If you had asked me at this time last fall which artist would bookend this yearlong musical excursion, I would not have said Tom Petty. Somehow though, he’s entirely appropriate. Age 15 was when I grew into my upstander personality and transitioned from my childhood musical tastes into those which would carry me through the nearly three decades since. Full Moon Fever is a piece of that bridge.
Which brings us to now. There ain’t no easy way out. One year ago we were organizing for President Bernie, the candidate we lefties, socialists, radicals, and misfits had been waiting for our whole lives. We didn’t get him, and we were told today–November 9th–was the day we could start fighting again. So here we are.
We want an end to the endless war.
We want a robust social welfare system that leaves nobody hungry or homeless.
We want a living wage for all workers.
We want a fair tax system that ends corporate welfare and makes the rich pay their share.
We want big money out of politics.
We want Wall Street regulated.
We want universal nonprivitized health care.
We want access to abortion for all women, on demand and without apology.
We want paid parental leave, affordable child care, and free public college.
We want 100% sustainable energy.
We want safe and reliable public transportation.
We want voting rights protected.
We want compassionate immigration rules.
We want a non-toxic food system.
We want an end to gun violence.
We want an end to private prisons and mass incarceration.
We want an end to police brutality.
And we are coming for it.
You can stand me up at the gates of hell and I won’t back down.
