For the last time, I mean it.

I have many good friends that are Republicans. My own brother is a staunch Republican (as are most of my extended family on Mom's side). I admit that despite numerous conversations with all of them about this, I will never understand or accept it. Same with them and my liberal ways. We solve the problem by not discussing politics, ever, except on our Facebook statuses (stati?)... which I blatantly ignore around election time, and they surely do the same (as they surely ignore my "schmolitics" rants here).

People. All of you. Reds and whites, donkeys and elephants, lefties and righties, innies and outies.

Take a moment.

Look around.

The economy has collapsed, our freedoms and personal civil liberties have been at risk for years, almost everyone outside the US hates us, we can't take care of our own citizens, unemployment has reached record heights this year... And if that wasn't enough, the person who has ruled our country for 8 years can't speak basic English.

But.

More people than ever came out to vote this year. More people than ever want SOMETHING to change, for red or for blue. More people than ever were part of history in the making over the past few weeks. That says something.

To the fearful, to the depressedly hungover on Wednesday, I say... No one is going to take away your right to bear arms. No one is going to take away your right to choose, either. Your tiny bit of extra taxes will actually help to bring our economy back around and make the dollar worth a damn when you go overseas on vacation, instead of toward the war we were blatantly lied into initiating. Socialism is not a four-letter word. (Uh... OK, I need to work on that last one a bit.)

This is directed at no one in particular, and at the same time, to everyone I know in general. It's the last I will speak of politics with friends whose politics I don't agree with, because to do otherwise will just make me sad and frustrated with people I otherwise hold with utmost respect.

Something's gotta give. Give the next four years a chance. They might surprise you. And they are likely to disappoint me. It's gonna take a lot more than four years to see any real change, after all...

And on a related note, if any of you CA people voted Yes on Prop 8, I don't want to know. LALALALALALA FINGERS IN MY EARS I CAN'T HEAR YOU. I don't care how you voted otherwise, but if you voted Yes on Prop 8, I'm pretty sure I could never speak to you again. And I think I really mean that.