Voter Guide, Election, 2004

The AVA Recommends

President: Write in Ralph Nader for President There is only one thing I want more than kicking George W. Bush out of office and that is that my vote be counted as a positive vote for the future. John Kerry is a pro-war candidate. Kerry is a corporate capitalist candidate. Kerry says nothing about election reform. The American Liberals' penchant for instant gratification will do nothing to solve deep seated systemic dysfunction. You say I throw my vote away. I say democracy is naught if not about voting for the person one feels will do the best job. That Liberal America is so willing to vote its hate and fear not its hope and dreams is most likely complicit in why we are in this predicament in the first place. Idealism is the only path to an ideal world.

California's US Senator: Marsha Feinland for United States Senator. Barbara Boxer has let me down too often for me to hold any ongoing confidence in the gal.

First Congressional District Representative: Pamela Elizondo for United States Representative. What can I say? Mike Thompson is a corporate wine grape charlatan. Pamela at least has the Green's "10 Key Values" behind her.

State Assembly District: Ken Anton for Member of the State Assembly. I'm going out on a limb here but I did read the Ukiah Daily Journal write-up on Mr. Anton and he gave me the feel of an Emil Rossi type of Libertarian. A somewhat homey, anti big money manipulation boy. Not much comes out of the Berg corner, just big, politically correct smiles and assurance she is liberal.

First District Supervisor of Mendocino County: Jim Wattenberger, just because Shoemaker is far too arrogant and off track.

Second District: No Recommendation. Because of personal differences with the not so Wildman I couldn't bring myself to recommend him, but the Major points out an interesting scenario that could be played out if Shoemaker retains his seat and Wildman gets elected. It would then be an all-Mendolib Board and we could all see for ourselves the truth that Mendo liberals make absolutely no difference to the (mal)functioning of Mendocino County.

Propositions

1A. Local Revenues. NO. This is the proposition that State government types came up with in desperation to counter Proposition 65. 65 being what local government including local special districts like AV Community Service District put together to counter the State's vacuum cleaner attack on local tax revenues, sucking them into state coiffures.

59. Public Records. YES. Who could be against allowing the public to know what our government bodies are discussing and doing?

60. Closed Primaries. NO. This proposition doesn't do anything other than add current electoral practices to the California Constitution, thereby chiseling deeper into stone an electoral system that most of us Americans should start considering to have outlived its ability properly serve the people.

60A. Surplus Property. NO. I don't trust 'em. Who gets to decide what is or isn't surplus property and if it is deemed surplus and sold who is to say that the proceeds might not be used more appropriately somewhere other than to pay off the recently incurred debt? This might be a stealth privatization technique.

61. Children's Hospital Bonds. NO. It is most insane that we Americans continually come screeching up to issues that must be taken care of immediately thereby requiring us to go into hock to do so. Every time we sell bonds to finance an undertaking the costs go up, some times doubling or even more. Wouldn't it be preferable to plan ahead, build reserves and then buy two children's hospitals instead of one?

62. Closed Primaries. NO. There are several ways that our democratic preferences could go south under this proposition. Real election reform is needed but this ain't it.

63. Mental Health Funding. NO. It's always a good idea to tax the rich but to make our mental health program dependent on the undependable lot is folly. Tax the heck out of the rich but find another more reliable and consistent way to fund mental health. Actually the best way to assure the best possible mental health of the populace is to ensure adequate mental health for those who legislate.

64. Business Lawsuit Limits. NO. If a business deserves to be sued any individual affected should have the ability to do so.

65. Local Funding Protection. YES. If them state bureaucrats want access to our local money let them go begging to the electorate for it. This proposition was the work of a coalition of local entities to answer Schwartso's sucking attack on local revenues, as well as previous attacks. This is a righteous proposition that tries to give some "say so" power to the people. When they were confronted with top heavy state rebellion, original formulators patsy'd out to support 1A by way of watered-down compromise. Good initial work, bad decision to bail out. We still support it as a superior proposal to 1A.

66. Three Strikes Reform. YES. Even in baseball a foul tip doesn't put you out, you've got to have a clean, undisputed strike. Come on, a $25 shoplift doesn't deserve life in prison.

67. Emergency Services Phone Tax. NO. It's the big money boys again and an attempt to put more of the stuff in their pockets. Most of this tax will go to large corporate health institutes with only a small share going to the 911 system. Yes, we need health care reform but something on the order of a single payer federally funded plan that includes all people would be more appropriate.

68. Non-Tribal Gaming. NO. Whoever wrote this bill deserves to be run out of town on a rail, tarred and feathered and when they come home with their tails between their legs, sued for stupidity.

69. DNA Database. NO. The DNA testing that is being done right now is working quite well. Bad guys are getting caught and innocents are being released after long, inappropriate stints in the pokey. Let's live with what we have for awhile and not race blindly into a technique that could evolve to misuse of individual's entire genetic blueprint.

70. Tribal Gaming Compacts. YES. We stole their land, killed 90% of their ancestors and now that they have found a promising path out of the poverty we have forced upon them we do everything we can to control and squeeze out the biggest share for ourselves. Come on white California, give the Native Peoples a little respect.

71. Stem Cell Research Funding. NO. This vote is not an argument against the morality of stem cell research. It is simply a continuing vote against the careless fiscal policy of always addressing our desires by going into debt. Let's learn to plan and prepare for the future, not always go for the credit card.

72. Health Care Coverage. YES. Reluctantly. That it helps the working class to get health insurance is why it gets our vote. In truth the whole health care system/industry desperately needs overhaul but for the time being this might help.