The greatest problem with mainstream music is that no one wants to take a political stand anymore. And it seems like now is the perfect time for musicians to do so.

The president's approval rating is in the dumps. Senseless violence and natural disasters are killing people all over the world. Nobody has a clear definition of terrorism. The U.S. Constitution no longer seems to mean anything. There's only one political party in the United States — rich people. Everyone's computers and phones seem to be tapped. The vice president is all right with hunting after having a drink at lunch. None of the Olympic athletes know what drugs they can and can't take. Everything is a secret when it comes to the national government. Gas prices are ridiculous. The cost of higher education is rising. And people are becoming socially inept because they would rather use technology to communicate.

Things are messed up. And no one is writing quality songs about it.

During the last presidential election there was a push for mainstream bands to become increasingly political (e.g. Green Day's "American Idiot" album and the Vote For Change Tour) but it shouldn't have to be an election year for bands to make a political stand.

Is political music dead in 2006? Or is it just not making it to the mainstream anymore? Does popular culture not want to hear political music?

Previous songs dedicated to political change by The Clash, Bob Marley, early Bob Dylan, late John Lennon, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, etc. are not being made anymore and don't seem to be coming back anytime soon. This is not just a problem with musicians, but with record companies, too.

Musicians are more concerned with making money and finding a specific audience than expressing political views that may not be popular. And record companies don't want to take a chance on political songs because they aren't in the mainstream right now. Catch-22? Yes. Everybody wants more money and nobody wants to risk losing any.

Music is one of the strongest forms of communication — if not the strongest. Mainstream musicians are in a unique situation to express strong partisan opinions reaching a wide audience — especially if their songs are well-crafted.

The problem with people looking for political change — liberals — isn't that they're unmotivated. They're fueled by good music with a political edge and there isn't any of that around today. I don't consider U2 good and The Edge is just an average guitar player.

Political music doesn't have to be liberal either. I just want musicians to take a political stance in a logical creative manner. Poppy country singers producing tunes about blissful patriotism is not taking a political stance with an analytical approach.

If you're a musician and believe the United States is winning the war on terrorism — doing a good thing in Iraq — then write a well-reasoned song about your rationale. Conversely, if you've got some suggestions for improving governmental decisions then write a well-thought-out song expressing your argument.

And if you sit down in front of the piano — or whatever instrument you happen to play — and the words are just not coming, there are plenty of great politically charged tunes to be inspired by.

If you're looking to take more of a conservative approach, then Merle Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee" is a great song to look to. And if you're more of the liberal persuasion, then Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" is a wonderfully passionate tune. Also, I wouldn't worry about fitting into an already established political ideology. The most important issue is for songwriters to make a political statement closest to their own consciousness.

Music has repeatedly expounded upon the notion that love can be the best and worst thing in the world, and having a good time is more fun than having a bad one. But now is the time to make individual statements on political matters. Let music be the forum for political discussion.

Ryan McCormick is the State News music reporter and has been scared out of pursuing a law degree due to recent lawyer shootings. Reach him at mccorm87@msu.edu.