Well, here I am being a grown up and preparing myself to participate in the second big election of my adult life. As I don't have cable, it has been really easy to tune out biased ads, plus I ignore all of your Facebook statuses that have too many angry comments (as often as I can), so I am a relatively clean slate, now for the real figuring it all out portion.
Here is what I know for sure: this is super confusing! Sure there are a couple that are obvious decisions, but the majority of these props have a strange blend of good, bad, and confusing that have left me frustrated.
I'll admit this is incomplete, but I am taking a break to hit the gym and elliptical-ize all of my angry feelings toward the government away. If you are so passionate and set on your votes that my ramblings are going to anger you, please juts click back a post and watch my silly music video and pretend I never mentioned politics in front of you, it is what would do.
Here is my incomplete feelings on what is on the ballot so far, I'm sorry if I'm still undecided on your favorite Prop, I promise I'll get my nose back to my research when I'm done.
Prop 30: Frustrated Yes.
-School Funding-
First off, I will just note the conspicuous omission of Universities (like, say for example, Cal State Fullerton where tuition has more than tripled since my first semester) and instead I will rant about our budget making process.
I've been lead to understand that the state budget has been written out with the assumption that this Prop will pass, so… WHAT? That is freaking insane!
Here is the deal, I'm going to hand you this delicious smelling slice of cinnamon apple pie. Smells good, doesn't it? Plus you're hungry… so very hungry with a sweet tooth, and this is the kind of pie with a little cheddar cheese baked in the crust and there is ice-cream to go with it. Wait! Don't take a bite! First we have to have an election to see if the person this pie belongs to will let you have it, if not, you probably won't get any pie. Ever. Fuck you.
I feel sort of trapped into saying yes to this prop. It is imperfect, but schools are so important! We can't leave them without any pie!
Prop 31: undecided
-local gov't-
Um… I will read you again later. First time around you just looked like a bunch of words.
Prop 32: undecided… but probably no
-Union Funding Politics-
I'm leaning toward no on this one. So on the one hand, it totally sucks to have a decision made for you about what your group believes in, but the fact is that Unions throwing money in is the closest the every man can get to having a voice.
Prop 33: no
-Auto insurance
Sorry bros, I want to not pay for auto insurance while I travel the world and come back to a similar priced insurance. Also, some people go off to college, yo. Come on.
Prop 34: YES
-Gets rid of the Death Penalty-
Come on!!!! I can't believe we kill people and still try to play it off like we are the "good guys". That makes us no better than the bad guys, folks.
Also, one mistake, just one makes us murderers.
Lets get rid of the death penalty so we can be ethically pleased with ourselves, but if that isn't enough for you, read the prop and revel in the money we'll save and how those prisoners for life will be put to work.
Prop 35: Yes
-Harsher maximum punishment for Human Trafficking-
Are you kidding? Are you freaking kidding me that the maximum sentence for forced sex trafficking a minor is currently 8 years? So lets just say we rescue a darling little 13 year old from a terrible life. I'm proud of us, we convicted her capturer and gave him the max sentence, she starts to heal until bam, happy 21st birthday, that guy is back on the streets. That is insane. Yes, pass this prop, give them life in prison, I guess I'll settle for the 20 years they would receive life that sweet little girl I mentioned happened to be 18 when she was traumatized, better than the 5 year current max.
Prop 36: Yes
-Three Strikes Law-
Yes, can we please let go of the three time possessors of drugs and make room for our new collection of human traffickers? Seriously, lets let the hammer fall on serious bad guys and give minor offenders the chance to amend their ways.
Prop 37: I don't know… no? yes? blah.
-Food Labeling-
I think it is a good idea to communicate what we are eating, I just don't think this prop necessarily is going to help. It is confusing in its wording and seems to hand out so many exemptions that there s little actual accountability. That being said, what am I eating?? I just don't know, I'm going to keep my research going.
Prop 38: Undecided
-tax to fund education
again…. universities conspicuously missing from the roster. Must look again later... too exhausted from Prop 30 rant….
Prop 39: I don't know…
-multistate businesses-
I love the environment, but we can't keep making businesses hate us...
Prop 40: I don't know, possible abstain.
I don't know anything at all about redistricting, and I don't anticipate a sudden brainwave of understanding, so until next election, my friend. (I will look again post gym just in case)
I don't want to start a fight, so I won't tell you who gets my vote for president…
It's Obama.
-Trying to be educated about the election + 1,000 GUP
-Not being very good at it -500 GUP
-Pressuring people to vote regardless of where we each stand on issues +1,000 GUP
Subtotal: 3,110 GUP
(Grown Up Points)
