(For those who peeped my Patriotic Ramblings, this piece is derived from the ending of that, so some parts may be a bit familiar...)

I wonder what's the cost of living like in Heaven
Cuz not for nothing,
But if I don't have to pay a high priced toll to get through them pearly gates in the skies,
And if I can manage to get a rent stabilized cloud then I think it may just be my time to go
See cuz all I know is that the inflation in this nation is causing me heart palpitations
As my heart's beats are skipping along in harmony with my fear of bouncing checks
As I'm living from one paycheck to the next
Trying my best not to grow too weak between each duration of two weeks
So if you offer me a penny for my thoughts, I will never hesitate to speak
Collect all your pennies and contribute them towards next week groceries
Cuz "My country tis of thee, its keeps on raising fees, on things we need"
See we in a country driven by money so even the Statue of Liberty is green
Wu had it right when they talked about C.R.E.A.M.
But forget cash, these days….credit rules everything around me
But I guess that cuz the country has such a financial deficit, that it can't even afford to pay attention to our own nightmarish reality
Cuz I have nightmare rich sleep of always being poor
Seeing obscure images of me in war with a credit card to my neck…
Screaming GIVE ME LIBERTY, OR GIVE ME DEBT!
And with a quick swipe of my windpipe, I involuntarily "pledged my allegiance to this card, that I will never leave home without it"
While back in reality…Discover, Visa, Mastercard and American Express are punishing me like they were my four fathers,
So I chose to address them as would our nation's forefathers
Cuz my credit report shows that I have a… "poor score and 7 years to go"
Keeping me denied of loans cause of my debt to income ratio
All because my paycheck is blown on student loans
It's as if the system of higher learning is reserved for those with higher earnings
Cuz ever since I graduated, I feel like a slave…to my Masters
And now almost 5 years after the debt is still destroying and drowning me
Might as well call me an alumnus of Katrina University
And yet in still FEMA is still not trying to do anything to help me
And it's frustrating to see my rating going thru constant fluctuations
While this whole issue on inflation is even affecting my dating situation
Cuz I'm told that before I can console a date… that I must consolidate
But I can't even get to the bank because of the crisis with the gas prices
So I'm wondering if my salary in comparison to my 80 mile round trip that I drive to work everyday suffices
Cuz I've realized that the land of the free is full of high interest rates, finance charges, and late fees
So while I'm struggling to keep on my gas and lights, I'm scared imma get a past due notice on my bill of rights
Forcing me to choose between con edison and the constitution
So consider this here my declaration of being in-dependence,
Cuz I've traded my financial independence 10 years ago for a free t-shirt and candy bar on a college campus
And now I never walk the streets of these united interest rates of America without packing some plastic weapons of mass destruction
Cuz I've realized that without them…. it's almost impossible to function where we are currently livin'
And this is why it's got me wondering…what the costs look like…up in Heaven.