The New Year brings change for us all. But one thing that never changes are the efforts of big business to screw us all. But we fought back against Netflix (they are still wounded); Bank of America, Verizon, and GoDaddy are continuing to get their assets kicked; and we are occupying our schools, our homes, our country again.
Let's be clear about one important fact: I have never donated money to any political campaign. There's altogether too much money in politics for my taste, and like Bartelby, "I should prefer not to." I have instead volunteered my time, phone banking for Obama, and leading my students in informed, polite debate about the issues of our time.
And then I saw it. I knew what I had to occupy.
It was an ad supporting . . . Newt? Or was it Mitt? Was it the Mormon, or the one with three wives? It doesn't really matter, in that I pay no attention to such things as ads. But it vexed me. DailyKos is were I can find respite, community, and share a good laugh at those clowns. I didn't want those clowns hanging around the clubhouse. But I recognize that Kos has bills to pay, and I want the site to grow and improve (and the hot tub--next to the massage table, please)?
So, like Bartelby, I said, "I should prefer not to." I should prefer not to deal with unsolicited, unwanted, advertising. At least here!
Thus, even though money is tight, this University teacher and Returned Peace Corp Volunteer decided to do it.
Won't you do it with me?
Won't you get a lifetime subscription for yourself? Let's Occupy dKos together, and give Kos and Meteor Blades and all the others who make this such a swell community a small token of our appreciation.
You may notice that Maggie Pax (that's me) has no gold shield indicating her lifer status.
With this new year, I am entering a new phase of my life. I am turning 50 in a few months, and I am once again, reinventing myself. I can no longer wait to become the person I want to be: I must begin now. And no more bullshit, people! Get out of the house and be the change we voted for!
To mark this transition to more activism, I am taking a new name: Ree Zen. Maggie Pax may still be around, but Ree Zen is the lifer. Expect to see more of Ree Zen in the coming weeks.
Because, FSM knows, we could all do with a little more Ree Zen.