Journal Sylver Dragon's Journal: California State Propositions 1
It's just about time to vote again, which means trying to figure out which way to throw away my vote. I have figured out my presidential vote: Cthulu (why vote for a lesser evil?); but, given that I live in California, I know that my electors will be voting for Obama; so, that is a wash.
I haven't sorted out my congressional choices yet, but that will probably also be a choice between a giant douche and a turd sandwich; though, I imagine that I will just hold my nose and pick one of them. So that is close enough to sorted.
Where I'm still working through things in on the ballot initiatives, which I expect to have the greater impact on my life. Let's face it, the Federal Government will continue to do what it's corporate owners tell it to do, the state level is small enough that I can have an effect as an individual citizen. So, I was reading through the summaries for the various initiatives over breakfast this morning and have managed to sort a few but not all. And figured my /. journal was a good place to elicit some criticism, and maybe even some constructive criticism. ;)
1A: California High Speed Rail Bond. S.B. 1856
I like the idea of more rail in CA, but I just can't see spending $10 million on the state credit card for it, end cost of the credit tab will be about double that over 30 years. Tax revenues are down, our state budget process was a bad joke this year, and we're looking to run up more debt? erm, no. Maybe once state revenues are actually covering state costs, without the need to borrow money every year, but until then we need to cut up the credit card.
2: Treatment of Farm Animals. Statute.
Leaning yes on this one. I know it will raise the price of my meat, but I think that will be acceptable. Having seen the pictures of how some animals are treated, I would rather we try a little harder to make their lives better before we kill and eat them. They're getting the shit end of the stick no matter what, the least we can do is not swirl in shit gravy as well.
Of course, I haven't read the initiative yet, so this could change if there is some screwball riders in there; hopefully, this one is really what it claims to be.
3: Children's Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program. Statute.
Back to the same problem with 1A, it's a good idea, but let's put the credit card down. No more debt until the state shows it can handle a budget responsibly. Yes, I realize that this is For the Children!!1!one! What else ya got?
4: Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Constitutional Amendment.
I'll agree with this, as long as we can attach a rider that all the fundamentalist asshats who are fighting for this type of force our morals on others shit are aborted, no matter how late of term they are in. In other words, not only no, fuck no!
5: Nonviolent Offenders. Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation. Statute.
Up in the air on this one. The summary from the voter guide seems to indicate that it's about sending non-violent drug offenders to rehab as opposed to prison, which I really like. Drug use is a public health problem, not a crime problem. But the anti's argument that this would also affect sentencing on other crimes as well has me waiting until I can read this one through. Granted, this will probably cost money, which will create more budget problems, but ultimately I see this as a good investment. Killing the War on Drugs and reducing our prison populations are good, long term, goals.
6: Criminal Penalties and Laws. Public Safety Funding. Statute.
Our prisons are full, build more prisons! How about no? Is no good for you? As stated above, let's kill the War on our Rights...er, Drugs; put the drug users into rehab; legalize, tax and regulate drugs like we do alcohol and tobacco, and see what our prison populations look like then. Yup drug use, all drug use including alcohol and tobacco, is bad for you. So what, it's your body, if you really want to destroy it, have at; just don't come crying to me when you do.
7: Renewable Energy. Statute.
Leaning yes on this, but I need to read it in full first. That Southern California uses coal/oil to produce electricity is just plain dumb. We have a lot of sunshine and wind and a lot of open spaces. We also have the technology from Solar Two sitting here, why aren't we using it? Hell, start at about Cabazon on the I-10 and just cover everything East of it, to the state border, in solar collectors. Might be a bit inefficient, but we have enough land and sun to deal with it. As for storing the extra for off hours, stick a hose in Pacific and dig a big damn hole in the top and bottom of a mountain, we've got plenty of them. Water gets desalinated, and pumped to the big hole at the top. When extra electricity is needed, the water is let to flow over turbines into the big hole at the bottom. And the big hole at the bottom is used to feed the water needs of Southern California. Electricity, storage and fresh water all in one.
On the North end of California, don't you guys have a huge reservoir of geothermal sitting right under your feet? Mammoth lake used to be a big mountain until it literally blew it's top off. Start drilling.
