I received the sample ballot for our upcoming election in the mail today. In addition to a couple of measures or propositions, the June 6 election is also California’s Republican primary. Being a registered Dem. I don’t have a horse in the race and am not allowed to vote even if I did, but thinking about the number of major candidates left (2), it makes me wonder why we are even bothering to have this election. It seems to be statistically impossible for Ron Paul (or anyone else for that matter) to receive enough votes and beat out Mitt Romney.
Last year, it was decided to move our usually early Republican primary to June in order to hold it during our regular state elections. California is in such dire straits financially, it was responsibly decided that moving the primary would save the state millions of dollars. But with California being such a large state and having the most delegates (172, the next largest being Texas with 155) it’s so odd to me that by the time the primary even gets here, all those votes don’t really matter one bit. I wonder if that will reduce the voter turn out in this election.
There are only two measures on this ballot as well which is rare since anyone with a $200 check and proposal can get a proposition put on our ballots. It seems as if Republicans are generally against both measures, so with the primary already locked up, voters against might not even show up. I’m on the fence with both. Reading through the explanation is painful. Just when I think I have an understanding of what they would mean if passed, the legal mumbo jumbo gets in the way of my comprehension.
I try to be a good citizen and do my civic duty when it comes to these elections, but sometimes the politics of it all is just too much. There has got to be all sorts of hidden agendas disguised in these props., (I just know there is) which makes me second guess my opinion.
After all is said and done, I will fill in my request for my absentee ballot and somehow make a decision before it is due.
Election season is upon us…oh great.
I'm off to town and a hike up the mountain if the rain holds off. I'll have a decko at the links later.
ReplyDeleteThat cartoon is soooooooo true.
@vince - I think it does well to describe what's been going on over the last few years. Enjoy your day.
DeleteMore taxes on cigarettes? C'mon! I don't even smoke but this is getting ridiculous.
ReplyDeletem.
@mark -says the republican :). To be honest with you I'd be ok with it if the tax dollars were going towards fixing CA's budget mess. Instead, it's being used to fund cancer research. I'm all for cancer research, but with things as bad as they are here I wonder if CA's govt needs to be in the research business. On the other hand, if smoking is such a huge cause of cancer, shouldn't those who buy the cancer sticks be responsible for paying for the research that will save their lives when they get cancer? The state republicans are whole heatedly against it, but then again with Norquist breathing down their necks they oppose any taxes, even if they're needed. So their opposition doesn't really tell me anything. See?!?! So confusing.
DeleteThe tobacco one is a no brainer. The other one is a bit more nuanced. In general poorer people need representation from what amounts to professional politicians. So the 14 year limit will hit those far more than the wealthy who can finance a career break from personal reserves. Take Bush senior. He was a CIA. In big oil and a few other things before entering politics from that rarefied atmosphere at the top of the general staff of the Republican party.
ReplyDeleteGranted Obama came in in much the same way. But he came in at a much younger age.
Of course, it would depend if the Dems in CA are run by the gene pool from Georgia or Michigan. Or even Sanora. :-D
Way too wet for the mountain today. Spent the morning in town looking at things and leaving them so.
What's your opinion about Kaneohe. Seems a first cousin of my mother has moved there.
@vince - uh oh, is the reason I'm confused then because I have a brain? ;). Is it a no brainer for yes or a no brainer for no?
DeleteAs for Kaneohe...it is on oahu, across the island (north) from honolulu. I believe the marine base is there. My mom lives on big island so that's where most of my time is spent when I'm in HI, but we've popped over there a few times. A family friend was stationed on the base there, and he got married on Kaneohe bay. It's very pretty. Did your family move there for the base?
The cost for a 20 pack is near €10 here. Basically the higher the cost the less people smoke. Granted you'll have a hardcore cohort that will smoke if they went to €100 but most will not.
ReplyDeleteFrom my point the ciggs mask underlying issues since the nitrous oxide acts as a dilator doing more of less what Ventolin does.
Yeah, no, I've got the mapviewer so I knew where it was in relation to Pearl el al. What I didn't know was what sort of place it was. He left Ireland in 1959 and lived on Long Island while working for various Airlines. Seems he moved to Oahu to retire for e-mails say he's out golfing three/four times a week. Anywoo, is it a gods antechamber or is it a real town. Are you more likely to be run over by a bunch of head bangers on mobility scooters that being hit by a car. That kinda place.
Well the story is they are on a mission to embiggen their grand-parents grave stone. One passed in 1912 the other in 1932 so the FB and Skype wires are burning up. God bless the Atlantic cables.
@vince - That's the way I'm leaning about the cigs too. I think my concern is where the $$$ will actually go.
DeleteHa ha ha, Ok. It's a suburb of honululu and is pretty plain, like most things built up in that mid century, flat architecture. Being the home of the base, it's a typical base town too. Nothing fancy, but fairly safe and taken care of. I'm not Hawaii's biggest fan so I would say meh, but I feel that way about most places there. Golf is a BIG deal for many of the transplants...that's one of the reasons why my parents bought there years ago. The golf courses are generally beautiful especially with their ocean views.
Sorry, nitric oxide. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_functions_of_nitric_oxide
ReplyDeletenot the other one.
I know, it is so annoying that they can't make the explanations more understandable. We have a tough time understanding and we have master's degrees!
ReplyDelete@jason - I know right? We're no dummies. We teach reading comprehension for god's sake. I guess my next step will be to get out my yellow highlighter and sticky notes and highlight the clunkers and links. ;)
DeleteIt's all so complicated....that's why I am in kindergarten!
ReplyDelete@Marey - well, I think kindergarten is complicated. Those little babies would eat me alive.
ReplyDelete