Here it is, Sunday, November 9th, 2008, almost one week removed from the most historic and exhilarating election of our time, an election in which we propelled this country's first ever African-American presidential candidate into office. A day that I'm sure many of us NEVER thought we'd live to see that day, me included.

So, it's with certainty that one has to ask.........what now?

I'd like to speak directly to the issue of HIV/AIDS in this country. Quite frankly, for the last 8 years, it's a subject that has largely been ignored, if not swept under the proverbial rug by the outgoing and very ancient Republican administration headed by our least favorite person, George W. Bush. I guess we all really had to have known in the back of our minds that Bush wouldn't do anything for those in this country living HIV/AIDS, but rather fatten the checkbooks of the wealthy and making sure that the big oil companies and others who shipped American jobs overseas were protected and given massive tax breaks.

So, it stands to reason that many people (90%) living with HIV/AIDS who are on social security disability and food stamps were especially hit hard financially the last 8 years. Also most notably lost in all of this mess are the food pantries that are really feeling the pinch as their donations have dwindled dramatically. I should tell you that food stamps don't go nearly as far as they once did before the U.S.' financial collapse took place. Take for instance, a year and a half ago, $149/month in food stamps would easily get me a good three weeks' worth of food.......now, try a week and a half. That's how bad the price of food items at our local grocery stores across this country have gone up, thanks to rising gas prices, the cost of packaging such food items, marketing/advertising those food items, and paying the employees who package those foods.

So, where does the Obama/Biden administration go from here in terms of helping those who are living with HIV/AIDS and for that matter, anyone with a life-threatening illness? First, as we all know, this economy needs to be righted up and repaired and put back on to the path of prosperity and that it must work for all, not just the select few. I do agree with the President-elect that this country needs another stimulus package to hopefully help to kick start our economy again. If Bush does NOT get that up and going in these last couple of months of his administration, the President-elect has said that this will be his number one priority when he takes office on January 20. Secondly, the Obama administration needs to work very closely with the drug companies and certainly the medical researchers of our time in coming up with a cure for HIV/AIDS and any other illness out there, such as breast cancer. The drug companies that do business here in the U.S. need to start looking at helping those in the research department in coming up with cures instead of throwing drugs and more drugs at these illnesses in which many will and do become resistant to those medications........just ask anyone on HIV/AIDS medications. I can tell you that I'm resistant to 95% of the HIV/AIDS drugs out there. Granted, we do need those medications to keep us alive and thriving, but our government has to also light a fire under the rear ends of the researchers to get cracking on a cure.

How will all of this get done? Quite frankly my friends, it won't be easy. President-elect Obama has made it painfully clear that these next few years are going to be painful for our country. Obama will have to repair the shattered and tattered fabric of our country with precision like quickness with a scalpel, cutting away at the things that aren't working for our country and at the same time repairing or retooling the things that are working but getting those things done in a much different way than many of us are used to.

For those that are living with HIV/AIDS and other life threatening illnesses, stand firm and keep your chin up. We will get through the next few years together and much stronger than we were before. We really should thank the Bush administration for one thing though, giving those of us on social security a nearly 6% raise that will commence with our checks in January 2009.

Lastly, I must chastise those in the gay community who had the gall to vote for McCain just to protect your pocketbooks and to hell with those of us in the community who've been suffering at the hands of the Bush administration for the last 8 years. All I can say is this:

01-20-09............BUSH'S LAST DAY!

It can't come soon enough for me.