any interesting ballot propositions?

[Bob]

prop 8 in california is getting a lot of attention, but there are some other neat ones out there too.

here in massachusetts, prop 1 is to repeal the income tax. but i hear that even if it passes, the legislature will just change the law to overturn it. apparently they can do that; successful ballot initiatives have the effect of any other kind of legislation, and the legislature can do what they want to it. it kind of makes you wonder what the point is, but i guess the government wouldn't do it unless they thought it was important enough, it's about as big of a "fuck you" to the people as you can manage

prop 2 is to decriminalize adult possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. rather than criminal penalties, there will be civil fines. minors, i believe, still face criminal penalties, i'm not sure. i know they'll have to go through a drug education program if they get caught. criminal penalties for DUIs and such will remain. i think it's pretty cool.

what ballot initiatives are in your states?

[Dorothy Wood]

I talked about mine in the other thread. I voted "yes" on the constitution convention, but "no" on amending the constitution to allow the recall of the governor and other state officials. seems like they should talk about amendments at the conventions.

the governor is a dumb ass though. when public transportation was in a budget crisis, he decided to require that they let seniors ride for free before he would approve giving more money. it was completely arbitrary, even seniors spoke out against it (they were riding at a discounted rate to begin with). thousands of people were in danger of losing their mode of transportation to and from work (me included, I would've had to walk an extra 2 miles out of my way because they were gonna cut my bus route), and dude's all, "seniors ride for free! how about it! yay! I'm so awesome!"

so they ride for free now, and the CTA loses millions in income per year because of it, they're headed to another crisis and they're probably going to raise rates again. and dude wants to start letting people with disabilities ride for free now. WHY WHY WHY? there's no reason, no one is asking for that, he is such a weirdo.

[Bob]

the income tax is secure, an ounce or less of pot is legal (sort of), and the dogs won't be racing in this state anymore

...for now....

[Dorothy Wood]

no con-con here :(

I wish I got to vote for marijuana. :(

[Documad]

the income tax is secure, an ounce or less of pot is legal (sort of), and the dogs won't be racing in this state anymore

...for now....

Aww. You saved the greyhounds.

[jennyb]

(n)prop 8 is looking like it has a chance... c'mon California, seriously?

[Audio.]

Man, its fucked up how gay marriage is losing its rights. Come ON! Who are voting against gay marriages. let them be... jeesh!

[saz]

gay marriage bans passed in florida and arizona. i understand prop 8 is apparantely still too close to call in california. honestly, what the fuck is wrong with people? it's pretty fucked up that people feel the need to take away rights from fellow citizens, amending their state constitutions or whatever.

[HAL 9000]

The Prop 8 thing is quite depressing. It is like a reminder that as great it is that Obama won, fundamentally the world is still full of bigoted people.

Oh well, I am sure it wont last

[jennyb]

there are still 3 million absentee votes to be counted today in CA. My fingers are crossed...

[YoungRemy]

this 8 thing is disgusting.

ironically they are saying it was the black and latino votes that voted Yes on 8 to a victory.

the same voters that elected Obama voted Yes on 8
:(

[YoungRemy]

oh yeah prop 5 in california was a good one, unfortunately it was defeated.

it was a non violent drug offender repeal that also decriminalized marijuana laws in CA.

[Bob]

what i can't understand about gay marriage opponents is how they justify it as a "defense of marriage" (even the anti-gay marriage laws are titled "defense of marriage acts"). defending it how? how will preventing certain people from getting married protect marriage? what would happen to marriage if gays started getting married? fuck, i'll save you the thought exercise, absolutely nothing will happen. gays can marry here in massachusetts and guess what, men and women are still getting married just like they always used to.

i'd have more respect for the gay marriage opponents if they'd just go all fred phelps and be honest about the fact that they're bigots. i don't understand it.

[jennyb]

http://mormonsfor8.com/

yeah...

[Echewta]

Most of the people I talked to who were voting yes on 8 were worried and thought that it would mean that same sex marriage would be taught in school. They showed ads of one set of parents who said their 5 year old was taught about it in school. Even though the Super who runs the California school system had a commerical saying that in no way is gay marriage required to be taught in school, the lie stuck and brought about the Yes. Sad to know that people aren't comfortable enough as parents to be able to teach their children to be strong enough to reject ideas their family may disagree with. Good luck with the drugs, sex, violence, etc., talks.

