My election guide!
Here's my election guide, to California state wide propositions, some elected offices, and some local measures
Proposition 19 - YES
Legalizes Marijuana Under California but Not Federal Law. Permits Local Governments to Regulate and Tax Commercial Production, Distribution, and Sale of Marijuana. Initiative Statute.
Generally, yes. Consensual transactions (whether they be personal or commercial) between two consenting adults, not involving trespass or violation of other people' s person or property should be legal. This is libertarianism. My only reservations are concerning taxation, the prohibition of private discrimination against users (companies should be able to prevent their employees from smoking marijuana, tobacco, drinking alcohol.), and of course, whether this will be a stalking horse by the DC Despots to more aggressively
Proposition 20 - YES
Redistricting of Congressional Districts. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Vote for this one, and vote no on 27. Congressmen, and state legislators need to be kept in check. Having politicians vote to keep their own districts safe for them (or for future members of their parties) hasn't worked to do that. Having a bureaucratic commission with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents(!), is better than the status quo.
Proposition 21 - NO
Establishes $18 Annual Vehicle License Surcharge to Help Fund State Parks and Wildlife Programs. Grants Surcharged Vehicles Free Admission to All State Parks. Initiative Statute.
Vote no on this one. As much as possible state parks, should be paid for with user fees. Ideally, we'd have fare structures that make people who can afford to, pay more. I wonder if we can charge entry fees based on the value of the car being used to get into the park...
Proposition 22 - ???
Prohibits the State from Borrowing or Taking Funds Used for Transportation, Redevelopment, or Local Government Projects and Services. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Unsure on this. I'm currently caught between the idea of ensuring the ensuring that local governments keep control over their revenue, and specially designated funds (some from quasi user fees) keep control over their money (which I support), and the downside of increased complexity in California's budgetary deals. I might actually abstain.
Proposition 23 - NO
Suspends Implementation of Air Pollution Control Law (AB 32) Requiring Major Sources of Emissions to Report and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions That Cause Global Warming, Until Unemployment Drops to 5.5 Percent or Less for Full Year. Initiative Statute.
No on this one. You might be surprised by my position on this, but emissions are a tragedy of the commons issue -- it theoretically
would be possible to measure everyone's greenhouse gas emissions (and at least estimate them for say our bovine population), and just tax everyone appropriately, though in practice for now, requiring cuts and roughly taxation based on the environmental impact of emissions are a feasible way to go. As technology improves, a more libertarian solution (making people pay the costs to others that their activities impinge on others), will be more feasible.
Proposition 24 - NO
Repeals Recent Legislation That Would Allow Businesses to Lower Their Tax Liability. Initiative Statute.
No on this one -- California has some of the highest taxes and most complicated business regulations in America.
Proposition 25 - YES
Changes Legislative Vote Requirement to Pass Budget and Budget-Related Legislation from Two-Thirds to a Simple Majority. Retains Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Taxes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Yes for this one. It doesn't make it any easier to vote for for new taxes, though it does make it easier to actually pass a budget. I'd say that there's a legal issue on not paying legislators if they haven't passed a budget on time, and something more like "minimum wage" would have been better, but that's a side point.
Proposition 26 - NO
Requires That Certain State and Local Fees Be Approved by Two-Thirds Vote. Fees Include Those That Address Adverse Impacts on Society or the Environment Caused by the Fee-Payer's Business. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Vote no on this one -- local governments should have the ability to make their own rules. Let healthy competition amongst the localities decide what the best governmental structure.
Proposition 27 - NO
Eliminates State Commission on Redistricting. Consolidates Authority for Redistricting with Elected Representatives. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Vote no on this and yes on 20.
California judicial elections:
No comment
California statewide partisan elections:
I'm voting the straight libertarian ticket. For ther governor's race, I like Jerry Brown a bit more than Meg Whitman, but that's about it
State Board of Equalization, District 1.
Kennita Watson, Libertarian, MIT alum. Not that MIT alum is enough for me to vote for someone *cough* Carly Fiorina *cough*
US Senator
I dislike both Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina. The former is a Democrat who has a bad record on civil liberties, and the latter is a businessperson who screwed over her company in the long run. I'm voting for the Libertarian.
Local Measures
YES - Measure M Vehicle Registration Fee -- County of San Mateo (Majority Approval Required)
$10 additional per year for improving road and transportation with San Mateo County is worth it. The least
objectionable taxes are user fees, and local taxes.
Measure O Bond -- San Mateo Union High School District (55% Approval Required)
Not decided yet. I might sit this one out.
Measure U Charter Amendment -- County of San Mateo (Majority Approval Required)
Yes -- ensuring that vacancies are filled more quickly is a no brainer.
