Exercising the Franchise

While it is an unusual turn of phrase, exercising the franchise is exactly what I did today as I spent some time with my California Official Voters Ballot. I have gotten into the habit of voting early by mail as to avoid the polling place on election day. I prefer to sit with the ballot and my resource materials and the Internet at hand to work my way through the ballot.

As a Californian, I'm blessed(or cursed) with a large number of propositions in addition to the regular candidates. Choosing elected officials is relatively easy compared to evaluating propositions. You can't always tell whom is the best candidate, but it is always clear whom should be voted against. The propositions are deceptive. Sometimes the yes means no, other times the no means yes. Purposes are hidden behind confusing names. Bad stuff sounds good.

Today I supported high speed train transportation, against mandatory free-range poultry raising, for improving Children Hospitals infrastructure, against mandatory parental notification of abortions for minors, for sentencing reform for non-violent drug offenders, against shifting funds to law enforcement agencies, for renewable energy generation, against a ban on same-sex weddings, against further consideration of victims in sentencing, for alternative fuel vehicle bonds, against the redistricting initiative, and against the Veteran's housing bond proposal.

I feel it is too easy for interest groups to put proposals on the public ballot in California. While I support broad democracy, much legislation is too detailed and too complicated for the broad public to decide. Many such items should be left to the legislative process. Because of this idea, I opposed some voter initiatives even though I tend to support the idea. I don't think the general citizen can properly evaluate the details of the initiative so I only support those items that are both clear and meaningful to me.

I also voted for a President and Veep, congressperson, state legislators, city council, city attorney, school board officials, etc. I don't think there was a county dogcatcher on this year's ballot or I would have voted for that office as well!

I don't know that I made all the "right" choices, but I gave the matters considerable thought, due diligence, and used my best judgment. I had my say and I retain the right to complain about my government since I chose it. That may be the most important "right" an American citizen has.

Get out there and vote. As my old boss, Lou Powsner used to say, quoting Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, VOTE EARLY (and often!)