’ve been going to these festivals for ten years to listen to my daughters play. The rooms are packed with young people making music. As my daughters grew older, the complexity of the music they perform has grown as well.

Some of the musicians play extremely well, with great expression. Others play mechanically or making various mistakes, yet there is something very special about listening to these young people participate in making music.

The same applies to democracy. Just as the establishment music industry tries to control new technology and focuses only on the most marketable superstars, the establishment political industry seems to be doing the same thing. It is as bad for politics as it is for music.

The real beauty in democracy, just like the true beauty in music, comes not from carefully crafted industry figures, but from independent political activists and independent musicians, even if they hit a wrong note here or there.

So, look for more than just catchy lyrics, look for the singer-songwriters of the political process, those that are encouraging the audience to sing along. Then, join in, make your own music. Let’s make democracy a beautiful thing again.