The 1st 6 California Propositions

Thanks to Laz and his If I Had to Vote post, I've decided to post my own recommendations on how I will be voting on the propositions. Most of my friends and loved ones will probably disagree with me so go ahead and cancel out my vote by voting the opposite. This will just make it easier for you! Here are my views on the first six:

Proposition 1A: SAFE, RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER TRAIN BOND ACT
Vote NO - This is likely something that is needed in California, but at what price? This is one of those "incremental" ballot measures. The "yes on 1" side is only asking for $10 billion ($20 billion when you include interest) for a high-speed train. But this is only the BEGINNING. If you believe this amount will actually build a train you are completely misinformed. All you have to do is look at how much it cost to build the Sprinter line from Oceanside to Escondido. A project that initially began as somewhere around a $50 million project ended up costing $450 million! Given how many people will use this system, it would have been cheaper to hire limousine service for everyone. Not only did this project cost crazy more money than it was supposed to (as proposed to the voters) but the government chose to use a unique sized track so that there can be NO DIRECT CONNECTION to the Coaster or to Amtrack! No on 1A!

Proposition 2: STANDARDS FOR CONFINING FARM ANIMALS. INITIATIVE STATUTE
Vote NO - I do not have a animal rights advocate for a daughter (wonderful as The Girl is) and I know my animal loving friends will hate this but... I don't believe we need to be telling farmers to take care of their animals and I don't think we should be coming up with more incentives for farms to move out of state. I also don't think we should be forcing the price of eggs up to make them less affordable for poor people. Instead I think we should vote with our wallets and only purchase food products from responsible farmers. These items are marketed as such and are readily available. (On the other hand I will say I'm not very passionate about my position and could do a flipflop in the voting booth.)

Proposition 3: CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOND ACT. GRANT PROGRAM. INITIATIVE STATUTE
Vote YES - This seems like a reasonable use of bond money. Also, they are a client of Laz and allowed me to continue working.

Proposition 4: WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINOR’S PREGNANCY
Vote YES - This has everything to do with parents' rights. I've heard the arguments and pleas from the other side but they do not sway me from the principle that parents are responsible for their kids. To vote NO is to say they aren't.

Proposition 5: NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES. SENTENCING, PAROLE AND REHABILITATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE
Vote NO - We do not need to reduce sentencing for meth users and we don't need to add loopholes in our system that could allow criminals to escape prosecution

Proposition 6: POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING. CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND LAWS. INITIATIVE STATUTE
Vote NO - Although I don't always believe the arguments in the voter guide we receive every election, I DO believe the "con" position on this one. This proposition will alter the way tax money is alocated. It will take money away from schools and other areas. There is no guarentee that it will put more cops on the street. I'm voting against it.

Like Laz, my fearless leader, I will also be reviewing the other six on the ballot as well as my presidential pick. Until his most recent post my intention was to only post on how I was voting for president. Laz is such a troublemaker.