Mike’s Voting Guide to the Propositions Nov ‘10

First, some guiding principles:

  1. Consider who is backing each bill and how much theyâ€™re spending to back it.  The more they are spending, the more valuable it is to them.  Ask yourself why.
  2. Remember that every law has overhead â€“ a new commission, a new study, a new enforcement, etc.  Even if the burden is placed on existing agencies (like our police officers or our firefighters or our court systems), each law usually costs money.  Unions (teachers, firefighters, police) usually support more work, because they get bigger.
  3. Be skeptical.
  4. If everything looks equal, vote no.

Second, some resources:

  1. BallotPedia.  I have found this site to be pretty comprehensive, well organized, and fair.
  2. OpenSecrets.  OpenSecret tracks political contributions and lobbying.  Their coverage is mostly at the federal level, however.

Finally, the votes!

yes Prop 19:  Legalize Marijuana.  As with alcohol, legalize it and deal with the consequences.  I wonâ€™t touch the stuff.

yesProp 20: Redistricting of Congressional Districts via committee.  Committees are just as corrupt as congress.  A computer should draw the lines, but this is better than today.

no Prop 21: Tax to fund state parks.  The park system is plagued with administrative overhead.  Supporters should donate to the parks rather than to this bill.

no Prop 22: Prohibit State Spending against Local Funds.  Our governors need to be able to legislate holistically.  This creates unnecessary boundaries.

yes Prop 23: Suspend the â€œGlobal Warning Actâ€ until unemployment drops below 5.5%.  I donâ€™t like California at an economic disadvantage in the global market.

no Prop 24: Increase business taxes in California.  Check out the Teacherâ€™s Union support on this bill.  This is just a tax to prolong big government.

no Prop 25: State budget via simple majority.  The teacherâ€™s union working to expand big-government.  I donâ€™t want the budget controlled by the ruling party.  This is downright scary.

yes Prop 26: Make â€œfeesâ€ require 2/3 vote since they are taxes.  The state doesnâ€™t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem.  Act now, or â€œfeesâ€ will cripple California.

no Prop 27: Abolish committee for State Legislature redistricting.  Itâ€™s either Prop 20 or Prop 27.  Prop 20 is better.

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