I've been so busy with life. I changed jobs and started taking classes for a Master's degree, and that doesn't even mention the single mom thing and how my kid graduated from High School last month and is hoping now to get into a study abroad program called NSLI-Y. See how busy, look at that run-on sentence I just wrote!

So, anyway, this is where I get to the title. I've been planning a graduation trip for my kid. My parents and I are taking her on a Disney transatlantic cruise and when we get to London on our way home, I had high hopes of getting to finally see Bill Bragg in concert. But I find out this:

The second annual fundraiser Harvest of Hope Foundation Music and Arts Festival, March 12-14th, 2010, located at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds in St. Augustine, Florida features a three day, multiple stage alternative music festival that is unique in many ways, but mostly because it is all to benefit and raise awareness for nonprofit charity Harvest of Hope Foundation.

The Harvest of Hope Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides financial, educational, and service oriented aid to migrant farm workers all over the country. The event emphasizes on being not only entertaining, but educational, family friendly and environmentally conscience. The HOH Fest showcases not only a large group of musicians who are donating much of their time and performances to the cause but will also showcase a variety of progressive artists, local vendors and a nonprofit “educational center” that will help raise awareness for the many issues surrounding Migrant Farmworkers and their families.

I love that he's doing this amazing concert next weekend in Florida for Immigrant workers. I do, I love it. I have just got to say, that I have the worst fucking timing. Can I just say that? I can't go to Florida to see him and I can't see him in England. What the Fuck?!?!

Anyway, if you can make it next weekend to St. Augustine Floriday, highly recommend you make it to the Punk, Indie, grassroots music festival and someone, could ya tell Billy "hey" from me, I'm sure he'd appreciate it.

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I am a Socialist.

Should come as no shock to anyone reading this site.

I grew up in a very leftist town. Probably had to do with the influx of Finns from the 1800's through mid 1950'. Finns are a bit leftist, or so you might think if you watch Fox News. In fact, if you watch that station, you might think that people like me, hard working folks who believe that Government has a responsibility to its citizens, that no one should go hungry, the mentally ill should be cared for, that children should have access to good schools and we all should have health care, etc... Well, if you watched that station, you just might think I'm the boogyman or some such thing.

Take the Ed Show. They looked at the use of the word Socialist (and it's derivations) and made it the Psycho of the day, and I have to agree.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

You see. I'm of the mind that I live in the United States of America and that guarantees me certain freedoms, including the freedom of speech or in this case, thought.

I have the right to actually THINK about what I want from government and then, I also have the opportunity to push for those things that I want. Like how I want my daughter to be able to go to college and get a Master's Degree. In Finland, she could do that.

How can a small, affluent country such as Finland maintain a high-wage, high-skill economy? It can't compete with the low-cost economies of Asia, so it must, as a matter of economic survival, invest heavily in education and training.

"In Finland, we believe we have to invest in education, in research and in higher education.

"Education can pioneer new areas for jobs. We always need new skills for the labour force - so it means that we have to keep investing."

I know it's a boogeyman to distract from the real conversation that needs to happen about education or health care. Fear mongering has worked for Republicans in the past by labeling opponents as "liberal" but that's lost all it's negative meaning now. So, they find themselves looking for a new name to use to deride. They've come to Socialist. Wonder if they'll do the same concern trolling that Nixon did in the 60's when he claimed that an opponent was pink (as in Socialist Pink and Commie Red) down to her panties. BTW, I do wear pink panties and sometimes, leopard print, too. I know, I'm dangerous, thoughts are you know, dangerous.

So, here's my suggestion to all the Psycho talkers claiming that moderates are Socialists. I respectfully suggest that we take the money from our missiles and put it toward health care and education.

And now for a musical interlude:



Oh, and Congresswoman Bachmann,TV entertainment personality Beck, and all the others, um, HELLO! If you're so scared of folks like me, perhaps you might benefit from a trip to Finland. They're Socialist and according to you two, we should be very very scared. Me, not so much. I'm hoping to take my daughter next year to see family that still lives there. Hey all you Paananens from Viitasaari, you got a cousin right here!! Hauska tutustua!

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The Take Back Labor Day Festival will combine world-class music, cutting-edge activism and family fun to put working Americans’ concerns on the national agenda in a whole new way. The event will take place just across the Mississippi River from the Republican National Convention, which opens on the same day, Sept. 1.
Thousands from across the country will join together to promote a pro-worker agenda, including:

Healthcare for all

The freedom to join unions

Wages that can support families

Secure retirement

Among many activities, festival-goers can enjoy a concert, record YouTube videos, play in the children’s area, make calls from SEIU’s Mobile Action Center, and take direct action on health care and other issues.

Yeah!! If I were only still living in Minnesota!! Yeah for Take Back Labor Day!!

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I grew up in the union movement. Dad and Gramps were both steelworkers and my dad even became the secretary of his local, back in the day. Having grown up with this strong foundation in solidarity, it wasn't a stretch for me to also find commonality with the songs that Billy Bragg sings and often even writes.

One of my favorite songs by Bragg is The World Turned Upside Down. It's not one of his original pieces, but the way he sings it reminds me of why SOLIDARITY is vital to all of us, every one of us. If you don't know the story behind the song, I recommend you head over to Spartacus School, they have a pretty simplified version of the story.



I think of the diggers often and wish them well and all of those who came before them and all of us, who have come after.

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Thanks go to Billy Bragg for trying to help all of us remember what Labor history is.

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