If you’re reading this and you live in the United States, I urge you to join a labor union today.

For historical and philosophical reasons, I chose the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). We are a nation in crisis. Authoritarianism and corporatocracy now run nakedly rampant in America, threatening what little remains of our democracy and freedom.

I stand resolutely in opposition to this obscenity.

I stand for individual freedom, collective action, and shared responsibility. I stand for freedom from want — for public libraries, for the free press. I stand for the right to be who I am and for others to do the same. To become our best selves and love whomever we want.

I stand for a better future — one that prioritizes rational thought over ideology, and principle over loyalty. I stand for immigrant rights, due process, and the rule of law. I stand against the rule of the billionaire class. I stand for universal healthcare.

I stand against unaccountable power, for strong checks and balances.

I believe in a society that harnesses the innovative spirit capitalism promises, without its murderous indifference and sociopathy toward people. I believe in the utopian future imagined in Star Trek: an anarchist, non-hierarchical federation rooted in secular humanism — with structure only where necessary, never imposed.

I stand for human dignity. I stand for our shared humanity. I stand for honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

I stand for love.

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