1. |
Social Entrepreneur
06:14
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Take my rage & put it in a grant, social change is really hot right now
I’m all for movement-building & progressive advocacy, I even got my own 501c3
But you know, the corporate world does have a lot of things to teach
When it comes to building power in the belly of the beast
Maybe business innovation will bring justice to the world
I will be a social entrepreneur.
Did you see the RFP? The company’s foundation is looking to expand its portfolio
They want diversity - do you think that could mean me? -
I may be white, but I’ve got bright ideas for ending poverty.
It’s still working out the kinks, our app is still in beta
But we’ve hired a great consultant who will help us steer our team
From my open floor plan office, I will try to save the world
Call me a “social entrepreneur”
Our collective’s been building coalitions with other like-minded folks,
who aren’t afraid to handle money to get things done.
But I still do activism, and I always make sure to vote -
of two choices presented I always pick the right one
Yes, organizing’s crucial, it’s what I do all day
That’s why I keep inviting you to like my LinkedIn page
Social movement work is fickle; but our social media is pure
I am a social entrepreneur
Yes I’ve read a bit of Marx, by the way of Grace Lee Boggs,
and I show up now and again with DSA,
But I seek deliverable solutions, and real-world tests of change -
that old-school lefty stuff is so passé,
Don’t you know, it’s not the system, it’s the cronies that make things hard
So I’ll ideate alternatives as I drive my electric car
When you grow up you’ll discover it takes connections with funders to get far
And you'll be a social entrepreneur
Now I’ve found my calling, helping others do the same
I serve as a consultant to teach others how play the game
I’ve got an arsenal of best practices and lifestyle blog posts galore,
I think this is my way to help win the class war;
So I will happily help you articulate your holistic ROI,
How shareholders and communities are lifted up by your bottom line
Revolution may be nice, but we’re getting drinks at 5 --
Let’s put a pin in it - maybe we’ll discuss it in our Uber ride
Revolution may be nice, but have you ever tried reform?
Who needs socialists when you’ve got social entrepreneurs!?
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2. |
Communish Manifesto
04:34
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I’m not interested in philosophies that promote visions of unchang-ing
human nature that’s consistent across worlds of time and space.
I’m not saying nothing’s shared between us, but just saying so
Won’t make it that “We’re All One” and “All Is Love” -
No need to mention gender, class and race!
Because…
Some of us come from settlers, and some of us come from slaves
Some histories are just forgotten, other histories are erased
But these things are not just accidents, they come from people who have names
And these names profit from the systems so they keep it all in place
I reject the notion that civility and compromise will lead to liberation
or anything else beyond a politer status quo
For the arc of the moral universe will not bend to justice but through confrontation
Transformation will not come unless we can make it so!
It’s just...
at the end of the day, you must realize it’s more
Than a friendlier face in office that we’re out here fighting for
I want justice, I want freedom, I want to build a better world
A better world than what’s ever come before
I don’t feel seen when folks want to talk “politics” and all they mean is who they’ll vote for in elections,
As if their power only comes every couple years or every four
Falling prey to the lengthy spectacle of establishment campaigns that run on misdirection,
Promising hope and change but delivering only drones!
In times of great potential, visionary thought's despised
The status quo maintainers tell us moderation's wise
Vote blue no matter who they say, and silence your critiques
Maybe next term you can raise your voice to speak!
These aren’t politics of purity, I won’t reject reforms that better the material wellbeing of those folks most beaten down the system and the state
But the idea that we must unquestioningly support what’s effectively just a more soft-spoken form of imperialism Is just ridiculous -
how could this kind of praxis bring us change?
When it comes to making movements, you must start from what you are
There’s no freedom to be gained in merely cheering from afar
We have power, we have action, we have agency at our command
Consider what might happen if we joined and took a stand!
It’s just...
at the end of the day, you must realize it’s more
Than a friendlier face in office that we’re out here fighting for
I want justice, I want freedom, I want to build a better world
A better world than what’s ever come before
A better world than there has ever been before!
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3. |
I Am the President Now!
03:38
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My name is Juan Guaido, I come from Venezuela & I have a big announcement to report,
Maduro is corrupt, these are elections were invalid - just look at expat tweets from Langley for support!
The people want free and fair elections,
The people want to bring the strongman down,
The people will finally be free - and yes, that means the bourgeousie - because I will the president now!
I am the president now, I am the president now
Enough of all this nonsense of Bolivarian Revolution,
right-of-center is the left-est that’s allowed
I’m sure our military will mobilize behind me,
And if not, the U.S. will send boots on the ground
God Bless the USA, the pink tide will ebb away
because I will be the president now!
