Ok, so maybe like a libertarian, fiscally-conservative-leaning liberal :D
Really though, there are too many of them for one thing, but at the same time as I look through them, I dither on my vote. I am more centrist (especially when it comes to money) than I might sound at times.
Looking through the guide I find these:
1A: A bond to pay for a high speed rail system throughout California. Voting yes because I think we NEED it and it's an infrastructure investment
2: STANDARDS FOR CONFINING FARM ANIMALS. No freaking idea on how to vote. I mean, the way we treat farm animals in factory farms is indeed appalling, but not sure about regulations. I'd like to see people make choices in the market that would affect how we raise them... but it's also a food-safety issue...
3. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOND ACT. GRANT PROGRAM. A billion dollars. God knows we need it, but isn't the state already billions in debt? Shouldn't the legislature and governor be making these decisions?
4. WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINOR’S PREGNANCY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Wow, this one is a difficult one for me. If my future 13 year old daughter got an abortion, a major medical procedure, without my knowledge, I'd be upset. It's not just the abortion part (though I'd like to be there when she made that decision to help her through it), it's the medical part that scares me. YET at the same time, especially being involved in the foster-adoption care system, I KNOW there are parents who would physically hurt or turn away their daughters onto the street if they knew they were pregnant, much less considering an abortion. This issues is much too complicated and pained to make a blunt force constitutional amendment. I'm voting no.
5. NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES. SENTENCING, PAROLE AND REHABILITATION. Don't know, 1/2 billion, I'll have to look at it closer.
6. POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING. CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND LAWS. Again, we need it, but why are WE making these decisions? Why isn't the legistlature and governor?! A mandated billion , a mandated billion there.. it adds up! The government should make the choices we PAY and ELECT them to do. sheesh, I might vote NO on these just out of anger, but we do need it...
7. RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION. I think we NEED this to wean us from foreign oil for security reasons, to wean us from oil for economic reasons, to help the environment for health reasons. I just have to look at htis more to see if this is the way to do it.
8. ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME–SEX COUPLES TO MARRY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. It's about taking away equal standing before the law IN OUR CONSTITUTION. It's a libertarian issue. NO!
9. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. VICTIMS’ RIGHTS. PAROLE.INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. Don't we already have these in law? Why do we need this in the constitution? I'm kind of conservative when it comes to making changes to a constitution. Thinking I'll vote no.
10. ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. BONDS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. See 7 and 6 above.
11. REDISTRICTING. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. The way our state redistricts SUCKS, not sure this is the way to change it, have to look at it.
12. VETERANS’ BOND ACT OF 2008. This would personally help _me_, BUT another 2 billion? Isn't the federal government supposed to be doing this? Veterans should be helped, but the state is reeling from debt. Sigh. Don't know.
WAY too many propositions.. and I haven't even looked at the city ones.
sigh.
Comments (3)
Prop 4 is another attempt to chip away at Roe. Personally, I think abortion should be a last choice, not a first but that's a personal belief and not one I would force on anyone.
As for your lovely daughter, I can't imagine her not being able to come to you. I can, however, imagine a terrified child who is the victim of rape or incest or one with parents who would throw her out into the snow or force her to bear a child being afraid to talk to her parents.
I would hope my kids would come to me (as my son did when he "came out") but, if they didn't, I want them safe. As for the "rape and incest" exception, it involves a young woman (sometimes still a chld in many ways) humiliating herself in front of a judge and hoping he/she will make the right decision. That's a chancy proposition considering the makeup of the courts.
Of course, if we had a saner policy on sex ed and birth control, it might not be an issue but the same folks who engineered Prop 4 (for the 3rd time) are against those too.
As for the money raising Props, I usually vote for Bond issues and usually lose.
Yes on 2 (unless I change my mind by tomorrow) although I do try to understand the concerns about extra expense, etc.
Prop 7 - still torn but probably Yes.
Prop 9 - No for the same reason you stated.
Oops - forgot Prop 8. NO on 8.
The Propositions are getting out of hand. One person with money to burn can get anything he/she wants on the ballot and buy the advertising time. There has to be a better way. It isn't democracy; it's mob rule.
Sorry about this much too long rant.
Best,
Ann
Comment #171752 on October 22, 2008 9:37 AM |
Oops again. Yes on 5 - no on 6. Maybe (leaning toward yes) on 11.
Comment #171754 on October 22, 2008 9:40 AM |
From what I understand, 5 might end up saving the state more than it costs the state because non-violent drug offenders will be actually helped instead of clogging up the prison system.
I voted yes on 2 because I really really dislike corporate farms and would prefer to see smaller private, family run farms getting more of a chance. I think food safety is a huge issue regarding this, as well as food quality.
Voted no on prop 4 because I think it's up to individual families to ensure that their children can come to them for help in these kinds of situations. Like you mentioned, there are too many girls who just don't have a reasonable option for an adult to disclose the info to. Not only that, they say they make exceptions for special circumstances, but the process to get exempted is too complicated for most teens to bother with.
Don't know yet how I'll vote for 12. I agree were tapped financially as a state, but the feds haven't been doing nearly enough to help veterans.
Of course I voted NO on 8.
Still looking closely at the other ones. Thanks for the link. That helps a LOT!
Comment #171890 on October 23, 2008 8:09 AM |