PLEASE VOTE!!!
I don't know how to segue into my request for your votes, so I'm just going to let 'er rip...
PLEASE VOTE FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL!
This is our last chance to look for some accountability from the White House. There have been no meaningful investigations into the following mistakes (among others):
1) Massive intelligence failure leading up to the Iraq war.
2) Failure of FEMA during hurricane Katrina.
3) Failure to properly plan for and/or execute the occupation and nation-building in Iraq.
4) Potential war profiteering by corporations such as Bechtel and Halliburton who have received billions of dollars of taxpayer money for the reconstruction in Iraq, yet have not even restored utilities to the levels which existed under Saddam Hussein.
The above actions have resulted in the loss of thousands of American lives (and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives) and billions, if not trillions, of dollars. They will also result in the loss of more lives as we try to extricate ourselves from Iraq and have made our country less safe from terrorism and natural disasters. This is not a hoax. This is not a joke. These are unfortunately very real events which are happening to us and the world right now.
As long as the Republicans retain control of Congress, we will never have a meaningful investigation of these events. Even if you normally vote Republican hopefully you will realize that learning from the mistakes above is worth voting as a Democrat for one election. After all, Bush still owns the White House, so Democrats won't be able to raise taxes or perform any other of the actions that you might fear because Bush can veto them. However, a Democratic Congress might actually investigate what went wrong. These are lessons that will help the security and prosperity of our nation. In two years, you can vote Republican again if you want. But this election is our very last opportunity to have accountability for whoever has caused our country such great loss.
-------------------------------
If you're in California, I'd also like to ask you to PLEASE VOTE YES ON PROPOSITIONS 87 AND 89!
First, let me please get this out of the way: I HATE the proposition system. It is a terrible thing to ask everyday citizens to inform themselves on the myriad propositions on each ballot. It would take hours upon hours to do it properly and we pay our state assemblymen just so we don't have to do this. However, sometimes certain propositions come along which will never get passed by our assemblymen because of flaws in the current system. These two propositions are examples of such initiatives. These propositions seek changes which our corrupted system will not be able to effect on its own. That is why I am voting yes on both and I hope you will join me. Here is an explanation of each:
Prop 87
This is a tax on the oil which is pumped out of California (yes, there are oil wells in our state). The tax money will go towards trying to develop alternative energy. A private citizen (real estate heir) has financed the fight to get this proposition passed. The oil companies are spending tens of millions of dollars to try and defeat it. That fact alone should be enough to encourage your vote for it.
Many people and ads will argue that the money from the tax will be used in inefficient ways. I will agree that there are likely more efficient ways to spend the money. However, we still must vote YES. No proposition is perfect, but this is probably our ONLY chance to pass this proposition. The legislature won't do it because the oil companies control the politicians. It is sad, but it is true. And since a private individual has sunk tens of millions of his own fortune in support of this proposition, it is unlikely that anyone else will act in a similar manner if this proposition is defeated.
Thus, if you believe that our dependence on oil is bad for the environment, you should vote yes to help us find alternative sources of energy. If you believe that our dependence on oil hurts our national security by pouring money into the coffers of the terrorists we seek to fight, you should vote yes to help us find alternative sources of energy.
Yes, the cost of your gasoline may go up several cents per gallon, but that money will finally be going to a good cause (helping stop our oil dependency) rather than going into the pockets of the oil industry. It is time to put our money where our mouths are. If we believe in environmental protection, if we believe in strengthening our national security by becoming energy independent, we must vote yes! To do otherwise would be hypocritical, in my opinion.
Prop 89
This is an attempt to try and get soft money out of elections and make elections more about ideas. It is a great concept. The execution looks interesting, although convoluted.
My reasons for voting in favor of this proposition are simple: I think that the current system is seriously flawed. Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Cheese (yes, that's a joke), and other lobbies have too strong of a voice in government. I do not know if this proposition is the answer. In fact, I doubt that it will be the final answer. There will probably be loopholes that will be exploited. But it is a step in the right direction. And when loopholes are found, we can close them with other propositions.
Briefly, this proposition will tax businesses (0.2%) to create public funds available for candidates to use to run for office. This means that if there is a candidate who has popular support, but has not sold out to special interests, she will have funding anyway once she wins the primary. And for any candidate who does not accept public funding, the law will restrict the amount of money he can receive from private individuals and corporations. Thus, it tries to level the field between the sell-outs and the altruistic individuals. Yes, there are loopholes, but as I said we can tackle those as they come up. This proposition is a step in the right direction. Let's take it!
-------------------------------------
If you've actually read this far, thanks for indulging me. I would love to hear what you think. I don't think I have all the answers, but on a couple issues I do feel very, very strongly during this election. If my passion can sway you at all, please be swayed. There has not been a more important election in my lifetime.
Here's hoping we wake up with on Wednesday morning at the start of something special.
