So people keep mentioning in their Facebook updates that they went ahead and mailed their ballot in already. And Ace has been using that official pro/con pamphlet as bedtime reading.
Me? Not so much. I mean, it's not that I don't care about the election! I watched the conventions and all of the debates and I read the articles y'all are linking to and get all riled up. I always try to join in when the latest outrage is batted around at run club. Two weeks ago during what was supposed to be game-and-pizza night, Wendy B and I ganged up on Scooter to get him to see reason (he took it well) while Ace took his pizza into another room to fold laundry. And I admit that I continually kick myself for not having been a more fluent, better-informed advocate back when I was talking election in Pennsylvania and Ohio - I keep thinking of things I should have said!
But at the end of the day, it does not particularly matter for whom I vote for President. I'm in a blue state, and that's that.
Where I do fall down is where my vote actually could matter.
All those people running for local office! All the propositions!
In past elections, I have found myself Googling these people at the last second - weak. And relying on the pamphlet. And I'm doing it again!
So I'm putting this one out to you guys, because, while I am highly suspicious of anything printed on officially-bound newsprint (are both sides really equally valid?) I put my complete faith in the random commenters who drop by to give me advice under assumed names.
Help me out! Give me shortcuts!
The only propositions I have heard anything at all about are coincidentally the ones I happened to catch on Forum discussions during my drive to work. And annoyingly, those were the easy ones anyway: Yes on 2 and No on 8. The only other one I've come across is the Solar Energy one (7?) because Boots mentioned it in a comment two posts ago.
But I need more comments like that! Those of you who actually know what you're talking about, or if maybe you've heard a rumor circulating on a mass e-mail forward from your cousin - gimme what you got.
I recommend "NO" on anything that involves issuing bonds. These things are propositions in part because they couldn't get the spending passed through the regular legislative process and the average California voter is a sucker for the "you get all these goodies, but it won't raise your taxes" line of reasoning. But when the budget process is broken every year and the state runs continual deficits and is forced to cut services like education, look back to these propositions that force billions of dollars of debt service on us each year. I even suggest voting against the bond for childrens' hospitals - they just passed a similar proposition a few years ago and haven't completely spent that money. But the politicos approach it from the perspective of "let's put this on the ballot and you [hospital] will get money and I [proposition specialist] will get a fee, and we all win because who would vote against kids?" Just my 2 cents.
Posted by: 7thStreet | October 17, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Good tips! My rule of thumb is usually "No" on all propositions, because, as you say, it circumvents the legislative process. I'm paying my representatives good money to weigh these issues FOR me.
But I do feel bad for the chickens, so I wondered if there was anything like that lurking in there.
Posted by: TasterSpoon | October 17, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Dave is also generally "no" on bond issues; same reasons as you and 7th Ave.
My friend Erin sends out an email with a pretty nice Cliff Voter Guide for liberals. When I get the one for this election, I will forward to you. Yay, slacking on civic duty!
Posted by: Vaguely Urban | October 20, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Here is a source for more info on propositions:
http://blog.tommcclintock.com/2008/10/18/mcclintock-on-the-propositions/
McClintock is obviously staunchly conservative, so perhaps you won't agree with a single thing he says. He takes a rather unemotional, very practical stance. Regardless, it is another viewpoint (opposite to nearly everything in media these days) that might shed light from the other side of the aisle. Take it or leave it! :-)
Posted by: Heather | October 27, 2008 at 10:26 AM