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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Have the state propositions been discussed here?
Other measures and endorsements? Has the county party made any endorsements?
Have the state endorsements been posted here?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I dunno, but sometimes I post my own comments. So,
subject to change, here is what I think now. Comments welcome.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><U><FONT face=Arial size=2>State propositions</FONT></U></DIV>
<DIV><U><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></U> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.1 Yes. I am inclined to support it because we
need alternatives to airplanes and cars. How are we going to fuel our airplanes
if oil becomes ever more expensive and we need to switch away from it? City to
city high speed rail is not all we need, but everything helps, especially if
Obama is not going to be as committed to ending fossil fuel use as we Greens
might wish, as his statements in yesterday's debate indicate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>On the other hand, there are questions about
whether the bond money will cover the costs, or if it might be spent without
getting the job done.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.2 YES. Mistreating farm animals is
unacceptable. Thanks to whoever put this one on.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.3 No. Our financial condition makes too many
bond proposals a problem. It seems unnecessary; these institutions are not
starved for funds.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.4 No. This measure has been twice defeated. It
makes unsafe abortions more likely among minors.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.5 Yes. Treating drug-law offenders instead of
putting them in jail is a good idea. It's worth paying for it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.6 NO. The legislature has too many mandates
now. Police is not a higher priority than others. This prop. also increases life
sentences for some gang-related crimes. Seems too harsh.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.7 leaning no, but undecided. The main
provision of this prop. is not what the ads say. It is a good idea to require
publically owned power companies to get more power from renewable resources. The
problem is the provision requiring that they buy power from companies with a
capacity of 30 megawatts or more. See page 125 of the pamphlet. These companies
say that hurts their competitive position. As far as I can tell, these small
companies could still sell to private utilities. However, more utilities might
become publically-owned, including SF. On balance, since the state Green Party
and the NRDC are against it, as well as other green organizations, I am leaning
no. But I think this one requires careful thought from Greens and green-inclined
voters. The energy companies are also against this, and funding the excessive
ads against it; and that gives one pause too. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.8 NO Equal rights for gay couples,
please.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.9 No. It sounds reasonable until you look
deeper. I am troubled that defendants would not under this law have the right to
require victims to testify before the trial, or provide other evidence or
records needed by the defense. I am concerned that requiring ALL victims to
receive restitution from ALL defendants is too harsh. I am concerned that local
governments might not be able to release prisoners to avoid overcrowding.
Families already have the right to testify at parole hearings, but this measure
allows anyone and everyone who wants to, to testify. It also makes colleges
"protected" from criminals as well as other schools. This could increase the
burden on sex offenders according to the law recently passed which requires most
of them to live outside cities. All in all, although I don't want criminals to
get off easy, our state is already real tough on crime; tough enough, and our
jails and our jail business are already too big, and this is very expensive too.
This prop would increase that expense.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.10 YES, by all means. The state needs to help
people buy alternative vehicles, and needs to fund energy alternatives. We can't
depend on Obama to do all of this, or Arnold either.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.11 Yes. We ought to take away redistricting
away from the politicians. It seems fair that representatives of neither party
are included in the process as well as the Demoplicans. That would include
Greens, I would think. I even voted for Arnold's proposal a few years ago; this
one is better.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Prop.12 No. We have enough bonds to pay off
already, and farm and home aid to veterans is not necessary. Everybody likes
veterans; what about the rest of us who didn't fight America's
mostly-unnecessary wars?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><U>Local measures:</U></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><U><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></U> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A yes. We need our hospitals to keep operating and
to help replace our lost downtown San Jose hospital.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>B leaning yes. I was originalloy leaning no. I know
BART is big, and we need more support for local systems. But I also feel a part
of the Bay Area. I voted against the last sales tax increase. This one is more
reasonable, only 1/8. Public transit is important. Opposing comments welcome; I
am amenable.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>C and D Yes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>San Jose: J though M yes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><U>Political office endorsements:</U></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>President: Cynthia McKinney</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Congress: Peter Myers</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>State Senate: Joe Simitian</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Assembly: Jim Beall</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Superior Court 8: Diane Ritchie</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Eric Meece aka Eric the
Green</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>