Proposition 19 - YES
Legalizes Marijuana Under California but Not Federal Law. Permits Local Governments to Regulate and Tax Commercial Production, Distribution, and Sale of Marijuana. Initiative Statute.
Generally, yes. Consensual transactions (whether they be personal or commercial) between two consenting adults, not involving trespass or violation of other people' s person or property should be legal. This is libertarianism. My only reservations are concerning taxation, the prohibition of private discrimination against users (companies should be able to prevent their employees from smoking marijuana, tobacco, drinking alcohol.), and of course, whether this will be a stalking horse by the DC Despots to more aggressively
Proposition 20 - YES
Redistricting of Congressional Districts. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Vote for this one, and vote no on 27. Congressmen, and state legislators need to be kept in check. Having politicians vote to keep their own districts safe for them (or for future members of their parties) hasn't worked to do that. Having a bureaucratic commission with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents(!), is better than the status quo.
Proposition 21 - NO
Establishes $18 Annual Vehicle License Surcharge to Help Fund State Parks and Wildlife Programs. Grants Surcharged Vehicles Free Admission to All State Parks. Initiative Statute.
Vote no on this one. As much as possible state parks, should be paid for with user fees. Ideally, we'd have fare structures that make people who can afford to, pay more. I wonder if we can charge entry fees based on the value of the car being used to get into the park...
Proposition 22 - ???
Prohibits the State from Borrowing or Taking Funds Used for Transportation, Redevelopment, or Local Government Projects and Services. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Unsure on this. I'm currently caught between the idea of ensuring the ensuring that local governments keep control over their revenue, and specially designated funds (some from quasi user fees) keep control over their money (which I support), and the downside of increased complexity in California's budgetary deals. I might actually abstain.
Proposition 23 - NO
Suspends Implementation of Air Pollution Control Law (AB 32) Requiring Major Sources of Emissions to Report and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions That Cause Global Warming, Until Unemployment Drops to 5.5 Percent or Less for Full Year. Initiative Statute.
No on this one. You might be surprised by my position on this, but emissions are a tragedy of the commons issue -- it theoretically
would be possible to measure everyone's greenhouse gas emissions (and at least estimate them for say our bovine population), and just tax everyone appropriately, though in practice for now, requiring cuts and roughly taxation based on the environmental impact of emissions are a feasible way to go. As technology improves, a more libertarian solution (making people pay the costs to others that their activities impinge on others), will be more feasible.
Proposition 24 - NO
Repeals Recent Legislation That Would Allow Businesses to Lower Their Tax Liability. Initiative Statute.
No on this one -- California has some of the highest taxes and most complicated business regulations in America.
Proposition 25 - YES
Changes Legislative Vote Requirement to Pass Budget and Budget-Related Legislation from Two-Thirds to a Simple Majority. Retains Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Taxes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Yes for this one. It doesn't make it any easier to vote for for new taxes, though it does make it easier to actually pass a budget. I'd say that there's a legal issue on not paying legislators if they haven't passed a budget on time, and something more like "minimum wage" would have been better, but that's a side point.
Proposition 26 - NO
Requires That Certain State and Local Fees Be Approved by Two-Thirds Vote. Fees Include Those That Address Adverse Impacts on Society or the Environment Caused by the Fee-Payer's Business. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Vote no on this one -- local governments should have the ability to make their own rules. Let healthy competition amongst the localities decide what the best governmental structure.
Proposition 27 - NO
Eliminates State Commission on Redistricting. Consolidates Authority for Redistricting with Elected Representatives. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Vote no on this and yes on 20.
California judicial elections:
No comment
California statewide partisan elections:
I'm voting the straight libertarian ticket. For ther governor's race, I like Jerry Brown a bit more than Meg Whitman, but that's about it
State Board of Equalization, District 1.
Kennita Watson, Libertarian, MIT alum. Not that MIT alum is enough for me to vote for someone *cough* Carly Fiorina *cough*
US Senator
I dislike both Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina. The former is a Democrat who has a bad record on civil liberties, and the latter is a businessperson who screwed over her company in the long run. I'm voting for the Libertarian.
Local Measures
YES - Measure M Vehicle Registration Fee -- County of San Mateo (Majority Approval Required)
$10 additional per year for improving road and transportation with San Mateo County is worth it. The least
objectionable taxes are user fees, and local taxes.
Measure O Bond -- San Mateo Union High School District (55% Approval Required)
Not decided yet. I might sit this one out.
Measure U Charter Amendment -- County of San Mateo (Majority Approval Required)
Yes -- ensuring that vacancies are filled more quickly is a no brainer.