see picture for a better understanding of what i am thinking.

so, hooking up the taillight to one of the positive tabs or mounting the light to the bike effectively shorts out the switch, which is why it is always on when i mounted the light.

Something seems wrong. i think that the switch should be on the positive tabs. i don’t get it.

well, i’m just going to reverse the wires down at the hub, and hook the rear light to the ground tab.

thanks for all the help.