Friday, October 31, 2008

Get Educated

As a blogger, it is my job to keep the people up to date on shit that matters to me. I was reading through one of my favorite blogs thegluttony.com and got this breakdown of all of the California Props. Read up, get informed, and go vote next Tuesday. Unless of course you're a boss like me and have already cast your vote via absentee.

The list of props will give you a basic rundown of the proposition, one pro and one con to passing it.

Prop #1: build a new high speed railroad between San Francisco and Los Angeles
Pro: faster than traveling by car
Con: It costs 9.95 billion dollars and 100% of the cost comes from taxes

Prop#2: Improve overall conditions and treatment of farm animals
Pro: its humane and improves food safety and cleanliness
Con: minimally raise costs for farmers

Prop #3: 980,000,000 towards the construction and remodeling of children’s hospitals
Pro: improves quality of life for patients and does not raise taxes
Con: its an expensive state expense

Prop #4: amends california constitution to require a 48 hr parental notification prior to a minor’s abortion
Pro: Its only a notification, parental permission is not required, does not apply in the cases of a medical emergency
Con: parent has a chance to stop the abortion

Prop#5: improve drug treatment programs and more opportunity for non-violent drug abusers to attend rehab instead of prison. Lessens penalty for small marijuana possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction.
Pro: decreased prison overcrowding, healthier and more thorough treatment for non violent drug abusers
Con: More leniency for drug abusers

Prop #6: more money towards law enforcement and higher penalties for crimes related to abuse of firearms and gang involvement
Pro: less gang and gun violence
Con: expensive for the state, costing almost 1 billion dollars. Prisons are already overcrowded and this will only increase that.

Prop #7: requires 20% of electricity to come from renewable energy by 2010, 40% by 2020 and 50% 2025
Pro: better for environment and depleting natural resources, costs less for energy users in the long term
Con: will force smaller companies out of the market

Prop #8: Amend california constitution to prohibit gay marriage
Pro: helps conservative control freaks sleep better at night
Con: Discriminatory, unnecessary and invasive

Prop #9 Increases crime victim’s rights in relation to parole hearings and criminal justice process
Pro: rights are broadened and more clearly outlines
Con: Unnecessary and could cost billions of dollars in a time of budget constraint

Prop #10 5 billion dollars towards alternative energy research and hybrid car incentives
Pro: Cleaner environment and decreased depletion of natural resources
Con: Arbitrary shelling out of money to people who already own hybrid cars, so it is not much of an incentive but more like a reward. California budget crisis!

Prop #11: Puts redistricting process in the hands of a 14-member non-partisan commission instead of elected politicians
Pro: Process becomes more fair and neutral because the 14-member commission does not have a hidden agenda
Con: complete reformation of original process

Prop #12: 900,000,000 towards loans for veterans to put towards purchase of homes
Pro: could drastically decrease homelessness
Con: Expensive for the state

Let me say this, You cannot consider yourself a pimp/gangster/hustler/social icon if you do not vote in this election.

McCain doesnt stand a chance in California, but he got my vote.
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

To my big brother,

Despite your affinity for funny topics ranging from bad bitches to hideous wardrobe choices, I must say I am truly impressed by your desire to blog outside your typical realm of expertise (see BBOTD, etc.) In fact, your breakdown of California Propositions has created a sense of urgency to be heard that I haven't felt since the Presidential election of 2004.

People, lets get it right here, the most commonly felt impact of political propaganda comes in the form of state decisions that directly influence our daily lives. For instance, the ability to drive our car from SF to LA or whether we accept gay partners as neighbors. Though you surely disagree, a different President may or may not affect your daily life. However, a list of CA propositions in this years ballot focuses entirely on one issue that affect all Californians: Are Californians willing to shoulder the financial burden of implementing radical political decisions. I dare say we are not.

Example: Right now are economy faces a problem best described as recession (or better yet, a Depression). As such, any political decision that would involve shifting more money out of American's pockets into programs controlled solely by governmental agencies is likely to be met with a decisive "NO" vote (this process is called the political feasibility test). However, this does not mean that some individuals truly see policy problems and would be willing to lose more of their hard earned money to witness excessive change.

Lets get real here. As America continues to suck on the tit of "CHANGE," it has become more apparent to me that individuals are beginning to see themselves in a different light. Rather than believing that we are adults capable of altering our own situations, we have begun to look to other people to grab the reins and steer us in a different direction (see Barack Obama).

People, we have clearly forgotten that America is a government for the people, by the people. How has our perception of governments role in our lives changed so much since we consented to its creation? Have we forgotten that as the voters, all of the governments power is actually in our hands?

To the loyal readers of Kevin Smith, use your heads. Spending money never changes its form and somehow becomes saving money. Better yet, even if a proposition on the ballot could potentially save us money in the long term sense, not a single American politician is focused on long term American welfare. Rather, it is extremely apparent, that all issues eligible for a vote on November 4th are aimed at some short term fix to a decade long (or longer) problem.

If we are going to admit that hasty decisions from the last Administration had more short term impacts on American problems than long term (economy, foreign policy, etc.), then why would we agree to put another candidate/proposition into office/law that is aimed at providing a short term fix to a long living issue?

I will be the first to admit that finding resolution is always a great platform for success in government. However, I do not feel that sacrificing individuals money, liberty, freedom, and privacy is somehow a recipe for problem solving (see the Patriot Act, Stimulus Package, War in Iraq, etc). Thus, I depart with this piece of advice: A little information is very helpful in deciphering those issues that are most important to you. However, short term fixes never equate to absolute prosperity (see French Revolution or Karl Marx). As a result, take the information available and use your ability to interpret it before making any rash decisions. Just because a candidate or policy promises to bring every individual closer to form of utopia doesn't mean there isn't a cause/effect with negative consequences.

Thomas Jefferson said it best: "Just because the job of government is to improve the lives of its citizens, doesn't mean that they are not doing their job when no changes are made." CHURCH!!!!

Young Smalls aka Fuzzy Badfeet

November 3, 2008 at 11:48 AM

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