Tom’s post yesterday of the Tom T. Hall song covered by the Drive By Truckers reminded me of this Iris DeMent song.

I was young enough I only knew a few people who went to Viet Nam, but I knew a lot who came back. Back then there was at least some lip service paid to the idea that everyone served.

Tom T. Hall and Iris DeMent both point out that the price paid was not born symmetrically. Some paid, others did not, often based on opportunity and privilege. Which perhaps helps us understand a little why there is a bit of distrust of government out there, from people who you would think would know better.