My Friends (sorry about that…),
I know everybody worries about what I think when it comes to the vote for California’s bazillion ballot propositions. Usually, my rule is simple—no new bond measures and stop amending the Constitution. That stance is overly simplistic, I admit, and this year I’ve reconsidered my position for a single proposition couple propositions. You’ll have to read on to catch the subtle clues…
- Prop 1A – Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act: This one is first on the list and a dizzying brew of magical thinking combined with not so much. Get this, this measure asks voters to approve $9.95 billion in general obligation bond sales that the state can’t afford AND hopes that the feds will pitch in (you may have noticed they don’t have any spare cash either) along with private investors (who’ve slammed their checkbooks shut right about now). It doesn’t even require that a train system gets built. We just need to think about it and hire consultants! Whee! I’m sure these cats can spend the cash at way over 220 MPH.
- Prop 2 – Standards for Confining Farm Animals: Farm animals get to get out of their cubicles, stretch their legs, have a smoke break (I made that last part up). Opponents say that this will force California farmers to pack it in, with the void filled by dangerous salmonella-tainted Mexican eggs! Boo! Look, this thing is gonna cost us money if it passes and I still think it’s worth doing. Would you pay extra for California cheese from truly happy California cows? Of course you would. It’s happier.
- Prop 3 – Children’s Hospital Bond Act: No more bonds. These guys want $980 million to give to children’s hospitals. They haven’t spent the money from the last bonds. But hey, it’s about the children, right? Right?
- Prop 4 – Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy Wow. You could say that this is about chipping away at privacy rights and you’d be right. You could also say that minors needn’t be afforded those rights. Patient’s rights versus parent’s rights versus danger of retaliation. I still have no idea what to do with this one because I’m wholly unqualified to judge.
- Prop 5 – Nonviolent Drug Offenses. Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation: This saves the state some money by kicking folks out of the penal system early to rehabilitate. We’ve got a big problem funding the huge prison system in this state, but shouldn’t folks convicted of crimes punishable by prison time spend their time in prison? Isn’t it supposed to be unpleasant? I’m not sold on this one.
- Prop 6 – Police and Law Enforcement Funding. Criminal Penalties and Laws: Following on Prop 5, this one seems to be designed to scare everybody and pigeonhole funds for cops while upping penalties for certain crimes while creating new ones. C’mon, guys. Aren’t we a little smarter than to fall for this bunk?
- Prop 7 – Renewable Energy Generation: Requires certain percentages of renewable sources in the electricity mix. The Union of Concerned Scientists isn’t feeling the love here for many reasons, but I heard only one statistic that made sense to me—this calls for 20% renewables by 2010. We’re at 10% now so it’s hard to believe that the 20% target is even attainable. There are noncompliance penalties, but I’m guessing Edison, PG&E or SDG&E aren’t going to absorb them, will they?
- Prop 8 – Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry: Maybe just call it the “I hate the gays” amendment. Hating? Bad. Amending the constitution again? Stupid. Thanks for nothing, dimwit right wing bigots.
- Prop 9 – Criminal Justice System. Victim’s Rights. Parole: Most of this is already covered in those silly laws. Not good enough! Somebody needs to amend the Constitution to drive the point home. How about no?
- Prop 10 – Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy Bonds: I’ve heard this called the “T. Boone Pickens Bailout Act” by selling bonds (that we still can’t afford) to give folks cash for natural gas cars and research! That’s a lot of new cash out of the General Fund, eh?
- Prop 11 – Redistricting: Opponents of Prop 11 have ads up trying to frighten voters with the idea that this constitutional amendment will establish an independent board to draw legislative districts every decade. That’s not a bug, that’s a feature! A commissioner is selected based on specific criteria, then by random drawing. Not a legislator drawing his or her own safe district boundaries! Again, a feature. If you vote in favor of one thing, if you hold out hope that the process can potentially ever be fixed, this is the last best hope. I think we should take a chance on it.
- Prop 12 – Veterans’ Bond Act of 2008: This is the only bond measure that actually has the beneficiaries pay for it. And who do we saddle with the bill? Veterans, fer crissakes. We shouldn’t have to do anything like that. In my perfect world, veterans get whatever they need on a silver plate. Sadly, this world isn’t perfect, but $900 million seems cheap to provide loans for vets to buy homes and farms in the state. Hell, they might even raise herds of happy cows.
So go vote, won’t you? What are you waiting for?
Your pal,
bob