Voting California

with the impending election on weighing heavily on my mind I trekked off to the court house on Saturday to exercise my right to vote. I had spent a few days study the Voter Information Pamphlet and talking about some of the issues yet it's still daunting to face a ballot with nine officials to elect and seventeen propositions. Poor Prop WW by the time people get that far they're probably too tired to care.

Everyone who wants money in California puts a proposition on the ballot. Money for teachers, money for kids,money for seniors money for police, money for parks, money for high speed transit, money for veterans, etc. etc. Generally they're all worthy causes, some propose funding by a special parcel tax of a few dollars more a year. It doesn't seem like much but $100 here, $100 there and it adds up. Prop 13 famously limited raising property taxes so now whenever more money is needed a parcel tax has to be voted on. Other propositions suggest issuing bonds to fund their project. The main argument against most propositions asking for money is that if project X is funding there won't be any money for project Y and the agency in charge of project X should be better managing there enormously large budget instead of asking for more money. Which in many cases is a good point. Children's Hospitals were given a lot of money a few years ago, why do they need another Billion dollars?

Then there are the propositions regarding social issues. Should we treat farm animals humanely? Let same sex couples marry? Change something about the criminal justice system which I don't completely understand? Redraw the congressional districts map?

It all gets rather exhausting. The TV adds build to increasingly obnoxious levels as the election draws near. So I stood there on Saturday set down my choices in ink, signed off on my decisions and walked home. A great weight lifted off my shoulders until next November. Or maybe March or June, I've lived here five years and I still don't understand voting in California.