Zeo Endorsements for Election 2010

Leave it to politics to make me write on here for the first time in months.

Here's my overall feeling on this election:  I'm over it.

I'm over the Republicans spewing their hate speech and intentionally blocking anything from going forward.

I'm over Democrats not fighting hard enough to do what we elected them to do.

I'm tired of people bitching about taxes.

I'm tired of the gays bitching about Don't Ask Don't Tell and bashing the President.  (He obviously has nothing more important on his agenda right now of course.  Wars, a fragile economy, an extremely divisive political climate, etc.  I know patience is wearing thin, but if you were leading a country of 300 million, you'd have to prioritize.  He hasn't betrayed us.  He hasn't turned his back on us.  He is trying to right the ship that is America and I'm sorry, that involves more than just the gays.   Go ahead and vote Republican if you want gays, shoot yourself in the foot.  Just don't complain about it then.)

Whew.  Okay now that that's out of the way, let's talk about California.  This state is F**ked up, we all know that.  The legislature is ineffective, unemployment is high and everything's out of whack.  If it were up to me, I'd remove the entire legislature and put new people in there.  But, it's not, so I have to vote for what I can (as should you).

As I stated two years ago, the proposition system needs to be eliminated completely.  It's ridiculous the things that are up for a vote this year.  True, some of them could make positive changes, but some are just plain wrong and funded by evil coroporations.  It's an abused system, and it needs to be reigned in or eliminated completely.

So here's what I'm voting for, in simple terms:

Governor:  Jerry Brown.  I'm sure Meg Whitman is a nice woman, but the way she's run her campaign, her stances on social issues, and the fact that she's spent over $120 million dollars of her own money into this campaign, instead of using that money to hire workers who could contribute to the system, all turn me off.

Lieutenant Governor - Gavin Newsom.  Mostly because California needs someone who will shake things up and take some risks.

State Senator - Barbara Boxer.  It's not that I think Babs is still the best choice for California, but Carly Fiorina would be worse.  This woman (who I'm sure is very nice and I know she was just in the hospital for an infection and I hope she's alright) has run the most disgusting campaign in California this season.  Her ads annoy me, her stances on the issues are very right wing, and, like Meg Whitman, her attempt to buy this election shouldn't be allowed to stand.  Our country will be in serious trouble if she's put in office.

Proposition 19 - Legalizing Marijuana - NO.  It's not that I don't think marijuana should be legal, but this proposition is messed up.  It leaves it to local governments to regulate and tax it, and enforce it as well.  So you could have vast inconsistencies between places like Los Angeles and Santa Monica.  I don't think the financial benefits will be as large as the proponents say it is, because the taxes raised will be used for enforcement and regulating marijuana.  There needs to be a statewide uniformity to this or it just becomes a bunch of red tape.

Proposition 20 - Redistricting of Congressional Districts - YES.  In 2008 we passed a law moving redistricting out of the legislatures hands, so that they couldn't draw their own lines to preserve their jobs.  This simply expands the power to the US House of Representative districts as well.  Politicians shouldn't be allowed to draw their own districts, it's one reasons things don't change.

Proposition 21 - $18 Vehicle License Fee to Fund State Parks - NO.  Originally I was for this, but reading up on it I changed my mind.  Though I think state parks are important and are grossly underfunded, I don't think locking in this money for only use in state parks is a good idea.  That money needs to go to education and transportation before it goes to state parks.

Proposition 22 - Prohibits the State from Borrowing from Local Government and Transportation Funds. - NO.  Look, the California budget is messed up because THE VOTERS keep approving limits on what the money can be used for.  Part of the yearly budget problem is that a certain amount of the General Fund keeps being locked up by the voters for certain things, so that is money that can't be used elsewhere, forcing the state to borrow from other places.  Limiting that will just make the situation worse.

Proposition 23 - Suspends Implementation of Pollution Control - NO.  NO NO NO.  This is a no-brainer.  California has very aggressive pollution control laws that should not be repealed.  The proponents say it's temporary, that it's just until unemployment reaches 5.5% for a full year.  Which means if it goes up to 5.6% for even a week, the suspension continues.  This would be a serious step backward.  Plus it's funded by oil companies, and I'm just anti-anyone who tries to use our state like this.

Proposition 24 - Repeals tax breaks for businesses - NO.  Though we need more tax revenue, this seems to only affect a few multi-state companies, and as it is they are moving elsewhere because of California's business climate (I do agree with Meg Whitman on that!).  Plus I don't think voters should be dealing with taxes.  We are not informed enough.   That's why we elect people to deal with it for us.

Proposition 25 - Changes vote requirement to pass the budget from 2/3 to simple majority - YES.  Part of the reason the budget never gets passed on time is because it needs to please so many people who have their own selfish interests at heart.  This will help streamline the process and get things done more efficiently in Sacramento, which is sorely needed.  Tax increases would still require a 2/3 vote.

Proposition 26 - Redefines certain fees to be labeled as taxes, which would require a 2/3 vote to pass - NO.  As I said before, California voters should not be involved in taxes.  Labeling fees on alcohol, cigarettes, polluters, etc., as "taxes" would make it harder for government to dissuade people and companies from doing things.  Everyone agrees cigarettes are bad, so there's a fee for that to help pay for the medical care those people will need in the future.  Companies that make lead based paint are hit with a fee to incentivize making non-lead based paints.  This is not THE PEOPLE'S domain.  We should not be defining things.

Proposition 27 - Eliminates State Commission on Redistricting - NO.  This basically undoes what we voted for in 2008, giving redistricting control back to the legislators who we don't trust enough to have in office.  It would just allow them to keep drawing bizarrely shaped districts to fit their constituency so that their jobs will stay intact.

There I'm done.  I can't wait for Wednesday when I don't have to listen to political ads on the morning news anymore.  MAKE SURE YOU VOTE.  It's your civic duty.  Vote for whoever and whatever you want, but just vote.  If you don't, don't complain to me if you don't like what happens!