I don't know how to segue into my request for your votes, so I'm just going to let 'er rip...
PLEASE VOTE FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL!
This is our last chance to look for some accountability from the White House. There have been no meaningful investigations into the following mistakes (among others):
1) Massive intelligence failure leading up to the Iraq war.
2) Failure of FEMA during hurricane Katrina.
3) Failure to properly plan for and/or execute the occupation and nation-building in Iraq.
4) Potential war profiteering by corporations such as Bechtel and Halliburton who have received billions of dollars of taxpayer money for the reconstruction in Iraq, yet have not even restored utilities to the levels which existed under Saddam Hussein.
The above actions have resulted in the loss of thousands of American lives (and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives) and billions, if not trillions, of dollars. They will also result in the loss of more lives as we try to extricate ourselves from Iraq and have made our country less safe from terrorism and natural disasters. This is not a hoax. This is not a joke. These are unfortunately very real events which are happening to us and the world right now.
As long as the Republicans retain control of Congress, we will never have a meaningful investigation of these events. Even if you normally vote Republican hopefully you will realize that learning from the mistakes above is worth voting as a Democrat for one election. After all, Bush still owns the White House, so Democrats won't be able to raise taxes or perform any other of the actions that you might fear because Bush can veto them. However, a Democratic Congress might actually investigate what went wrong. These are lessons that will help the security and prosperity of our nation. In two years, you can vote Republican again if you want. But this election is our very last opportunity to have accountability for whoever has caused our country such great loss.
-------------------------------
If you're in California, I'd also like to ask you to PLEASE VOTE YES ON PROPOSITIONS 87 AND 89!
First, let me please get this out of the way: I HATE the proposition system. It is a terrible thing to ask everyday citizens to inform themselves on the myriad propositions on each ballot. It would take hours upon hours to do it properly and we pay our state assemblymen just so we don't have to do this. However, sometimes certain propositions come along which will never get passed by our assemblymen because of flaws in the current system. These two propositions are examples of such initiatives. These propositions seek changes which our corrupted system will not be able to effect on its own. That is why I am voting yes on both and I hope you will join me. Here is an explanation of each:
Prop 87
This is a tax on the oil which is pumped out of California (yes, there are oil wells in our state). The tax money will go towards trying to develop alternative energy. A private citizen (real estate heir) has financed the fight to get this proposition passed. The oil companies are spending tens of millions of dollars to try and defeat it. That fact alone should be enough to encourage your vote for it.
Many people and ads will argue that the money from the tax will be used in inefficient ways. I will agree that there are likely more efficient ways to spend the money. However, we still must vote YES. No proposition is perfect, but this is probably our ONLY chance to pass this proposition. The legislature won't do it because the oil companies control the politicians. It is sad, but it is true. And since a private individual has sunk tens of millions of his own fortune in support of this proposition, it is unlikely that anyone else will act in a similar manner if this proposition is defeated.
Thus, if you believe that our dependence on oil is bad for the environment, you should vote yes to help us find alternative sources of energy. If you believe that our dependence on oil hurts our national security by pouring money into the coffers of the terrorists we seek to fight, you should vote yes to help us find alternative sources of energy.
Yes, the cost of your gasoline may go up several cents per gallon, but that money will finally be going to a good cause (helping stop our oil dependency) rather than going into the pockets of the oil industry. It is time to put our money where our mouths are. If we believe in environmental protection, if we believe in strengthening our national security by becoming energy independent, we must vote yes! To do otherwise would be hypocritical, in my opinion.
Prop 89
This is an attempt to try and get soft money out of elections and make elections more about ideas. It is a great concept. The execution looks interesting, although convoluted.
My reasons for voting in favor of this proposition are simple: I think that the current system is seriously flawed. Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Cheese (yes, that's a joke), and other lobbies have too strong of a voice in government. I do not know if this proposition is the answer. In fact, I doubt that it will be the final answer. There will probably be loopholes that will be exploited. But it is a step in the right direction. And when loopholes are found, we can close them with other propositions.
Briefly, this proposition will tax businesses (0.2%) to create public funds available for candidates to use to run for office. This means that if there is a candidate who has popular support, but has not sold out to special interests, she will have funding anyway once she wins the primary. And for any candidate who does not accept public funding, the law will restrict the amount of money he can receive from private individuals and corporations. Thus, it tries to level the field between the sell-outs and the altruistic individuals. Yes, there are loopholes, but as I said we can tackle those as they come up. This proposition is a step in the right direction. Let's take it!
-------------------------------------
If you've actually read this far, thanks for indulging me. I would love to hear what you think. I don't think I have all the answers, but on a couple issues I do feel very, very strongly during this election. If my passion can sway you at all, please be swayed. There has not been a more important election in my lifetime.
Here's hoping we wake up with on Wednesday morning at the start of something special.
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And goddammit, I love that dog.