I voted today*

Election day isn't for a couple weeks but I voted today. There a couple reasons at play... one, I hate standing in lines, particularly when the people controlling the lines are unable to hold any job other than "poll worker". Needless to say, these aren't the brightest bulbs out there.

Also, campaigns are notified when I return my ballot and stop filling cluttering my mailbox with their bile once my ballot is returned.

Here's a couple thoughts on the ballot.

I find it amusing the NRA uses the tagline "Vote Freedom First" but when push comes to shove they really mean "Vote ONE Freedom First".  Ok, I get they are a single issue organization and the 2A is all they care about.  But I do care about all freedom's and hence take their recommendations with that large grain of salt.

First off,  I can't hold my nose and vote for McCain. Instead I wrote in "JD Hayworth". I can't take credit for this idea though...I saw it somewhere else on line.

Also I'm normally a "no vote" on all propositions. However this time around there are some really good ones.

Prop 106 gives the middle finger salute to federal control of healthcare. Easy choice.  I vote YES.

Prop 107 amends the constitution to eliminate all preferences based on race or gender.  The text of the amendment is really very simple:

36. Preferential treatment or discrimination prohibited; exceptions; definition

SECTION 36. A. THIS STATE SHALL NOT GRANT PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO OR DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP ON THE BASIS OF RACE, SEX, COLOR, ETHNICITY OR NATIONAL ORIGIN IN THE OPERATION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION OR PUBLIC CONTRACTING.

Followed by a couple common sense exceptions.

Ward Connerly recently visited Arizona and talked at length why this is overdue.  The one that struck a chord with me was the Michigan school of law case decided at the supreme court on a 5-4 decision with Arizona's Sandra Day O'Connor casting the deciding vote in the wrong direction.  I could not believe such an abomination was approved by the SCOTUS.  The admission process gave more weight to a specific race than any other other factor (LSAT scores, grades, etc.) Instead they were mostly interested that applicants were of the correct race.

On what planet is this fair?  YES on 107.

Prop 109 makes hunting and fishing a constitutional right.  While the ALF's wail this isn't necessary, history shows it clearly is.  We have seen time and time again where unelected bureaucrats issue rules interfering with hunts and allowing populations to run wild.  Hunting is a valuable component of wildlife management.  [See also New Jersey Bear Hunt].  So this comes down to putting a constitutional block in front of bureaucrats doing HSUS' bidding.  I'm not a hunter but I vote YES.

Prop 110 deals with a technical point on swapping state land in favor of protecting our military bases.  I have mixed feelings here.  While our military bases bring in a lot of money to the economy, and while Arizona's 350-VFR-days-a-year climate is the most efficient flight training environment, I'd also like to put my skidmarks on those runways!  The former Williams AFB is now a public use airport and I've marked them several times.  Luke AFB however is still a very active training base and I've only marked the runway once (and had to sign my life away for the permission).  If luke were to close, it'd also become a public airport and I like that.  Still it's better for the nation and the state as is.   I vote YES.

Prop 111 retitles the "Secretary of state" to "Lieutenant Governor" and requires they run as a ticket.  Currently Arizona has no Lieutenant Governor.  Instead the Secretary of State succeeds to the Governor.  This proposition would require that both Governor and Lieutenant Governor run as a ticket.  Now recent history shows the Secretary of State has assumed the office with surprising frequency.  Napolitano was vehemently against any pro-gun laws and vetoed several.  If a D had succeeded her hasty departure just ahead of state bankruptcy  AZ would not have constitutional carry or a number of pro-gun laws today.  I vote NO.

Prop 112 changes the deadline for propositions from 4 months ahead of the election to 6.  Eh, more time to consider is better.  And if you miss this bus there will be another coming soon.  So + on the upside and not much downside.  I vote YES.


Prop 113 Right to a secret ballot. 

SECTION 36. THE RIGHT TO VOTE BY SECRET BALLOT FOR EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION IS FUNDAMENTAL AND SHALL BE GUARANTEED WHERE LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAW PERMITS OR REQUIRES ELECTIONS, DESIGNATIONS OR AUTHORIZATIONS FOR EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION.

This again falls into "On what planet" category.  On the list of fundamental freedoms, the right to a secret ballot is pretty high.  Think back to why we have a private ballot.  It allows each voter to cast their ballot according to their interests without outside interference.  However when the ballot is public, one side or the other can "influence" the vote towards their interest and away from the individual's interest.  I vote YES.


Prop 203 "Medicinal Marijuana" gives more grief than any other issue on this ballot.  On one side, The woman that bore me died after three years battling cancer.  We visited a couple weeks before she died.  One evening we had dinner ready (roast chicken from the local market) but all she could stomach was all of one chicken wing.  The lack of nourishment had to have played into her longevity.   Also the SCQueen had a friend going through stage IV breast cancer and sent out for some weed.  It kept her appetite up and kept her strength up a couple weeks longer.

OTOH, seems anyone and their brother is qualified to write a prescription for pot and there is no measure of the potency (dosage per hit) and many (most?) of the scripts are written to 17-35 YOs for "chronic pain".  The most credible argument against the prop is that the quantity allows for something like 10 doobs per day and smoking that much pot would qualify the same person as chronically disabled and hence eligible for welfare.

The libertarian in me is in favor of expanding individual rights and I can see the potential benefits for victims of devastating diseases.  However the potential trail to welfare fraud has me concerned.   I made my call, you make yours! (no recommendation)

Prop 302  Diverting Cigarette taxes to the general fund.  A 2006 proposition raised taxes on cigarettes some $0.80 per pack with schools as the beneficiary.  However the funds are administered without any legislative oversight and questions remain about how they administer the funds.  Now I'm not a smoker and never have been, hence I don't pay the tax.  Still I'd rather see the tax and spending board eliminated completely.  Short of that, I'm in favor of eliminating the arbitrary spending board and closing the deficit.  YES on 302

School budget overrides:  NO EFFIN  WAY!  Our school populations are shrinking.  They have grown addicted to budget overrides which turn up on our tax bills.  Few tax dollars actually make it to the classroom.  Just look at the list of stuff your child's teacher asks you to provide for their class.  These overrides provide 6 digit salaries and walnut paneled offices to administrators.  JUST SAY NO.

UPDATE:  Vox calls 'em here.