Too Much Nick

spiegelman:

liana:

So does anyone want to explain the California propositions in three sentences?

Propositions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12 will make shit more expensive (bonds and regulations with costs that get passed on to taxpayers and consumers), and ask the people to make decisions on issues they’re not smart enough to fully comprehend, so you should vote NO on all of them.  Propositions 4 and 8 whittle away at constitutional rights, so you should vote NO on them, as well.  Proposition 11 is the only initiative on the ballot that reflects the original intent of the initiative process (i.e., reform) and also has the benefit of being a good idea, so you vote YES on that one.

Bull.

1A: We need that high-speed light rail to cut down on the massive carbon emissions (and expense) of SF-to-LA flights and car rides.

2: We need to stop imprisoning farm animals in tiny cages with no room to move for their entire lives.

5: We need to give druggies a chance to rehabilitate and not spend more money on keeping them in the prison cycle.

11: We do NOT need to choose a political commission by lottery that disenfranchises politically involved young adults.

12: I’m not as completely sold on this as the League of Young Voters, but I decided to vote yes on a housing bond for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. This is a program that already covers veterans of earlier wars, so it seems sensible to continue it for some very brave people who fought a very unpopular war.

To summarize: I agree with this list of endorsements and I think, all else being equal, a liberal Californian should do the same.