No, this is not a resource for scorin’ some ladies. This is a handy guide for Election Day coming up in less than two weeks. Now, we already know which candidate we’re gonna vote for, but how about all those pesky 12 Propositions??
Here are the condensed arguments for and against each measure, as well as who is behind it, and my own personal views.
Prop 1 High Speed Rail Prop
• Provides $9 billion for constructing a high-speed rail between LA and SF.
• Funds connections to the high speed railroad, and repairs and revamping.
• A bond. Will cost taxpayer money, with the idea that ridership will offset those costs.
Pro:
• Will save on fuel costs and gas emissions.
• Will ease traffic on land and in air.
• Will create new jobs.
• Supported by CA Alliance for Jobs, CHP, a bunch of CA Democrat legislators, and The Governator too!
Con:
• May cost more than $9 billion.
• Not enough accountability.
• Opposed by Taxpayers associations, a bunch of Republican state senators, and Coe State Park (which will lose some of its land).
My 2¢:
The opposing side may talk about focusing instead on local mass transit, (and I firmly believe in also fixing our urban metro systems!) but that’s just a flimsy excuse for not working on high-speed rail transit. Also, I get the feeling that the Prop’s opponents aren’t exactly mass transit advocates. In the least, Prop 1 is an important step for California, and the US after it, to start developing high speed rail, and get with the program. Just look at Europe. We should have been working on this all along…
Vote YES.
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Prop 2 Humane Farm Standards Prop
• Requires that veal calves, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs are given room to extend their limbs and move around a little.
• Creates misdemeanor penalties and will require enforcement there of.
• Farms will have until 2015 to make themselves compliant.
Pro:
• Will extend state anti-animal cruelty laws to protect farm animals.
• Will benefit many family farms that are already compliant with anti-cruelty practices.
• Will reduce disease risks such as Salmonella, which are more common in cramped conditions.
• Supported by farm veterinarians, the Humane Society, Union of Concerned Scientists, environmental and water safety organizations, and other public interest and advocacy groups worth trusting.
Con:
• Potential increases in egg costs.
• Potential increase in out-of-state eggs shipped to California (which may carry diseases). Some may come from Mexico!
• Modern farm housing systems already humane and safe. (Cough*Bullshit*Cough! Sorry, couldn’t help it!)
• Opposed by Association of California Veterinarians, a former USDA inspector, egg producing trade associations.
My 2¢:
Um. Call me crazy, but how is a mega-farm egg from Imperial Valley safer than an immigrant egg from México? Also, agribusiness is all against this. Also, remember the Chino Hills Scandal? No-brainer. We need to get with the program.
Vote YES.
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