[jennyb]

Those Yes on 8 ads and children were pretty messed up.

The more I think about the insane amount of Mormon donations for prop 8 I cannot help but wonder... why is it ok to have multiple wives and not have a same sex monogamous couple marry in peace. I guarantee you there's some wife on wife action in some of those sexually repressed mormon multiple wifey households. It all reeks of hate and hypocrisy. (n)

We should all go up in arms in Utah and generate a prop banning multiple wives, see how they like it.

edit: Whoops nevermind it's banned in the entire US... couldda fooled me. I guess they just marry one of the many wives legally and have ceremonies for all others or go thru and marry/divorce every one of 'em. Man that's messed up, I'm just thinking though, these are the religious fundamentalist coo coo nuts that funded the 'gay marriage is taught in schools' ads.

[YoungRemy]

i'm wondering if the California Supreme Court is going to rule on this one.
the ACLU already filed for an injunction.

twice now, though, Californians have voted against it. prop 22 in 2000 and now this one, an actual amendment to the State Constitution.

[b i o n i c]

Those Yes on 8 ads and children were pretty messed up.

The more I think about the insane amount of Mormon donations for prop 8 I cannot help but wonder... why is it ok to have multiple wives and not have a same sex monogamous couple marry in peace. I guarantee you there's some wife on wife action in some of those sexually repressed mormon multiple wifey households. It all reeks of hate and hypocrisy. (n)

We should all go up in arms in Utah and generate a prop banning multiple wives, see how they like it.

edit: Whoops nevermind it's banned in the entire US... couldda fooled me. I guess they just marry one of the many wives legally and have ceremonies for all others or go thru and marry/divorce every one of 'em. Man that's messed up, I'm just thinking though, these are the religious fundamentalist coo coo nuts that funded the 'gay marriage is taught in schools' ads.



mormons havent practiced polygamy for over 150 years. the ones that practice polygamy are to mormons what jahova's witnesses are to catholics

[Echewta]

I'm still trying to find a story where a heterosexual married couple seperated because they no longer felt their marriage was as sacred. L.A. had pretty nice weather during the legal time. Still attached to Arizona, Nevada, etc.

[Audio.]

See, I can honestly understand why would society will feel uncomfortable if gays were married by the church but this prop8 are about them getting married by the state. It means its not going to affect each of society's way in religion, so come on, give them their freedom to love.

Some people believe homosexual is not a choice but disease. A disease that can be healed. Which is why some are voting against the right of marriage and that the fact they are uncomfortable being taught to kids. There are people who will say they had friends who watch them grow up, turned gay during the years and met a partner of their own. They say they will defend gay marriage because they see it as true love like any straights. So, how can it be a disease? Its being a hypocrite to believe that. It not business to pass judgment on people's sexuality but more importantly it not my agenda to pass judgment on people's rights.

[Echewta]

The South Dakota abortion ban didn't pass. Thats good.

[Whatitis]

Live prop8 protest video in West LA

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/livenow?id=6430355

[YoungRemy]

there's a huge Mormon Temple over there...

[jennyb]

ya... thanks to this protest it took me 1 hour to get from Olympic Blvd up to Sunset :rolleyes: (not very far I was basically parked) but more power to 'em. I'm still in shock that California of all places allowed this. It never occurred to me that it could pass.

[Documad]

ya... thanks to this protest it took me 1 hour to get from Olympic Blvd up to Sunset :rolleyes: (not very far I was basically parked) but more power to 'em. I'm still in shock that California of all places allowed this. It never occurred to me that it could pass.

Urban democrats often misunderstand rural democrats. They also misunderstand minority voters. That's where the republicans have screwed up for years. They could have broadened their base if they catered to minority christians who aren't evangelical, but instead they sort of shunned them. Rural democrats tend to be anti choice. Many strongly prounion democrats are also antichoice. Many minority democrats are antigay. That's been my experience working campaigns here.

I was almost certain that it would pass when I heard that Obama was turning out loads of new voters and loads of minority voters. Add them to the goofy voters who elected horrific congressmen in some parts of your state and I guessed that the proposition would pass with about 60% of the vote. I heard some of the radio ads here. Depressing as hell.

The fact that the vote was closer than I expected means that perhaps it can be undone some day -- but not in 2012 when Obama will likely be running again. Do it in a lower turnout year.

[saz]

^ yep, and they're all so intolerant because of religion.