2012 Election Advice from Grandma Ju Ju

2012 Election Advice from Grandma Ju Ju

In the past, my kids have asked for guidance on how to vote on the various propositions that get put on the ballot in California. This year, no one has asked. But that has never stopped me! If you know how you are going to vote, or if you just don’t want advice, then please stop reading now. And if you think I’m really wrong about something, let me know!

First of all, government by initiative is a terrible way to govern, especially in our state, where rich people or corporations can put together a piece of self-interested legislation and get it on the ballot for just a few hundred thousand dollars and then spend millions on deceptive advertising to get it passed. Likewise, they can spend millions to defeat “good” propositions.

Second, it’s almost impossible to get reliable facts about the propositions. One side says one thing and the other says the opposite. I have a Ph.D., so I am supposedly of above average intelligence, but I have read and re-read some of these propositions and still cannot understand what they mean. 

So how to decide how to vote? One thing I do is look at who supports which side, and another is to “follow the money” -- see how’s paying for it. For example, with the new “open primary” system, I have a “choice” between two Republicans for assemblyman. Neither the Republican Party nor the Democratic Party have given an endorsement. I find out which candidate the most right wing group supports and then vote for the other one.

Proposition 30 -- I most strongly recommend a Yes vote. Governor Jerry Brown, whom I like and sort of trust, is stymied in trying to work with the legislature to solve the state government’s financial problems. This is largely because the voters a few years back passed a proposition by 51% that changed the law to require a 66%  majority vote to pass any tax increases. Given how divided the country is, it is nearly impossible to get a 66% majority agreement on anything. Frustrated, Jerry decided to ask the voters directly to increase taxes temporarily in order to fund education and public safety. It raises sales tax by one quarter of one percent for four years and slightly raises taxes on people earning over $250,000. Not much to keep our schools open! The people opposed are the usual anti-government, anti-tax groups.

Proposition 31 -- No. Would establish a two year budget cycle (thus delaying the aggravation every other year) and give more power to the governor to cut stuff out. Supporters are the usual anti-tax, anti-waste groups, and the people against are respectable.

Proposition 32 -- Strongly recommend a No vote. This one is really evil and deceptive. It looks like it would reduce the role of special interests in our elections, but in fact it would increase the role, because the only groups really being restrained from donating to political causes are unions. Major funding for this one comes from the Munger family, who also put on a couple other propositions on the ballot. Charlie Munger is VP of Berkshire Hathaway, the 8th largest multinational corporation in the world (it used to be run by Warren Buffet). I don’t know about you, but I have never felt that huge multinational corporations are interested in looking out for my interests or the public’s interests. 

Prop 33 -- No. This one seems to deregulate auto insurance a bit. It was written and funded by the insurance companies, another group of giant corporations who do not seem interested in my well being or that of the public.

Prop 34 -- Strongly recommend a Yes vote. Abolishes the death penalty. Since there is absolutely no evidence that the death penalty deters crime, and since there is evidence that innocent people have been put to death, this one seems a no brainer. Oh, this proposition would also save the state a ton of money!

Prop 35 -- Yes. Increases penalties for human trafficking. And who is FOR human trafficking???? The only groups who wrote against this proposition are sex workers unions and pornographers. Hmmmmmm.

Prop 36 -- Strongly recommend a Yes vote. Revises the three strikes law and reduces draconian sentences for minor crimes on a third count. Would also save the state a ton of money.

Prop 37 -- Yes. Would require labeling of some genetically modified foods. Major opponents are Monsanto and Du Pont, giant multinational chemical corporations. Read the small print on all those TV ads denouncing Proposition 37 as unscientific and confusing and burdensome. There you see Monsanto, who developed crop seeds that would not reproduce, so farmers would have to buy new seed from Monsanto every year. Third world subsistence farmers were really hurt if they bought this seed. Furthermore, they have developed crops that are resistant to Roundup, their best selling herbicide. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I want to eat vegetables that can ward off Roundup. Many countries in Europe BAN genetically modified food, and most require labeling. The main thing, of course, is that we have no idea what eating genetically modified food will eventually do to the human body. Do we want to be guinea pigs? I’d just like to know and have the choice. This proposition is not a perfect law, but it’s a beginning. We should join the rest of the First World and require labeling of genetically modified food.

Proposition 38 -- Strongly recommend a No vote. Why? This one sounds so good -- temporarily increase taxes to fund education and early childhood programs. BUT, and it’s a big BUT, this one is also funded by a Munger. Why would an owner of Berkshire Hathaway care about this issue? Aha! This is actually an end run about Jerry Brown’s Proposition 30. In the small print it explains that if two propositions conflict (and 30 and 38 do), then the one with the most Yes votes will take effect. 38 increases taxes on incomes over $10,000! It does not increase taxes on incomes over $250,000 as much as Prop 30 does. Of course a fabulously rich person hopes this one gets more yes votes.

Prop 39 -- Yes. Supposedly makes multi-state businesses pay California taxes on business done in the state, which in the past they were able to avoid doing by getting to choose which tax model to use and naturally they’d choose the one that made them pay the least taxes. The usual business and anti-tax groups oppose this one.

Prop 40 -- Yes, though a vote on this is moot, since the court already approved the new re-districting plan, which this proposition asks us to do.