CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan has revealed that U.S. rock star Bruce Springsteen has long been his political inspiration with lyrics warning Australians against following the U.S. road toward widening economic inequality.
Swan, who as Treasurer is his center-left Labor Party government's chief economics minister, will tell a Labor forum on Wednesday that the music of "The Boss" often observed big changes occurring in American working class life long before economic statisticians recognized them.
In a prewritten speech seen by The Associated Press, Swan reveals that he plays Springsteen's 1975 breakthrough hit song "Born to Run" after he delivers to Parliament the government's annual budget plans. He says Springsteen is also the favorite musician of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who is away on vacation.
