Shlup

I got my "California General Election" booklet in the mail. It's smurfing difficult. I don't feel qualified to make half of these decisions.

The first thing to vote on is prop 19, which would legalize marijuana for personal use. That's an easy yes.

Prop 20 moves the responsibility to determine the boundaries of California's districts from the House or Reps to the Citizens Redistricting Commission. Bwuh? We need a whole commission for redistricting? How did that slip through?

Prop 21 raises vehicle registration by $18, gives the money to state parks, and makes admission and parking for the surcharged vehicles free. Now I know it's cheaper for me to pay to go to a state park the once a year I go, but... I like state parks. I don't mind them having more money. They're not doing some bullty "redistricting," they're taking care of animals.

BJ called me ignorant for that one. Ass.

Prop 22 restricts the state from borrowing transportation/redevelopment/misc. project money. They say, if I vote no, "public schools stand to lose billions." Public schools have plenty of money; lack of money is not why our public school system is so ty. I'm leaning yes on this one.

Prop 23 suspends some global warming bull. Sounds good to me. I like the arguments "Yes on 23 saves a million jobs, and AB32 is bull anyway." "No on 23 'cause Texas is trying to kill us!!!"

Prop 24 repeals some small business tax laws. The yes side says "It doesn't really do anything for small businesses, just sneaky asshole multi-state businesses!" and the no side says "Don't be SO MEAN to small businesses!" This one has me stumped.

Prop 25 changes budget-related voting from requiring a 2/3 majority to requiring a simple majority. The problem is, I'm not sure whether we currently have a small majority of morons and the 2/3 rule is holding them at bay, or a small majority of good people and the 2/3 rule is ruining all their grand designs. Though I think it's usually safe to assume that they're all morons and it won't make a difference.

Prop 26 requires that certain state and local fees be approved by a 2/3 majority. Ok, fees sound like they should have a wide majority vote.

Prop 27 eliminates that redistricting commission from Prop 20. The government eliminating something after it's been created but deemed useless? Unheard of! "Politicians behind 27 want all the power to redistrict stuff for themselves!" And why, pray tell, do I give a ?