I'm way overdue in making an entry, but I just had to say something on this history-making day - the day after America elected Barak Obama to be the 44th President of the United States. My wife and I were Obama supporters from the beginning. I usually don't go around making a big deal of my politics, but I strongly believe in the basic premise that government has an obligation to ensure a level playing field for humanity. That doesn't mean there needs to be a huge bureaucracy, but the lack of government oversight led to the complete and utter collapse of the world financial system in my grandparents' day, ultimately paving the way for the rise of fascism and Nazism, and it's sad to see our past mistakes so readily repeated. As they say, those who forget the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them.

I'm not sure when "liberal" became a dirty word, but I think we have learned some important lessons from our mistakes of the 60's and 70's - among them that government has its limitations and cannot be expected to fix all of societies ills. Still, we shouldn't throw out the baby with the bathwater, as they say. Just because the "knee-jerk" liberal notion to provide everyone with food and housing has led to generations of "welfare moms" with no incentive to work doesn't mean we should dismantle the entire safety net. Worse still, the conservative arm of the Republican Party has an unhealthy penchant for inserting itself into the American bedroom. Not only do they want to ban abortion, which should be a heart-wrenching, but personal choice, but they want to define the very nature of the American family, telling us who we can love, whom we can marry and to an extent, even whom we can worship. Never mind that their presidential candidate threw his first wife away. That, I suppose, is OK. That is not a threat to marriage, but heaven forbid, two men should try to marry, or two women.

Yesterday, a few states passed legislation defining marriage as only being between a man and a woman, among them California, a state I called home for three years out of my young adult life. I'm very disappointed to say the least. Let us hope this is only a temporary setback. I am fortunate to currently live in a state that while not allowing gay marriage, accepts gay marriage performed in other states or countries where it is legal. Some of our good friends have gone to Canada or Massachusetts to be married and are now recognized as legally married where I live, which is a start. I myself am married to a woman whom I love and adore - it's a sad reflection on the way things were when I was growing up - but she is my soul mate and I wouldn't change a thing, and am greatful that she accepts me as I am.

The truly amazing news out of the election is that the state where I grew up - the reddest state in the Midwest - Indiana, went for Obama. That was a true miracle! Hooray for the gay teens of Naptown, which BTW went for Obama by a 2:1 margin.

In final news, to catch my readers up on my own situation, as of my last blog entry, I had started a new job in the NYC area. Unfortunately, with the downturn in the economy, I was laid off within weeks of starting that job, after having moved more than a thousand miles. They just didn't have enough business, and gave me a reasonable severance package under the terms of the contract, but it still wasn't enough. I ended up partnering with a long-term friend and colleague of mine who lives in the area. It means a very long commute and the income is less than steady, and there will be a long delay before I see any of it, but at least it will (hopefully) keep my head above water. Wish me luck!