While the news was good at the top and middle of tickets for Obama and the Congressional makeup, down ballot on state initiatives, things could have been much better.

It now appears that Proposition 8, the amendment to the California State Constitution to eliminate rights for a group of citizens will pass in large part due to tens of millions of dollars from the Mormon and Catholic Churches pouring into the state. Under the influence of this hoard of advertising the majority chose wrongly. In fifty years, this amendment will be viewed the way Jim Crow laws are viewed now. It’s very disappointing.

However, there is a silver lining in the result: the major support comes from older voters. That means, it’s just a matter of time before the State Constitution is returned to a posture of equality for all people as these bigots shuffle off this mortal coil.

Secondarily, that the churches were this active in a secular issue only adds fuel to the fire that churches are, in fact, entities of interest and power. We have a name for these entities, corporations. It is now time for any church with gross annual collections in excess of $250,000 to lose their tax exempt status. Since propositions are so easy to get on the ballot, I’ll leave organized religion to consider that for a little while as a proposition advocating that position may well appear on a future ballot…..

Finally, in the euphoria of the good outcome of the elections, let’s not lose perspective. Our economy is still very fragile and very wounded. Our public consumption and generation of funds is fundamentally broken. Our standing in the international community and indeed, our behavior still needs major rehabilitation. In the back drop of all this, we have crumbling infrastructure, nearly 50 million people without health care, 70% dependence on foreign oil, increasing unemployment, and two failing wars abroad to conclude in such a way as to protect the US and provide the local people with a chance at self-determination. I believe that President-Elect Obama gives us a chance to address the myriad issues at hand, but it is not going to be easy, it is not going to be cheap, and it will not happen overnight.

Don’t give up, don’t surrender to cynicism, while the road ahead will be difficult, we will prevail.