As I write this, the Presidential Election of 2004 is still not quite over – but things are not looking good for John Kerry. Given that the race really kicked-off back in 2003, this could quite possibly be the longest election season yet. It's been a tiring two years for everybody concerned, and it's nice that it's finally over.

But it's not all that nice. Regular readers of this site (assuming there are any of you left) probably already know that we are a little disappointed by the way this one seems to be turning out. And we're not the only ones. It might be a little early, but allow us to say a few words that might be a little hard to take. Hopefulness is a wonderful thing, but there are times, and we believe that this is one of them, where optimism must give way to a more realistic view of the world.

The fact that so many of our fellow Americans disagree with us is a little discouraging – a feeling that's only exacerbated by the closeness of this election. Given the overwhelming partisanship of each campaign, one suspects that we have a larger problem than just getting stuck with a bad president. We are a country that hates itself. Fully half of us want the other half to just – disappear.

In the winner-take-all democracy we live in, that's just what the 49% of Kerry voters will do. Because as of January 6th, 2005, your support will have no measurable effect on the policies enacted by the government. You had your say. So, this first epistle is to the Democrats. Whatever your vision for the future, whatever positions you hold out of a love and respect for the country that raised and nurtured you, you must realize this fundamental truth: Your country will not listen to you. It will not look out for you, or respond to your concerns. More to the point, because you were on the losing side (even if only slightly) you should expect to be chased down, smoked out, hunted and harassed, bitten, stabbed, punched, kicked, maligned and wiped out. The vast power of the United States government will be wielded against you and your kind. Good luck.

To the poor, I tell you to expect much the same. You live in a world below the $100,000 dollar mark – and that's not a good place to be right now. The world looks very different from your perspective; no money, no jobs, no housing, no food, no medicine, no hope, no help, no chance. Every time they tell you things are getting better and better, while you watch prices rise, and your debts deepen, you feel a little piece of your heart break. What can I say besides – um – good-bye? And, hello.

To the homosexuals; it appears that your pendulum as swung as far as it's going to go. You nearly reached the mark that says, "acceptance" and you should be proud. But, it seems, that pride will soon turn to martyrdom. The gains you've made will begin to reverse themselves as the pendulum swings back farther and farther – past, civil-unions, past domestic-partnerships, past anti-discrimination statutes. Pray that it doesn't swing all the way back towards black-listing, to prison time, to being tied to fence-posts and beaten to death. Fight on – at least as long as you are able to.

To those of other faiths; We'll see you in church. You know, or else.

And, finally, to our children. Our America will be your America, almost in the blink of an eye. We've done all that we can to help you on your way – we've given you outrageous debt. We've given you a bankrupt Social Security system. We've given you the hatred of our former allies. We've given you mistakes that it will take another life-time to correct. Someday, as you watch the last Senate office be converted into another corporate headquarters, we know that you will thank us, your forward-thinking ancestors with blessing you with such a world.

So, I guess that's it, America. You've made your decisions. You have chosen all of these things because you find them desirable, right, and good. And so, it must be good. You have chosen four more years of tax increases; four more years of broken promises; four more years of hand-outs to corporations who will turn around and send American jobs over-seas, open up headquarters in other countries to avoid paying taxes, cook their books to deceive investors, and leave the middle and working-classes to foot the bill. Four more years of... this.

Four more years. Oh, God. Four more years.

-B. C. Silvia
-11/3/2004