The Manic Mechanic

After Jeff and I performed our civic duty by voting and had a nice dinner at the local pub, we settled in at home watching the election unfold, hoping for the best. We weren't disappointed.

Maryland voters not only reelected Obama, but they put two very progressive feet forward with the state version of the DREAM Act which allows "illegal" immigrants and others to pay tuition and receive other educational benefits if they meet certain conditions regarding positive efforts towards education, employment and such towards attaining citizenship, and, most amazingly, voting FOR the referred law recognizing same-sex marriage. Finally, the old saw trotted out by anti-gay groups such as NOM, smarmy political groups with "family" in their names, and religious groups where they boast of "Victories" at the ballot box defining marriage as one man and one woman no longer will apply. It was close, but decisively on favor of equality. The legislature had passed marriage equality a while ago, but the usual petition drives poured from church groups and hate orgs to put a referendum to the voters. It backfired. As I write this, it appears that Maine will also enjoy marriage equality thanks to voters as well, and Minnesota and Washington, while not final yet, are tending positive. Regardless, this marks a solid turning point for gay rights, equality and social progress for the US. The current progress overturning DOMA as well as smaller local initiatives present and future will be able to gain a lot of momentum in the next four years.

Maryland finally ousted our version of Jesse Helms, a MD house member Roscoe Bartlett, a 10 term Republican that has been a constant thorn in the side of progress in this state, replaced by a Democrat. There is a lot of social and economic progress to be made in the years ahead, and it should be a lot easier now. I just wish I could say the same for politics on a national level. There is still a framework of gridlock in place, but now that the people have spoken, and it's clear that they are also demanding some serious progress.

I can also live free of the constant bombardment of political ads, signs, robocalls and stumping. What a shite-tonne of audio-visual pollution. It should be quet going into the holiday season ahead.

Despite the setbacks I have experienced recently, I can live a bit happier now, a bit more proud, and more open than ever.

Now, to start making wedding plans...

My friend Harry has a thoughtful open letter to President-elect Barack Obama over at his LJ. It's most definitely worth a read.

It saddens me to see an undercurrent of infighting and friction among some in my readership over the whole Prop. 8 issue, but I cannot say I didn't expect it. The framework has been put into place now that can serve us better than anything in the past 8 years so long as we make the best use of it. There's a lot of work to be done, and lots of obstacles to overcome. Fight the good fight, but remember to fight the foes, not each other. Keep the momentum going, and get creative.