Ten states yesterday amended their constitution to discriminate against my mom. ‘20 Million Loud’ turned out to be 20 million losers who didn’t bother to show up. Unless you are a conspiracy theorist, 11/3/2004 will go down in history as the day America stood up and said “We won’t chose our leaders based on rational thought.”

Its difficult to criticize the election outcomes without sounding like a sore loser. But while there is power in numbers, and democracy in numbers, there is not necessarily truth in numbers. So why then are so many folks comfortable making completely irrational decisions about our democracy and leadership? What was there not to understand about the follies of reelecting President Bush? This is a man who put a federal gag-order on the Environmental Protection Agency because of leaked reports that exposed the damage his administration has caused. This is a man who sent our children to die for foreign oil. This is a man who gave a tax cut to the rich and then lied about it being for small businesses. This is a man who told millions of Americans who lost their jobs that they need to go back to school.

But my question is about more than just one man. The issues represented this election year make up the cannon of issues that will determine the direction our culture will take for the next half century. Voters chose discrimination. Voters chose religion over science. Voters chose religion over free will. Voters chose corporate interests over human rights. Voters chose a crook with no successfull political or business experience over a seasoned intellectual, lawyer and politician.

Yesterday voters voted agaist themselves. This nation is apparently not educated enough to accept the responsibility of democracy. Noone seems to be afraid of the fact that a republican government will ignore you if you are poor and sick, but will get in your face if you are gay. Apparently it is insignificant that irrational fears and unfounded morality has derailed scientific progress in America. Ultimately this nation has proven itself afraid and apathetic. Half of us have, anyway.

The other half, stunned, sick, and afraid, will now be searching for what to do next. Some might even consider leaving, for places like Canada or France. But John Kerry said it best in his concession speech, “We all win, because we’re all still Americans.” A movement has started, and even though the split of electoral votes didn’t change one bit from four years ago, Democrats today are more energized, more engaged, and more pissed off than ever.

If this election has proven anything, its that we need to redefine what it means to be a democrat. We need to clutch on strongly to our basic ideals, because we have truth and reason on our side. We need to not be afraid of being too liberal or too progressive. We need to be our president’s shadow, every step of the way, making sure that we’re heard and that he doesn’t get to ruin this nation without a fight. My faith in Americans is not dead, but my optimism is certainly bruised.