My name is Senator Anez, I’m a patriotic Christian, I hate savages & love democracy
And I just can’t stand when despots block up my business interests
By nationalizing the energy industry!
You know, Bolivians are sick of caudillos,
they say enough of this cocalero clown
I’l call up the SOA, we’ll send Evo away
so I will be the president now!
I am the president now, I am the president now,
I will swear on a big bible in the empty halls of congress
(Which means that it’s official somehow!)
I have a nice religious right agenda,
which means by Uncle Sam’s rules it’s allowed
Viva La bourgeoisie! Even Russia can agree
that I will be the president now
If you’re a politician with your eyes on the chief office,
I’VE a simple tip of what you’ve got to do
Just make the right connections with the US State Department
And start hatching plans of when to mount a coup
If your president is something of a leftist
& democracy won’t work to bring them down,
Call up the CIA, just like with Papa Pinochet,
And you can be the president now!
You can be the president now - you can be the president now!
You can join in the rich tradition ®of extrajudicial killing
to keep socialists from gaining too much ground!
Just use words like “despot” and “dictator”
And don’t worry that the shoe fits all around
If you’re of the ruling class, give us loyalty & cash
And you can be the president now!
If you’re of the bourgeoisie and the 1% decree, you can be the president now!
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4. |
Beyond the Fence
06:23
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When I was young I used to dream of travel
Of adventure and intrigue in distant lands
And through the years, I’ve had my share of rambles
I even went to Canada once for spring break with my friends!
But now I've grown, my world has gotten smaller
And so has my circle of concern
I'm content now to keep to my own half acre
And my white picket fence round its perimeter
Beyond the fence! It’s another yard, it’s another land
The sovereign scope of different clan
What I can’t see is not my problem - that belongs to another man!
Beyond the fence! Out of sight is out of mind,
You got your side, I got mine
Keep your distance & we’ll be fine - beyond the fence!
I’m tired of these bleeding-hearted meddling types
Who blame honest men like me for the problems of the weak
I’ve had enough of all their canvassing and fundraiser drives
Close the door, no one’s home, leave me & my family alone
Beyond the fence! I’ve heard the world out there’s a mess
And I would help you out I guess,
but I try to stay away from all the things that cause me stress
Beyond the fence! I’ll say it’s for my own self care
I don’t have capacity to spare
Your burdens aren’t mine to share beyond the fence!
If you want things to be better, you gotta work hard for it
No one ever manifested their dreams going to political meetings
Why bother sticking out your neck for someone who wouldn’t give you jack?
Focus on yourself & your wealth, and the rest to go to hell!
Beyond the fence! It’s not my portion nor my claim
Don’t give me all that grief and shame
I don’t see what the big deal is that I don’t know my neighbor’s names
Beyond the fence! Why should I care just what you do?
What’s past that line belongs to you
Honestly I haven’t got a clue what’s beyond the fence
We simply don’t have room here for the whole world’s huddled masses
I don’t see what's so hard to get about "not in my backyard," and yet
They’ll call anyone a refugee like they’ll call any of us a fascist!
Not today! Stay away! Come back in the legal way!
Beyond the fence! No I cannot claim to care or know
About your struggles and your woes or
All the trials & tribulations that happen in the world
Beyond the fence! Let me keep to my own domain
It’s easier to keep things sane
When I don’t have to stretch my brain beyond the fence
I can’t stand all these liberals and social justice fiends
who will lecture on and on but won’t mow their goddamn lawn
So what if I’m a nationalist with my head in the sand?
In the Land of the Free, there’s no place I’d rather it be!
Beyond the fence! You are an island to yourself
Responsible for your own health
Just pull those bootstraps higher if you want to make some wealth!
Beyond the fence! Won’t you stay far away from me
with talk of social security
Cause I’m happiest see when I can’t see beyond the fence
Beyond the fence! All the winners they all know
The only way forward is alone
When did THINGS ever get BETTER from people working all together?
Beyond the fence! As long as we don’t interact
We’ll keep the big system intact
There'll be no hope of pushing back beyond the fence
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5. |
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We believe, we believe, we believe in a better world
We believe, we believe, we believe in a better world
We believe, we believe, we believe in a better world
And we will make it so!
Though the force of Liberation may tarry and delay
We won’t let our faith be shaken, we will try to pave the way
Just as those who came before us gave their lives to give us our trees
So we owe it to our children to plant seeds!
Through all our fights and struggles, we’ve seen blessing and seen curse,
We’ve seen glints of revolution, we’ve seen victories reversed
But the fate of humankind and the fate of the whole Earth
Means we must not give up the work for a better world!
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Jake Ehrlich Detroit, Michigan
Radical Jewish culture worker in Detroit, MI. Agitate, entertain, propagandize. 🏴🌹✊
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