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Thom Dunn is a Boston-based writer, musician, and utterly terrible dancer. He is the singer/guitarist for the indie rock/power-pop the Roland High Life, as well as a staff writer for the New York Times’ Wirecutter and a regular contributor at BoingBoing.net. Thom enjoys Oxford commas, metaphysics, and romantic clichés (especially when they involve whiskey), and he firmly believes that Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" is the single greatest atrocity committed against mankind. He is a graduate of Clarion Writer's Workshop at UCSD ('13) & Emerson College ('08).

Love Me, Love Me, Love Me — I'm a Liberal

While I've mostly avoided political discourse on this website (at the pub after a few beers, now that's a different story), I was recently reminded me of the existence of this song, and was struck by how relevant and poignant it was (read: people in the 99% need to stop posting things on Facebook bitching about the 99%, because every complaint I've seen coming from a member of the 99% betrays a clear misunderstanding of the entire movement, and is completely counterproductive. Seriously, we're all in this together, and if you don't want to actively support the movement, then fine, but don't make fun of your own problems on a public forum because you're only hurting yourself. There, I said it). Anyway, here's a song, originally written by Phil Ochs, later adapted by Kevin Devine (and further updated, however slightly by myself). Lyrics after the break; enjoy!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_QeyDk0jG4]

I cried on September 11 Tears ran down my spine Like I cried for each murdered Iraqi As though I'd lost a neighbor of mine But Afghanistan got what was coming It was the right thing to do, at the time So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I stopped by those Occupy campsites Cursed Bachmann and the whole GOP And I can't get enough of Obama His message of change speaks to me Sure, Nader's right about most things But he cost Gore that election, you see So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I bristled and raged through Katrina The response made me sick to my heart I'm sure FEMA would've come running If they'd flooded rich whites in Cape Cod But don't talk about revolution 'Cause that's going just a little bit too far So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal Yes I vote for the Democratic Party I figure soon enough they'll come along And I attended those vote for change concert And they sure got me singing those songs And I'm bothered about corporate government But I do want our brand to trade strong So love me, love me, love me I'm a liberal

Yes I read the New Yorker and Nation And I've learned to take every view And I idolized Franken and Stewart Hell I feel like I'm almost a Jew But when it comes down to globalized markets Well there's no one more red, white, and blue So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

And sure once I was young and impulsive I wore every conceivable pin Even went to some socialist meetings Yeah I learned all the old union hymns But oh I've grown older and wiser and that's why I'm turning you in So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal.