Once again another election season is upon us. Aside from having to sift through the candidates, voters have to endure another form of hell, and that is sorting through the various ballot initiatives. We are deluged with televisions ads about how a yes vote on Prop whichever will solve every problem, or a no vote will prevent the destruction of our civilization. Watching football is hard enough with the constant ads for pickup trucks, beer, erectile dysfunction medication, and now the electile dysfunction ads. Our voter guide is merely that, a guide. Vote as you see fit as always. The officers of the LPOC as per our bylaws can only endorse an initiative with 2/3 consent, and there was not unanimous consent on Props 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, and 40 but enough to render a recommendation.
An additional option is always available to the voter, you can simply skip any item you don’t feel is worth voting for. Consider it a vote for NOTA (none of the above). If you have any questions, feel free to email us at lporangecounty@gmail.com
On to the initiatives…….
Proposition 30 and 38, We recommend a NO vote on both.
Prop 30 proposes a temporary tax to fund public school for those making over $250,000 a year, and an increase in sales tax for four years.
Prop 38 increases taxes on a sliding scale FOR 12 YEARS to fund early childhood education.
Once again, a group of people somewhere with apparently no economic education thinks that simply increasing taxes will fix education. There are many problems with these faulty initiatives. 1) Tax increases during economic calamities slow down any potential recovery. Could you guys at least wait until the recession is over? 2) Tax increases do not necessarily increase tax revenue, i.e. the Laffer Curve effect. 3) California’s Legislature has a history of cutting educational funding when they collectively perceive that public education is receiving funding from other sources, anyone remember how the Lottery was supposed to fix California’s funding woes? 4) The ineptitude of California’s public educational institutions to wisely spend the money it already receives. 5) Sales tax increases punish the poor, for the crime of being poor. How very compassionate!
Proposition 31. We recommend a NO vote.
Establishes a two year state budget. Just what we need, an even lazier legislature.
Proposition 32. We recommend a NO vote.
Political Contributions by Payroll deductions. We don’t like public unions and their corrupting influence, but view this proposition as oddly misguided. Our own Art Pedroza summarizes why here.
Proposition 33. We recommend a YES vote.
Auto Insurance Companies, pricing based on driver’s history of coverage. Allows insurers to offer discounts to new drivers who have previously been insured for five years.
Proposition 34. We recommend a YES vote.
Repeal of the Death Penalty in California. Many Libertarians philosophically support the concept of the Death Penalty for convicted 1st Degree Murderers. However, with civil rights deteriorating, law enforcement misconduct, and conviction with improper/obsolete evidence, we fear for the execution of someone who has been wrongly found guilty. It’s time to be SMART on crime. We recommend that before anyone angrily criticize this endorsement, that they visit the Innocence Project. One last question, what do you think the punishment should be for a state that wrongfully puts someone to death?
Proposition 35. We recommend a NO vote.
Human Trafficking Penalties. There are already harsh penalties for criminals found guilty of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Proposition 36. We recommend a YES vote.
Three Strikes reform. Reforms three strikes so that only if the third felony is violent or serious in nature is a guilty individual given a life sentence.
Proposition 37. We recommend a NO vote.
Mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. There are plenty of sources of information so that consumers can make informed choices in what foods they choose to eat. This is unneeded and full of odd exemptions.
Proposition 38. We recommend a NO vote.
We listed reasons why with proposition 30. See above.
Proposition 39 We recommend a NO vote.
Tax treatment for multi-state businesses and gives up some of the taxes collected for green energy projects. So once again a group of people somewhere thinks that increasing taxes on one group will simply improve the situation for another group. In this case the group being punished with higher taxes are businesses that dare to engage in commerce in other states. The beneficiaries would be green energy projects. Here is the actual wordage of the voter guide summary, “Funds used for job-creating energy efficient project at schools and for deficit reduction”. Some of the money might even go to schools! Hooray! Here is what would likely occur if this passes: Additional erosion of the job and tax base in California, the money would go towards specious unproven projects that would likely not pan out, and not a dime would go towards public education.
Proposition 40 We recommend a YES vote but……..
Redistricting of State Senate Districts. The State Supreme Court ruled that districts have to be kept in place for 2012, thus rendering this initiative defeated regardless of the will of the voters. Stay tuned for 2014.