Voting choices in Massachusetts: state offices, ballot questions, and more
Here's what my state ballot will look like tomorrow. Massachusetts is a very Democratic state, in case you didn't know. Every year a number of offices go unopposed by Republicans or independants.
U.S. Senator:
U.S. Representative:
Governor's Council:
State Senator:
My take: Eldridge is a vocal equal marriage advocate. He's also a crusader for clean elections.
State Representative:
My take: I'm voting for Hogan, from whom, in an odd twist, we bought our home. That's not the only reason of course: she is also a strong supporter of same-sex marriage. She would become the fifth openly LGBT person to serve in the state House.
Ballot question 1: Repeal the state income tax.
If passed, this ballot question would phase out the state's 5.9% income tax, which supplies about 40% of the commonwealth's annual revenue. That would cut $11 to 12 billion out of the estimated $27 billion state budget.
I find this issue fascinating. There's certainly an argument that the state budget is out of control -- it's grown dramatically in recent years. Taxpayers have been outraged by inflammatory news that state toll collectors are too highly paid, and how the powerful police union maintains uniquely high-paying overtime jobs on construction sites.
But this question doesn't affect spending, only revenue. It's up to the state government to make spending cuts, and they're likely to cut local aid and transfer the budget burden to localities. For an interactive view of how Question 1 might affect the state budget, check out the Boston.com budget game.
Some state representatives even have said they'll just not enforce Question 1 if it passes. I find that disturbing. The point of ballot questions is a direct democracy when people feel the state government has failed them. Again, there's a case to be made for that.
My take: Vote no. Even if you want to beat the state budget into submission, this is too blunt and brutal a tool. As the League of Women Voters puts it, "LWVMA has a policy of opposition to draconian tax and expenditure limits which are inflexible, are borne unduly by the poor, discourage good fiscal planning and cause detrimental changes in the balance of power between state and local government."
Ballot question 2: Decriminalize marijuana possession
If passed, this ballot question would replace the current criminal penalties for possessing one ounce or less of marijuana with civil penalties. The punishment would amount to a $100 fine, similar to a speeding ticket. Eleven other states have passed similar measures.
My take:Vote yes. I don't use it, but I haven't seen great harm visited on peers who do. It's silly that possession can cause people to lose their driver's license or student loans, especially when alcohol is legal and its abuse is much more harmful to individuals and society.
Ballot question 3: Prohibit betting on dog racing
This question, if passed, would effectively close the state's two greyhound dog racing tracks by eliminating the betting revenue they generate. More info here.
My take: Vote yes and close those tracks. There are plenty of other ways for gamblers to get their fix and contribute revenue to the state, and they don't involve confining, muzzling, and drugging helpless animals
President of the USA
Oh yeah, how could I forget?
My take: I'm not an enthusiastic Obama supporter, because of his flip-flop on FISA domestic government spying and his calculating refusal to support equal marriage. He has few policy differences with McCain on the overwhelming economic mess the Republicans have led us into. I doubt either of their health care and tax cut plans will hold, for example, because the national budget crisis is so dire.
Still, I believe it would be crazy to vote for McCain this year. In the last eight years, Republican policy has done great damage to the nation -- morally, as well as fiscally. Everyone is thinking about the economy right now, but Bush Republicans have turned us into a torture state, a country than quietly tore up its own constitutional guarantees, a fearful huddle of sheep. Terrorists want us to be afraid, and so do Republicans. In either case it's about authoritarian control.
Obama's stance on the Iraq war -- let's get out ASAP, and focus on the real terrorists in Afghanistan -- is the only rational and secure choice for the United States to be safer in a crazy world. We will need an inspirational leader like Obama to overcome looming economic crises. Along those lines, I believe a strong popular majority vote will give Obama a mandate for strong change. Finally, it's a privilege to vote for a black man for President.
If you've read this post, congratulations! Get out there and vote tomorrow, despite the pie in the face that is the two-party system.
