Which side are you on?

Which_side_are_you_on_?

You can pick your version. For relatively straight renditions, I especially like the Billy Bragg rewrite, but the Rebel Diaz rap brings tears to my eyes.

I was not raised in a union family; my introduction to this song was the Natalie Merchant track, on a folk album she cut.

Now, I'm not a great fan of this song. Given my upbringing, Woody Guthrie's "Jesus Christ" means a lot more to me as a song. But it has some power to it, and tonight I was thinking about reactions to #OWS and this came to mind. Maybe we need a new version for the present struggle. Some will say the labor organization themes are outdated, but maybe it's loss of belief in solidarity that's caused the present trouble.

I think we are living through another 1848. And I know that the 1848 revolutions failed, and this one may as well.

So I think we need something like this song. WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

(ETA: It's pretty straight punk, but the bass riffs on the Die Commandantes cut are delicious.)

more from politicartoons

Reason enough not to vote GOP, usually.
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I believe in a progressive income tax, equality for persons of different ethnic backgrounds, the redistribution of wealth, and general egalitarianism. These are in fact communist stances. If holding those positions makes me a communist, then I am a communist. If a communist is someone working for Joe Stalin or Mao Zedong, then I am not a communist. Pick your definition.
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http://robinhoodtax.org
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That's a) awfully simplistic and b) a straw man. Posted here and taken down hard by all of us. Mentioned because I think you will run into this argument at some point.

I think this is apt:
To refuse to use a certain class of power for ends you believe in, because it has been used for ends you disagree with, is to choose for it only to be used for ends you disagree with and never for ends you believe in.