Voting Advice

Yes, the Voter Guide is rather intimidating this year. Nationally, there are a record number of ballot measures—although the 13 (plus local measures) for California is nothing like the 20 we had in March of 2000—and they can all start to be a jumble. Here are some tips for sorting them out.

1. When in doubt, vote no. If a measure doesn't pass, nothing changes. Less laws are usually better than more laws and if the legislature just packed up and went home for a few years we'd all better off. Same for ballot measures. In addition, legislating by initiative is messy. There is no opportunity for debate or amending less than ideal parts to make a better law. Far too often the legislature doesn't do it's job, but it is, in fact, it's job, and it is better suited to doing it than the initiative process is. A measure worth supporting is rare enough that you'll probably know about it.
   
   
2. Bonds are credit cards. When the legislature doesn't have enough money to do whatever they want to do, they put a bond on the ballot, borrow the money, then we (or our kids) have to pay that money back plus interest. It's the same as making decisions for your own finances. You wouldn't pay interest on a 30 year loan for groceries, but for a house it might make sense. That's the same criteria you should use when thinking about bonds.
   
   
3. The enemy of your friend is your enemy. Look at who is for or against the measure. If you see someone you trust vote with them. If you see someone you know you generally disagree with, vote against them.
   
   
4. The web is your friend. A lot of people know a lot of stuff out there in the big collection of tubes that make up the internets. Here is a sample Google search. Just make sure you're looking at the right year and the right election. When two reliable sources disagree you'll have to do your own homework.
   
   
5. What would Tom do? You can't go wrong following his advice.
   
   
6. Limiting government: Good. I added this one after I found this guy doing that Google search above (there were a couple intermediary steps). Can't argue with that.
   

Ok, here are my recommendations. Except for the two I have comments on, I pretty much line up wholeheartedly with the arguments at those last two links. They're worth checking out.

• Prop. 1A – Transportation Funding YES
• Prop. 1B – Transportation Bond NO
• Prop. 1C – Housing Bond NO
• Prop. 1D – Education Bond NO
• Prop. 1E – Levee Bond YES
• There are good arguments on both sides of this one but it's not often you'll see McClintock supporting a bond and, well, we live in Sacramento.
  
• Prop. 83 – Jessica’s Law NO
• Again, good arguments on both sides as you can see in the links above. In addition, Arnold has signed legislation that goes a long way toward increasing these penalties and this measure could very well go too far. I'd rather see the legislature do its job. (See #1, above)
  
• Prop. 84 – Park Bond NO
• Prop. 85 – Parental Notification YES
• Prop. 86 – Cigarette Tax NO
• Prop. 87 – Oil Tax NO
• Prop. 88 – Parcel Tax NO
• Prop. 89 – Taxpayer Funding of Campaigns NO
• Prop. 90 – Protect Our Homes YES

Ok, fine, here's a picture: Nate's not too sure what he thinks about this whole election process, yet.