Is this democracy?

Moved into the Greenpoint YMCA today in Brooklyn. The area is kind of like Lakemba but with Polish immigrants. Checked out Tonic last night. First up was The New Humans. The ebows were all out again when I walked in, then they played a little Japanese grind number and several more towards the end of the show. Not bad in parts. Some guy was after who did the loop/drone thang. Main act was Tony Conrad with someone on violin and drums as well. This was a benefit gig for some artist who works with bacteria and faces being locked up under the Patriot Act. There seemed to be a lot of impassioned American artists around now who believe that their form of democracy can be fixed at the election... I guess we'll see if it still "works".