And the band played on...

I knew the phrase as an old folk euphemism for a long time before I found a source from history that made sense.  From the context folks used it in I’d assumed it meant doing the same old something in defiance of the fact it wouldn't do much good for anything, just force of habit, but since it was what you knew how to do you kept on doing it.  Like the dance band on the doomed Titanic, you know? What else do you do until it’s your turn to die?

For a couple of days now I've been wondering in light of how rapidly things change in this digital day just how much of what I see in the public domains is actually a case of some band that plays on, and what are the consequences of their music?  It feels like simple habit is an ever increasing power player in what I see.  I suppose I shouldn't say habit, that’s an unkind way to put it, habit is something personal.  I should say social momentum and try to be just a wee tiny bit politically correct.

Yes. Social momentum.  What happens when the liberals can’t believe there might  be a solution for a problem the conservatives can’t really  believe exists... and the band plays on.