If there was ever any question that the results of California's May 19 special election will be driven by raw emotion rather than rational voter behavior, yesterday's PPIC poll provides the final answer.
Most of the voter sentiment captured in the survey is unsurprising, given the sour economy, frustration over the state's chronic budget nightmares and anger over the recently enacted tax increases.
So it's easy to understand such findings as: 68 percent of Californians believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, 67 percent believe bad economic times are in store for the next 12 months, 47 percent are concerned that they or one of their family members will soon lose their job, and that majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents disapprove of the performance of both Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature.
In that sort of environment, it's probably an impossible task for state leaders to put before voters a complex set of ballot measures and say, "Trust us, this is what we need to fix the state budget problems."
Still, one of the poll's findings shows that some voters have allowed blind anger to overwhelm rational thought.
Consider Proposition 1D. It asks voters to authorize diverting tobacco tax money that is now set aside exclusively to fund early childhood development services, such as preschool and preventive healthcare. Under 1D, the money could be used instead to help fund general government services, such as operating schools, universities and prisons.
The tobacco tax was put into the books in 1998, the result of an initiative spearheaded by liberal Hollywood activist Rob Reiner. It carried the state by just 1 percent of the vote, and was defeated in nearly every Republican-leaning county in the state (Ventura County being an exception; it passed in Ventura County 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent).
For years in the Legislature, Republican lawmakers have complained that the revenues from Proposition 10 are being hoarded by independent county commissions, in some cases mismanaged, and in other cases being spent on frivilous programs of dubious merit. GOP legislators have said that, rather than even think of raising taxes, the state should try to get its hands on some of that Proposition 10 tobacco tax money.
As part of the February budget deal, Republican lawmakers got what they'd been asking for. Now all it will take to make it happen is an affirmative vote on Proposition 1D.
So what does the poll show? It shows that a majority (54 percent) of Democrats, who have long supported the idea of government-run preschool and other early-childhood interventions, are willing to vote yes and suspend much of the financing for these programs so that the state can use the money instead to pay for more traditional government services.
And what about Republicans, who never much liked Prop. 10 in the first place? A majority (56 percent) say they intend to vote no on Proposition 1D.
The state Republican Party, is its blind rage over the budget deal and tax increases, voted to oppose all the ballot measures. But individual conservatives such as Sen. Tony Strickland and his predecessor Tom McClintock have taken a more discriminating approach. While they oppose Proposition 1A, which is the source of conservative Republicans' ire over the ballot measures, they support 1D.
At this point, it appears a majority of Republican voters are going to go with the blind-rage approach.
Its not "blind" rage; Quite the opposite. The voters have finally opened their eyes after years of complacency and apathy. The voters watched an ineffective incompetent legislature botch several attempts to create a budget (recent news tells us they botched even the last attempt) only to have those same gutless legislators pass the buck to the voters.
The taxpayer are up in arms about two other things; OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING and OBSCENE TAX BURDEN. Sacramento and its’ shills in the media want to invent all kinds of reasons the props are going to fail because they don’t want to, won’t and can’t face the truth. The people are saying ENOUGH!! Enough taxes! Enough runaway spending! Enough wacko nonsense! Enough ARROGANT OUT-OF-TOUCH ARISTOCRATIC scumbag politicians! Enough special interest legislation! Enough! Enough! Enough!
This isn’t a republican or democrat thing, I’m neither, but a taxpayer and a voter thing. Sacramento here us loud and clear;
1) spend less money! That doesn’t mean less of an increase than you planned but LESS real dollars. As in a Chevy costs less than a Cadillac.
2) collect less taxes and fees. I thought to say, “steal less money” because government should regard every dollar in taxes and fees as stolen from the hard working citizens and their families.
3) earn your salary. EVERY CA legislator should be ashamed to show their ugly faces after their abysmal performance this spring. YOU ARE WASTING MY MONEY by drawing a salary as well as wasting the very air you breath.
You are right about one thing. The voters are in a rage! Besides defeating these propositions we are going to work to throw every incumbent who runs out of office in 2010.
This would be a good day to retire!
Vote NO on 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E
Vote YES on 1F
IN 2010 vote against ALL incumbents.
There is no rage here.
There are only these facts -
The disposable incomes and familial budgets of most American households have declined. Each of us a individuals are making ends meet by (largely) working harder for our employers and making sacrifices. Those who are in retirement are seeing their pensions "renegotiated".
In the public sector, this same sacrificing and belt tightening is not occurring. Civic employees are seeking more for their salary and for their retirement benefits. Governance of all kinds is effectively going on strike by threatening the loss of services unless . . . . MORE is paid. Public pensions which are threatened are seen as requiring other "guarantees" from the taxpayers to ensure that our all-important civic employees and the spineless management that oversee them remain "competitive".
Message to those in civic responsibiity - get this - the disposable incomes of American families is declining. Retirement and medical benefits are declining. Those of you who want to remined us of the "duty" you serve as a rationalization of "more" offend your brothers and sisters in arms who go in harms way to defend YOUR freedoms and who suck wind compared to your exhorbitant salary. . . .
There is no anger here. But it is time for the public sector to suck some gas like the rest of us have been doing for the last decade. And it's time for them to get busy JUST DOING THEIR JOBS, lest I or 1000's of others offer to fill same for 30% less than they are working for.
Until there is equity in the LOSSES OF INCOMES - dont expect anything more from this taxpayer.
Vote NO on 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E
At first I thought this was funny...then I realized, perhaps, the awful truth of it to some degree. Something to ponder! Be sure to read all the way to the end.
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
W hich he's laid.
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me
to my doom...'
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge T ax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Fe deral Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the hell happened? Can you spell "politicians"? (both parties)!!!!
And I still have to 'press 1' for English!?
I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!!
YOU can help it get there!!!
GO AHEAD - - - BE AN AMERICAN!!!
I don't have time at the moment to go into detail but it appears obvious to me that the only real "blind" rage here is by the author.
Learn how to spell frivolous and you might have some credibility.
blind rage?
No, more like directed rage, rightful rage, long over-due rage!
The blind rage I feel is for nincompoops like Timm Herdt who never stop trying to shove more taxes down our throats. The blind rage I feel is for a government which spends $13 billion a year comforting illegal aliens with our hard-earned tax dollars. The blind rage I feel is for stinking liars like Schwarzenegger, who have the gall to threaten to lay off firefighters if the phony propositions don't pass. There, is that enough rage for you, Timm?
The blind rage I feel is for nincompoops like Timm Herdt who never stop trying to shove more taxes down our throats. The blind rage I feel is for a government which spends $13 billion a year comforting illegal aliens with our hard-earned tax dollars. The blind rage I feel is for stinking liars like Schwarzenegger, who have the gall to threaten to lay off firefighters if the phony propositions don't pass. There, is that enough rage for you, Timm?
Keeping it real:
Why does Prop 1D add the county auditor to the First 5 Commission Board?
Because most First 5's are not following the accounting rules that they are supposed to be following. If they were, they would be listing the contracts received by Commissioners under what’s called “Related Party Transactions” and most are not.
The auditor is the "police officer" of government accounting at the county level. If they are on the board, the Commission will have to follow the accounting rules or the auditor will not be able to vote to approve the audit report. This will force the First 5’s to tell taxpayers to which Commissioners contracts are awarded. We deserve to know!
Look, if First 5's had been complying, adding the auditor would not be needed. But they have mostly not done so, so taxpayers should do more than vote down party lines or vote in protest.
1D is a good idea.
Some might suggest it's not hard to see why the government picked Lord Hutton to look into the pensions question, after all, he has a good track record with them on enquiries.
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