My daughter's best friend is being raised by her very Republican grandparents. That doesn't ever come between us. We all just know better than to talk politics. Tomorrow will bring with it no gloating, and we expect no bitterness. We are people first, Americans second, and members of opposing political parties distant last.

In-between the second and the last is another commonality - both girls have learning and social challenges. Kitten is high-functioning autistic. Her friend Amy is PDD-NOS. Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified. It's another way to say 'autistic,' one that doctors may use to better qualify the patient for services and options.

Amy is being raised by her grandparents. Her mother, Kay, is still in the picture, but has her own share of difficulties.

To still be a contributing member of society, Kay is in an assisted-work program for the chronically-ill. Amy herself has psychological therapies and health care paid for by the state. Kitten and Amy are in a high-functioning autism class at school. Amy, her mother Kay, and her grandfather Ray all receive monies from the state. Ray gets compensated for caring for his daughter and granddaughter, both disabled. Kay has a stipend, and Amy is able to contribute to a special-needs trust to have those funds matched by ... you guessed it, the state.

So how were we free from socialism before this election? People are saying that Obama heralds socialism, which implies we are currently if not free from socialism, then at least not very socialistic.

Are we? Wait, before you answer, consider this. The state just spent $700,000,000 (and change, but at this order of magnitude, what's a million here or there?)

What did the state do with it? It stabilized major financial institutions.

How will it benefit the state? By now having a voice in those institutions' decisions and governance, the state can guide these banks away from risky investments.

How will it benefit us, the taxpayers? We are now invested in these companies. When they profit, so will we (details TBD.)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we just nationalize those entities? Doesn't the state now run, in part if not in whole, those banks and trading houses? Don't we, the proletariat, now own in part if not in whole, those corporations?

Are we not already socialist? Not just "that was then." This is now. We didn't always let the state run banks. This just happened, and we all wanted it to happen.

What's so bad about socialism? I will welcome it gladly if it bring universal health care for me (and by that I mean insurance, not just a $5000 handout that I will never be able to use to buy insurance because no company will every touch Clan Kitty, not with our sleep apnea, my stents and coronary artery disease, SpouseKitty with her cancer and many other medical issues.

Pre-existing conditions suck.

What good will $5000 a year do me if I'm dead or so ill as to not be able to work?

What is so bad about socialism?