lucky you

Read along while I research how I am going to vote on the seven (7) ballot propositions in California this year!

We already discussed this one a bit the other day, but I’m against both. I still resent this process DEEPLY, but it is a useful exercise in discovering your base democratic values. And one of mine is If Multi-Billion-Dollar Industries Are For It, I’m Probably Against It. If it were really such a good deal for me they wouldn’t be trying so hard to convince me that it is really about funding housing, etc.

I’m no on both.

Abortion is already legal in California and that seems pretty pretty unlikely to change at the state level any time soon. And any federal action would preempt the California state constitution. But! locking down fundamental human rights when you have the chance is a worthy cause in its own right.

I am yes on Prop 1.

C’mon now. This is the 3rd time in as many statewide elections that a similar proposition has made the ballot. I discussed how stupid this one is in part here.

This ain’t that, but it is indicative of the spirit in which the requirement is offered.

I’m no on Prop 29, which I hope is drawn, quartered, and buried at the crossroads.

Interesting background to this one. The legislature passed a ban on flavored tobacco in 2020. Tobacco companies then spent millions to to get Prop 31 on the ballot in what amounts to a “people’s veto” which needs to pass to uphold the statute.

This is a cynical ploy that brazenly violates my If Multi-Billion-Dollar Industries Are For It, I’m Probably Against It rule and my new Corporations Shouldn’t Be Able To Buy Their Way Out Of Laws They Don’t Like rule (brought to you by Lyft and Uber). This is particularly pernicious and we need to make it impossible for corporations to do this.

Pretty much all tobacco is bad and flavored tobacco — even if the intention to focus on kids is plausibly deniable — is egregiously so.

I’m no on Prop 31.

So, mixed feelings here because there are two competing values at play:

The measure guarantees funding for arts and music education in preschool through 12th grade. Arts funding is often the first thing on the chopping block when things get tight and backers say that only one in five public schools have full-time arts and music teachers. In a state so closely associated with the arts and entertainment, this one hits even closer. And in a nice addition, about 30% of the funding will be distributed based on the percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

My kids have taken music lessons for years and have been blessed to experience quality public school music programs. Other kids should get that too!

Ideally, we would trust the legislature to make those hard decisions, but ideally the legislature would just have decided to fund music and arts on its own.

I dislike the means but I love the ends more and I am yes on Prop 28.

This measure adds a 1.75% tax increase on incomes over $2M, generating about $4B per year, 45% to electric vehicle incentives, 35% to electric vehicle infrastructure, and 20% to wildfire prevention.

I like the environment, I hate when it burns, and I LOVE taxing the rich, so this is a big winner, right?

No! You IDIOT.

Remember, If Multi-Billion-Dollar Industries Are For It, I’m Probably Against It (or IMBDIAFIIPAI, if that’s easier).

While a number of environmental groups support the measure, it is funded almost entirely by Lyft. Why does Lyft care? Well, because ride-share services will be required to use zero-emission vehicles for 90% of their miles by 2030. Which, because we live in the future, is not that far away. And if they can get someone else to help pay for that, well, hell — why not?

(And I’m still mad at them about Prop 22. Lyft! You were supposed to be the good one!)

I don’t love the ends enough to get okay with the means and I am no on Prop 30.

So, yes on abortion rights and art and music funding, no on everything else and please, please, please on overhauling this wasteful system.

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