The Pot

I really don't think Keenan intended for this to be about any one, specific issue. I see this as a general middle finger to hypocritical demagogues, who do wrong to others for their own gain by hiding behind their perceived authority. That's self-evident to anyone who's heard the saying "that's the pot calling the kettle black," if you add that with a few other references in the song.

Specifically, Keenan did mention marijuana prohibition as inspiring the lyrics, but he did say it's about hypocrisy in general but could apply to many things. In any interview I've heard with him, he seems to play his cards pretty close in revealing meanings of his songs. He's not the type to get on his "soap box" to ram something down people's throats, and wants people to think for themselves instead.

Keenan has reportedly spoken publicly that he thinks the U.S. government was involved in 9/11. At a concert, which had been scheduled the day of 9/11 and rescheduled a few days after, the crowd was chanting "USA, USA!" when he said a few words about the victims. When they chanted, he reportedly said something like "You all are going to really be bummed out when you find out we did this to ourselves."

If you apply the lyrics to that situation, they fit as well as marijuana prohibition. "Who are you to point your finger" (Patriot Act, Real ID, TSA screenings, domestic spying, police state), as an example. "Kangaroo done hung the jury" (like a rigged "kangaroo court," the Patriot Act didn't examine all evidence purposely and many feel it let the guilty go. "He's as guilty as the government" (many people realize bin Laden was formerly funded by the CIA, and see more evidence of complicity in 9/11 when they look at the government than they do bin Laden) The examples can go on.