It’s almost election time here in California, and it was a lot of fun posting about and researching the propositions last time. I think Andrew started it last time, but I jumped on the bandwagon.

I’ll start by posting about the propositions, and if I have time, we’ll get to the people. Most of my information will be coming from the LA Times Proposition Summaries, the State Voter Guide, Tom McClintock’s Positions, and a letter the teacher’s union sent me.

To let you know where I stand (in case you’re thick as a brick and can’t tell), I’m very conservative. I’m technically a Republican, but I’m a conservative first and foremost (yes, there’s a difference). When it comes to propositions I will vote against them 99% of the time if they have ANYTHING to do with bonds and government bureacracy.

So I don’t have to explain it again, bonds are what bankrupted the state under Gray Davis. Instead of the state coming up with a budget they can live with, politicians like to put bonds on the ballot and run up our debt. The government should live within it’s means. It’s idiotic to pay for fundamental infrastructure with debt. Something that important to us as a state should be part of our yearly budget. Bonds also should only be used for projects that will still be around when it’s done being paid off. Nobody takes out a 30 year loan to buy a cell phone. You take out loans like that for a house that will still be around and useful in 30 years. Most proposition bonds though will be spent on day to day stuff that should be handled in a budget.

As for government bureacracy, most propositions do nothing more than make government bigger and more bloated. As a conservative, smaller government is something very important to me (see, there is a difference between Republicans and conservatives) . With these two key pieces of info to look for, on to the propositions!

Prop 1A – Transportation Funding Protection

My Summary: Taxes on gasoline are easily used for non-transportation projects. Under this proposition it would make borrowing money from this fund for non-transportation uses much more difficult.

My Opinion: I think taxes should have a specific purpose, and it makes sense that gas taxes should go to pay for transportation expenses. I don’t want some Senator with a pet project borrowing this money for something else I might not agree with. This prop probably won’t change much, but let’s use gas taxes to make the crowded roads better.

Bottom Line: Use gas taxes for the roads!

I am voting YES on Prop 1A.

Prop 1B – Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006

My Summary: Roads are clogged, people don’t think the air is clean enough, and our ports need better security. This prop would sell almost $20 billion dollars in bonds to pay for stuff like better roads, upgrade school busses so they don’t stink, and make the ports safer.

My Opinion: I bet you can already guess my opinion because they used a four letter word….BOND! These bonds would end up costing the state another $20 billion dollars in interest ($40 billion total). This is why government is so ineffective. Instead of forcing state officials to make difficult choices about where money should go, tax payers just throw bond money at them, and then they don’t have to decide.

Bottom Line: Bonds are the devil.

I am voting NO on Prop 1B.

Prop 1C - Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006

My Summary: I’ll cheat and give you the LA Times summary: "The measure would authorize $2.9 billion in bonds to build urban parks, provide low-interest loans and grants for affordable housing, farm-worker housing and homeless shelters."

My Opinion: I was getting nauseous reading this one. Not only are they bonds, but they’re for urban parks and farm worker housing. What the crap?! Who is wasting their time in Sacramento trying to find ways to spur farm worker housing? Stop screwing with the economy you (insert bad words here).

Bottom Line: Not only are bonds the devil, but also whichever moron wrote this prop.

I am voting NO on Prop 1C.

Prop 1D – Kindergarten – University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006

My Summary: Bonds of $10 billion dollars would be sold to pay for various school related projects. Interest would cost another $10 billion dollars.

My Opinion: More bonds! Schools have waaaay too much money already. We pay for lunch for kids, we have millions of dollars earmarked for poor kids, and guess what? Our schools still suck. I don’t care if I had a bazillion dollars for my classroom, it wouldn’t matter. The students who receive no support at home, their parents are losers, or they don’t care about learning English…it won’t matter for them. It’s not about money! Stop throwing money at the education problem, it’s just making it worse.

Bottom Line: More money = less responsibility.

I am voting NO on Prop 1D.

Prop 1E - Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006

My Summary: It sells $4 billion in bonds to help pay for levee improvements and flood control/prevention.

My Opinion: Tom McClintock said yes to this bond measure, so I really looked into it. While I’ll agree with him that it’s important to protect our water, it’s still ridiculous to pay for it with bonds. Some other stuff I read said there are 2,000 miles of levees to maintain, but this is only enough money for 25 miles.

Bottom Line: Again, if this is SO important, stop sending the morons next to my parents welfare checks and get on this important task of improving the levees.

I am voting NO on Prop 1E (Sorry Tom).

Sorry this post was so long, but I had to tackle all the "1" props or I’d never find the motivation again. I’m putting up a special 2006 California Election page to the right to keep track of all these posts. Bookmark it!