8: Eliminates Right of Same-sex Couples to Marry. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Again, I'll vote for this one, assuming we attach the same rider as in prop. 4.
9: Criminal Justice System. Victims' Rights. Parole. Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
This is a tough one. I like the idea that the victim will be able to be more involved in the parole and sentencing of a criminal. The problem is that, in the summary, it was stated that the criminal may also lose the right to legal representation during parole hearings. I just can't vote for that. Sure, I do think that some criminals should just be taken and shot; but it needs to be done with every consideration for due process along the way. Depending on how the actual text reads, this is probably a no.
10: Bonds. Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy. Statute.
Ok, so, the state government is going to borrow a bunch of money on it's credit card and then it's going to take that money and give more than half of it out to people who buy the right cars. The remaining money will go to research on making more of those better cars. How about instead we just take the $325 million a year, which we would be spending to pay off this charge on the credit card, and just put that towards research? That way, all of it is going to research instead of half of it going to pay off interest on the credit card? Ok, so people who buy the right cars don't get a discount, which might make such cars less attractive. Let's use a different tool in the government toolbox, taxes. Want to get rid of polluting cars, start changing a carbon tax when the vehicle is sold to cover the costs of cleaning up the pollution it will create in it's lifetime. More tax money, though it should diminish with time, and a good incentive to buy the better alternative.
As with the common theme of thinking: put the credit card down!
11: Redistricting. Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
No clue on this one, need to read it. On the surface, it looks like an attempt to stop gerrymandering, but one thing politicians are good at is making a shit sandwich look like a good meal.
12: Veterans' Bond Act of 2008. S.B. 1572.
Again, having problems with the idea of whipping out the state credit card. Though, the one thing this has on it's side (if it's supporters are being truthful) is that this program has a history of carrying its own costs ultimately. Still, why are we looking to do this on credit? Is the situation really so bad that simply allocating the money, which would be spent to pay the bonds back, for use by the program wouldn't cover it? I just don't like the idea that we will ultimately be paying the same amount in interest as in principal, where a slower approach to the problem could result in twice as much money spent on the problem itself.
Well, that's where I am at the moment. I welcome comments, feedback, arguments and flames.
I haven't sorted out my congressional choices yet, but that will probably also be a choice between a giant douche and a turd sandwich; though, I imagine that I will just hold my nose and pick one of them. So that is close enough to sorted.
Where I'm still working through things in on the ballot initiatives, which I expect to have the greater impact on my life. Let's face it, the Federal Government will continue to do what it's corporate owners tell it to do, the state level is small enough that I can have an effect as an individual citizen. So, I was reading through the summaries for the various initiatives over breakfast this morning and have managed to sort a few but not all. And figured my
1A: California High Speed Rail Bond. S.B. 1856
I like the idea of more rail in CA, but I just can't see spending $10 million on the state credit card for it, end cost of the credit tab will be about double that over 30 years. Tax revenues are down, our state budget process was a bad joke this year, and we're looking to run up more debt? erm, no. Maybe once state revenues are actually covering state costs, without the need to borrow money every year, but until then we need to cut up the credit card.
2: Treatment of Farm Animals. Statute.
Leaning yes on this one. I know it will raise the price of my meat, but I think that will be acceptable. Having seen the pictures of how some animals are treated, I would rather we try a little harder to make their lives better before we kill and eat them. They're getting the shit end of the stick no matter what, the least we can do is not swirl in shit gravy as well.
Of course, I haven't read the initiative yet, so this could change if there is some screwball riders in there; hopefully, this one is really what it claims to be.
3: Children's Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program. Statute.
Back to the same problem with 1A, it's a good idea, but let's put the credit card down. No more debt until the state shows it can handle a budget responsibly. Yes, I realize that this is For the Children!!1!one! What else ya got?
4: Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Constitutional Amendment.
I'll agree with this, as long as we can attach a rider that all the fundamentalist asshats who are fighting for this type of force our morals on others shit are aborted, no matter how late of term they are in. In other words, not only no, fuck no!
5: Nonviolent Offenders. Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation. Statute.
