Rang in the new year last night with Wilco and the Flaming Lips at Madison Square Garden. Good show. But why — dear God, why? — do musicians think we care about their thoughts on politics?

Wilco had not one, but two diatribes about U.S. foreign policy — even using the tsunami as a lead in to bash Bush about Iraq and Afghanistan. I mean, Afghanistan??? What do these idiots think we’re doing there, anyway? Would they prefer the Taliban? Why do the same people who complain about the Patriot Act rue the steep drop-off in soccer-stadium executions?

I know these are really old arguments. But it’s so exhausting sometimes living in this city — and in this culture.

Not an optimistic first thought for 2005, I suppose. But, I swear, I’m totally optimistic. Totally.