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Vote No on Yes

Observations from the Edge
Robert T. Nanninga
Coast News
October 31, 2005

 

Enough is enough.

The special election of November 8, 2005 is a Schwarzenegger thing. Reeking of political pandering, Tuesday's ballot is just the latest insult offered Californians in the name of governance. The private interests driving this special election have been quite clear in their desire to change the rules.

With Arnold serving as spokes model for ego-based corporatism, voting No on everything has never been so easy.

The campaign commercials being run by the Schwarzenegger machine are as cold as they are scary. With scary I mean "Whoa!" scary, not "Arrrrrrggh" scary. Presenting himself to the voters as the Stepford governor, Arnold's wooden delivery does nothing to instill trust. Governance by short scripted sound bite, is a disaster waiting to happen.

With each passing day, it gets harder to trust government to be anything other than a carefully crafted extortion racket. At the top of the cultural food chain, the shenanigans of the Bush administration merely reflect what is going on at all levels of representational government. Lower on the food chain Bush wannabes inflict their own brand of mendacious malfeasance for short-term profit and long-term influence.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I, Robert T. Nanninga, will for the first time in my life vote no on everything. After doing my homework, researching the issues, and considering all sides of the issues, I will follow the advice of Nancy Reagan and just say no.

No on 73, no on 74, no on 75, no on 76, no on 77, no on 78, no on 79, no on 80, and in Encinitas, no on A.

That the system is broken is evidenced by the misuse of the ballot initiative process. The intent behind the measures before the people is Big Brother corporate cronyism.

Take Proposition 73 for example. The Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Initiative Constitutional Amendment is too much too late. Prop 73 undermines the reproductive rights of young women. Call me jaded, but a minor old enough to get pregnant without parental notification, is old enough to get an abortion without parental notification.

Prop 74 is just crass opportunism. Teacher tenure is not what's wrong with California's education system. Targeting teachers will do nothing to decrease class size or enhance the quality of instruction offered students, when the problem lies with cultural apathy and administrative slight of hand.

Proposition 75 is a blatant attack on public employee unions aiming to disenfranchise workers. The way I see it, in a society that claims to respect free-market ideals, union policy should not be subject to the opinion of non-union voters.

Prop 76 is another attempt to defund public education in the State of California by giving the governor unprecedented fiscal powers, that at first glance slashes funding for public schools. Cutting nearly $4 billion every year, this equates to $600 per student, per year. Prop 76 overturns the voter-approved Proposition 98 by eliminating the minimum-funding guarantee for education.

Prop 76 also cuts funding for cities and counties. This means fewer first responders policing the streets and responding to emergencies. It also threatens local healthcare for the poor and elderly.

Prop 77 is the Gubernator's attempt to redraw political boundaries, to better serve his corporate base. Unhappy with the political landscape in Sacramento, Arnold decided he would pull a move from the Tom Delay playbook, and reshape California politics via 3 appointed judges.

Prop 78 and 79 should be left to consumers to decide through their purchasing power until universal healthcare is made available to every Californian. Manufacturers should be free to set their own prices, just as consumers should be free too reject overpriced products and shop elsewhere on the global market.

Proposition 80 doesn't go far enough, having the potential to delay real reform of California's long-term energy policy and production.

It's no secret I will be voting no on Proposition A. Known as the Keep Flowers in Encinitas Initiative, Prop a is an effort to break public agreements to accommodate private development on land zoned agriculture in perpetuity a decade ago.

Make no mistake, California is broken and continues to break. Schwartzenegger's special election is not the answer. Catering to special interests such as multinational pharmaceutical companies and corporate farmers, Tuesday's election is an opportunity to say enough is enough.

From A to 80, vote no on special elections. Vote no on political opportunism, scapegoat populism, and legislative gerrymandering.

No is the new yes. Vote no.

 
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