Election Day: Thoughts And Recommendations

Get Out And Vote
No matter where you are, exercise the American right to vote today and participate in your local elections. In Fornicalia, some amazingly-important propositions are on the ballot; I'll deal with that in a moment. Absentee voters: please, please tell me that ballot isn't still laying on the kitchen counter!

Doing The Logical Extension
Whilst enroute my very early morning workout, through a rain-streaked windshield, I began to attempt analysis of the next attacking point for the Liberal agenda -- and it was gloomy. But foreseeable. Here is what I think may be next in the approach pattern:

First, the Dems via the DEM lost the senate. Strike one. Then they lost the Presidency -- twice (and boy, that grates!) -- to a man they perceive as slightly brighter than the average doorknob. Making the situation more critical is the fact that they're in the process of losing another bastion of control, the US Supreme Court -- now even more critical because the SCOTUS allowed the doorknob's second election! Heresy! The potential SCOTUS turn to the right will be cemented if GWB receives the opportunity for a third appointment via a Stevens retirement. Strikes two and three. But wait, there's more: it isn't "sticking" to Cheney; it isn't "sticking" to Frist; it isn't "sticking" to Delay; it isn't even really sticking terribly well to Libby. McCain and DeWine and Graham are all indicating they likely won't recommend a filibuster of Alito -- wow, it isn't looking too keen.

But the Dems are not yet out. If you were in their corner, bloodied, beaten, leaking plasma and losing your traditional DEM stranglehold (newspapers are bleeding readers; on my Left Coast, the San Francisco Chronicle's circulation fell 16.4%!) what would your next tack be?

My prediction? Hit the foundation of the nation: voting. First, an attempt to nullify the senate, then the Presidency, then the courts, now there will be attempt to nullify the process of voting. Look for the next push: the voting isn't "fair," the process is "flawed," the system is in "question," people (always minorities) are being "disenfranchised." Sure, you've heard it all before. Expect an even larger, more forceful push.

For the Fornicalians: My Take On the Propositions
Prop 73: Parental Notification: YES
Kids can't get issued an Advil from a school nurse without calling Washington, DC and filling out two pounds of forms. This is a no-brainer, if for no other reason than current policy makes parents immaterial and lets government decide what's good for your kids. And hey, you didn't really need to know your daughter had an abortion anyway, right? I mean, if you actually said no, you wouldn't be your kid's best friend anymore -- and we can't have that.

Prop 74: Teacher Tenure: YES
Again, pretty simple. One step towards making teachers accountable and perhaps even moving towards a real, honest-to-goodness merit pay for real, honest-to-goodness good teachers.

Prop 75: Paycheck Protection: YES
I'm currently a member of an organization that spends my "association" dues as it damn well pleases. My money, none of my input. Boston Tea Party? Taxation without representation? Sound familiar? My, how the unions are going to squall on this one.

Prop 76: Live Within Our Means: YES, YES (and then for those of you who just tuned in): YES
Takes a page from the Dummy's Guide To Budgets: do not spend more than you make. Huh. Imagine that. What a concept.

Prop 77: Redistricting: YES
This would allow some fresh blood into the system. Go for it, Arnold!

Prop 78: California Prescriptions: YES
Nothing more than letting market-driven forces decide the cost of prescription drugs and pushing down health care costs.

Prop 79: Prescription Drug Discounts: NO
Sure, the State of California needs to get into the pharmaceutical rebate business. Not. Quote: "One-time and ongoing state costs, potentially in the millions to low tens of millions of dollars annually, for administration and outreach activities to implement the new drug discount program. A significant share of these costs would probably be borne by the state General Fund." Who sponsored this initiative? The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Prop 80: Electrical Re-Regulation: NO
We just went through this. And we still won't (read: Greenies have stopped us from) build more power generation stations in California. This would re-regulate the industry, killing competition. Here's the key phrase: "Imposes restrictions on electricity customers' ability to switch from private utilities to other electric providers."

Now, go out and win elections -- Fornicalians: put your vote where your mouth is. My union ox is getting gored and I'm voting for Prop 75! You too can "do the Right thing."