Sorry for the late notice!
by Brian Leubitz
First, I’d like to suggest the Courage Campaign’s Progressive Voter Guide. But, here’s how I’m voting:
Yes on 30, 34, 36, 37, 39, and 40
No on 31, 32, 33, 35, and 38
Now, that’s pretty close to the Courage Campaign’s progressive consensus. However, I differ on Prop 35, the “human trafficking” measure. Now, I think it is important to provide resources to fight human trafficking. However, the measure would have been better written and more thoroughly vetted by proceeding through the legislature. Legislation that can be passed through the legislature, like measures to fight human trafficking, should go through that vetting process.
Anybody else have any thoughts?
Interesting comments on 35 — I was wondering if you shared my views on the permanent sex offenders list issues?
I have a feeling at some point we’re going to be looking at that the same way we look at the death penalty and three strikes…
Due to years of dysfunctional governance, declining revenues, government overreach, deluded voters and demographics, I believe any chance for California to remain a liberal democratic republic is well lost. Nonetheless here are my analyses for three types of voters along with my recommendations, my vote and annotations subject to my knowledge and what I like to call “posting fatigue”.
If you are a voter that holds out hope, or hopes there is hope, for effective governance in California,I’ll call you “There’s hope?” my recommendation for you is marked by “TH?”.
If you are content to continue on the path of that last 20 years, or so, or about the time term limits became effective (a coincidence, I’m sure), I’ll call you “We don’t need no water”, marked “LMB”.
If you actively seek and welcome the coming crash and hope to see California rise from the ashes, like, with a nod to our eastern neighbour, a Phoenix, you are “I’ll bring gasoline” “IBG”.
Prop 30 Taxes everyone and gives the money to the legislature to do anything they want with it.
Its proponents are lying to you. {Proposed Article XIII §36(5)(e)(1)}, They scammed the ballot proposition order to make it the first thing the ninnies who show up only every four years will see. They’ve already spent the money, that was supposed to go for education, elsewhere and thereby held education hostage. And now they want to take more money from you, temporarily, of course.
TH?: No. A yes vote only ratifies their mendacity
LMB: No. Things will continue as they have been, you will be able to keep some more of your earnings in the short term.
IBG: Sure, Yes, Why not.
I voted yes as my gal is a teacher and I’d like to believe they’ll backfill STRS.
Prop 31 A bunch of moderate sounding “good government” reforms. This had a lot of words I didn’t understand.
TH?: Yes, why not?
LMB: What?
IBG: No, a ‘No” vote probably marginally hastens the crash.
I voted yes. I am not sure why.
Prop 32 Purports to do a bunch of things barred under Citizens United leaving the only severable part of note the issue of whether you have to affirmatively give permission to your union to spend your money on things you may not otherwise wish it to be spending.
TH?: Yes, though an argument could be made about the proponents’ mendacity insofar as they applaud Citizens United and dress this up with language that won’t pass constitutional muster under it.
LMB: Vote your conscience, probably, No
IBG: Hell No! This won’t help
This one raises interesting freedom of association and threats in the work place issues. I voted no as its defeat guarantees more jobs in my chosen vocation.
Prop 33 Removes barriers to private contracts
TH?: Yes
LMB: Yes, it’ll probably help you, again, short term.
IBG: It doesn’t really matter.
I voted yes. I prize economic liberty.
Prop 34 Ends the death penalty. Converts existing death sentences. Saves money?
TH?: Yes, it is a near political impossibility to execute someone in California anyway
LMB: No, you’re happy with the status quo.
IBG: No way, Jose.
I voted yes.
35 The cop lobby “expanding” the definition of sex crimes.
TH?: No, if you hold out hope, you can not side with the cop lobby.
LMB: Yes, the cop lobby is part of the problem. Oh, and by the way, there aren’t that many fires anymore. Do you know what firemen do? Do you know how many people they send to attend to someone gorking out at a dialysis clinic? I do.
IBG: Yes.
I voted no.
Prop 36 Third strike must be a violent felony with some suspect classifications of what “violent” means.
TH?: Yes. Makes sense.
LMB: Nope.
IBG: This is a tough one, on one hand, three strikes is in need of reform. Not reforming will continue to cause problems. I just don’t know how or how much. On the other, a lotta dangerous dudes are going to be sprung and that can only hasten the demise. Lean yes, but you are on your own.
I sided with hope, yes.
I’m getting that posting fatigue
Prop 37 Requires labeling on genetically modified foods.
TH?: This is a feel-good, I know better than you, anti-science, full employment for lawyers, and do you know why California has higher gas and egg prices than the free world, measure. Vote no.
LMB: Yes, par for the California course.
IBG: Yes, this will help… a little
I voted no. I am tired of reading the prop 65 warnings EVERYWHERE.
Prop 38 More money from everyone, more than prop 30, but this money actually goes to schools.
TH?: No.
LMB: No, see prop 30
IBG: Yes, enthusiastically.
I voted no.
Prop 39 Taxes people who aren’t here with a green energy slush fund thrown in
TH?: No. Why won’t they see what they’re doing? Were they even paying attention James Pierce’s Econ 110 class at Cal?
LMB: Sure, it’s going to happen anyway.
IBG: Big yes.
No for me, mostly from ballot fatigue and it’s what Milt would have wanted.
Prop 40 Something the Republicans dreamed up and abandoned
TH?: Hunh?
LMB: Hunh?
IBG: Everybody wants a “Yes” and it is at the end of a tedious ballot, so I’ll bet “No” wins. Go ahead, throw that monkey wrench. I did.
I never thought it would be so close. At the same time I am appalled that Gray Davis has come out of the woodwork to oppose this.
I voted mostly the same as you, although the GMO labelling is silly because humans have been modifying genes through selective breeding for thousands of years.
Prop 35 seems to be the one that splits liberals, which no doubt means it will pass. You could write a proposition about almost anything and if you put “rape” or “human trafficking” in the text, millions of libs will vote against their own overall interest.