Up in the air on this one. The summary from the voter guide seems to indicate that it's about sending non-violent drug offenders to rehab as opposed to prison, which I really like. Drug use is a public health problem, not a crime problem. But the anti's argument that this would also affect sentencing on other crimes as well has me waiting until I can read this one through. Granted, this will probably cost money, which will create more budget problems, but ultimately I see this as a good investment. Killing the War on Drugs and reducing our prison populations are good, long term, goals.
6: Criminal Penalties and Laws. Public Safety Funding. Statute.
Our prisons are full, build more prisons! How about no? Is no good for you? As stated above, let's kill the War on our Rights...er, Drugs; put the drug users into rehab; legalize, tax and regulate drugs like we do alcohol and tobacco, and see what our prison populations look like then. Yup drug use, all drug use including alcohol and tobacco, is bad for you. So what, it's your body, if you really want to destroy it, have at; just don't come crying to me when you do.
7: Renewable Energy. Statute.
Leaning yes on this, but I need to read it in full first. That Southern California uses coal/oil to produce electricity is just plain dumb. We have a lot of sunshine and wind and a lot of open spaces. We also have the technology from Solar Two sitting here, why aren't we using it? Hell, start at about Cabazon on the I-10 and just cover everything East of it, to the state border, in solar collectors. Might be a bit inefficient, but we have enough land and sun to deal with it. As for storing the extra for off hours, stick a hose in Pacific and dig a big damn hole in the top and bottom of a mountain, we've got plenty of them. Water gets desalinated, and pumped to the big hole at the top. When extra electricity is needed, the water is let to flow over turbines into the big hole at the bottom. And the big hole at the bottom is used to feed the water needs of Southern California. Electricity, storage and fresh water all in one.
On the North end of California, don't you guys have a huge reservoir of geothermal sitting right under your feet? Mammoth lake used to be a big mountain until it literally blew it's top off. Start drilling.
8: Eliminates Right of Same-sex Couples to Marry. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Again, I'll vote for this one, assuming we attach the same rider as in prop. 4.
9: Criminal Justice System. Victims' Rights. Parole. Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
This is a tough one. I like the idea that the victim will be able to be more involved in the parole and sentencing of a criminal. The problem is that, in the summary, it was stated that the criminal may also lose the right to legal representation during parole hearings. I just can't vote for that. Sure, I do think that some criminals should just be taken and shot; but it needs to be done with every consideration for due process along the way. Depending on how the actual text reads, this is probably a no.
10: Bonds. Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy. Statute.
Ok, so, the state government is going to borrow a bunch of money on it's credit card and then it's going to take that money and give more than half of it out to people who buy the right cars. The remaining money will go to research on making more of those better cars. How about instead we just take the $325 million a year, which we would be spending to pay off this charge on the credit card, and just put that towards research? That way, all of it is going to research instead of half of it going to pay off interest on the credit card? Ok, so people who buy the right cars don't get a discount, which might make such cars less attractive. Let's use a different tool in the government toolbox, taxes. Want to get rid of polluting cars, start changing a carbon tax when the vehicle is sold to cover the costs of cleaning up the pollution it will create in it's lifetime. More tax money, though it should diminish with time, and a good incentive to buy the better alternative.
As with the common theme of thinking: put the credit card down!
11: Redistricting. Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
No clue on this one, need to read it. On the surface, it looks like an attempt to stop gerrymandering, but one thing politicians are good at is making a shit sandwich look like a good meal.
12: Veterans' Bond Act of 2008. S.B. 1572.
Again, having problems with the idea of whipping out the state credit card. Though, the one thing this has on it's side (if it's supporters are being truthful) is that this program has a history of carrying its own costs ultimately. Still, why are we looking to do this on credit? Is the situation really so bad that simply allocating the money, which would be spent to pay the bonds back, for use by the program wouldn't cover it? I just don't like the idea that we will ultimately be paying the same amount in interest as in principal, where a slower approach to the problem could result in twice as much money spent on the problem itself.
Well, that's where I am at the moment. I welcome comments, feedback, arguments and flames.
A general rule of thumb... just vote no. (Score:2)