U.S. Senator:
- Jeffrey K. Beatty, Republican
- John F. Kerry, Democratic
- Robert J. Underwood, Libertarian
U.S. Representative:
- Nicola S. Tsongas, Democratic incumbent
Governor's Council:
- Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney, Democratic incumbent
State Senator:
- James B. Eldridge, Democratic
- Steven L. Levy, Republican
My take: Eldridge is a vocal equal marriage advocate. He's also a crusader for clean elections.
State Representative:
- David A. Goulding, Unenrolled
- Kate Hogan, Democratic
- Sonny Parente, Republican
My take: I'm voting for Hogan, from whom, in an odd twist, we bought our home. That's not the only reason of course: she is also a strong supporter of same-sex marriage. She would become the fifth openly LGBT person to serve in the state House.
Ballot question 1: Repeal the state income tax.
If passed, this ballot question would phase out the state's 5.9% income tax, which supplies about 40% of the commonwealth's annual revenue. That would cut $11 to 12 billion out of the estimated $27 billion state budget.
I find this issue fascinating. There's certainly an argument that the state budget is out of control -- it's grown dramatically in recent years. Taxpayers have been outraged by inflammatory news that state toll collectors are too highly paid, and how the powerful police union maintains uniquely high-paying overtime jobs on construction sites.
But this question doesn't affect spending, only revenue. It's up to the state government to make spending cuts, and they're likely to cut local aid and transfer the budget burden to localities. For an interactive view of how Question 1 might affect the state budget, check out the Boston.com budget game.
Some state representatives even have said they'll just not enforce Question 1 if it passes. I find that disturbing. The point of ballot questions is a direct democracy when people feel the state government has failed them. Again, there's a case to be made for that.
My take: Vote no. Even if you want to beat the state budget into submission, this is too blunt and brutal a tool. As the League of Women Voters puts it, "LWVMA has a policy of opposition to draconian tax and expenditure limits which are inflexible, are borne unduly by the poor, discourage good fiscal planning and cause detrimental changes in the balance of power between state and local government."
Ballot question 2: Decriminalize marijuana possession
If passed, this ballot question would replace the current criminal penalties for possessing one ounce or less of marijuana with civil penalties. The punishment would amount to a $100 fine, similar to a speeding ticket. Eleven other states have passed similar measures.
My take:Vote yes. I don't use it, but I haven't seen great harm visited on peers who do. It's silly that possession can cause people to lose their driver's license or student loans, especially when alcohol is legal and its abuse is much more harmful to individuals and society.
Ballot question 3: Prohibit betting on dog racing
This question, if passed, would effectively close the state's two greyhound dog racing tracks by eliminating the betting revenue they generate. More info here.
My take: Vote yes and close those tracks. There are plenty of other ways for gamblers to get their fix and contribute revenue to the state, and they don't involve confining, muzzling, and drugging helpless animals
President of the USA
Oh yeah, how could I forget?
- Baldwin and Castle, Constitution
- Barr and Root, Libertarian
- McCain and Palin, Republican
- McKinney and Clemente, Green-Rainbow
- Nader and Gonzalez, Independent
- Obama and Biden, Democratic
My take: I'm not an enthusiastic Obama supporter, because of his flip-flop on FISA domestic government spying and his calculating refusal to support equal marriage. He has few policy differences with McCain on the overwhelming economic mess the Republicans have led us into. I doubt either of their health care and tax cut plans will hold, for example, because the national budget crisis is so dire.
Still, I believe it would be crazy to vote for McCain this year. In the last eight years, Republican policy has done great damage to the nation -- morally, as well as fiscally. Everyone is thinking about the economy right now, but Bush Republicans have turned us into a torture state, a country than quietly tore up its own constitutional guarantees, a fearful huddle of sheep. Terrorists want us to be afraid, and so do Republicans. In either case it's about authoritarian control.
Obama's stance on the Iraq war -- let's get out ASAP, and focus on the real terrorists in Afghanistan -- is the only rational and secure choice for the United States to be safer in a crazy world. We will need an inspirational leader like Obama to overcome looming economic crises. Along those lines, I believe a strong popular majority vote will give Obama a mandate for strong change. Finally, it's a privilege to vote for a black man for President.
If you've read this post, congratulations! Get out there and vote tomorrow, despite the pie in the face that is the two-party system.