One of the things I’ve always liked about U2 is the band’s rebel status. From its wonderful, startling first record, “Boy,” to the “Achtung Baby” experimentation of the ’90s, U2 has always kept one foot squarely in the outsider’s camp. And I think that’s kept their music fresh and inspiring.

But over the past few years, U2 has become as socially acceptable and conservative as, say, Sheryl Crow. That’s partly because they’ve mellowed somewhat, and their audience has aged. I’m told by those who’ve seen U2 shows on their current tour that Bono has taken up the unfortunate habit of pulling children up onto the stage. I may be old-fashioned, but the thought of bringing your child to a rock show appalls me. Rock should not be little kid-friendly.

A bigger factor may be Bono’s politicking. Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredibly important, more important than his music, although you can’t really separate them—the latter helps broadcast the former. But because of Bono’s aid work, U2 has become a way for slick politicos to claim street cred without risking the possibility of embarrassment.

For example: Larry Summers has listed Bono as his “favorite performer,” and the New York Post reports that Hillary Clinton has U2 on her iPod. Time magazine named Bono one of its persons of the year. I’m told that former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle—now a lobbyist—was near the stage at a recent U2 show in Washington.

Now, come on. Does anyone believe that Larry Summers and Hillary Clinton ever listen to U2? Someone should ask them to name three U2 albums…or three U2 songs. Or three members of U2.

So here’s what I think U2 ought to do the next time they head into the studio: Make a record that is so passionate, so political, and so rebellious that no upstanding politician could safely support it. U2 needs to reclaim that sense of danger it used to have….