President/Vice President:
Barack Obama / Joe Biden
The policies of the GOP did a stupendous amount of damage to our country in a relatively short span of eight years: Two wars, four-thousand American casualties in Iraq, recession, inflation, huge-increase of the national debt, declining international status (both diplomatic and economic), suspension of habeus corpus and a sneaky transformation into a surveillance state... I could go on and on. Who in their right fucking mind would trust Republicans with four more years in power? Obama is an intellectual and has demonstrated that he can pull us out of this collective misery we have been in for the past eight years.
* These only apply to you if you happen to live in the same district as me. Don't know what districts you are in? Find out here --
United States Representative:
CA-31st Congressional District:
Xavier Becerra --
My tocayo (we share a name) is the incumbent and no one is running against him. Regardless of that fact he earned my vote when he voted against the corporate bail-out twice.
Member of the State Assembly 48th District:
Mike Davis --
He is the Democratic incumbent. The only person running against him is a 19-year old Lucilla M. Esguerra, a socialist student from LACC who wants California to be "a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants", and "She believes in full equality and immediate legalization for all[.]"
County Supervisor 2nd District:
Mark Ridley Thomas --
Bernard Parks was Police chief during the Rampart police scandal. Thomas is a former school teacher and current state senator.
State Measures (Propositions)
1A - Safe, reliable high-speed passenger train bond act
YES.
In our current financial situation there is no better investment than infrastructure. A low-emission high-speed train will help the environment by giving people a more safe, reliable and fast alternative to driving and flying from NoCal to SoCal. Plus trains are cool.
2 - Standards for confining farm animals
NO.
We all love animals, but if this passes it will completely destroy California's egg production industry. Prices for eggs will rise since most eggs sold here will be imported from others states or even Mexico. The brunt of this will be felt by working class families and not by the well-off, tote-bag-carrying, NPR listening, Prius driving crowd that is pushing for it.
3 - Children's Hospital Bond Act
YES.
As much as I hate that TV commercial with Jamie Lee Curtis fake conducting a choir of kids as they sing a horrid version of John Lennon's "Imagine", I have to vote yes on this. The state will have to take a financial hit when it repays the bonds this proposition authorizes but it is all for a good cause.
4 - Waiting period and parental notification... underage abortion
NO.
Does anyone actually think this will in any way deter underage girls from having sex? Of course not. If this passes it will force many girls to seek dangerous back alley abortions out of fear of repercussion from their parents.
5 - Non-violent drug offences, sentencing, parole, and rehabilitation
NO.
Shortens parole for methamphetamine dealers and other convicted drug felons from 3 years to six months. It allows criminals who commit violent acts to blame drugs in order to lessen their punishment.
6 - Police and Law Enforcement Funding, Criminal penalties and laws
NO.
Kids from 14 years old and on will be tried as adults if convicted of a "gang-related" felony. It will take money away from California's general fund and will impact the amount of money allocated for education, health and human services, transportation, etc. It will require that all recipients of public housing submit to an annual criminal background check. Basically if any member of the family is found to have any recent criminal activity, the whole family is kicked out. It changes rules to allow certain hearsay statements as evidence when there are no witnesses available.
7 - Renewable Energy Generation
NO.
The Democratic, Republican, Green, and Peace'n'Freedom parties all oppose this measure. The LA Times, Daily News, La Opinion, Sacramento Bee, and San Francisco Chronicle all oppose it as well. Their main beef? This proposition is written so poorly that it might instead end up hurting California's cause for renewable energy.
8 - Eliminates right of same sex couples to marry. Initiative constitutional amendment.
BIG NO.
This measure will add an amendment to our state constitution that denies a certain group of our population their civil rights. This proposition is fueled by intolerance and bigotry. Proponents say they want to "restore marriage and protect children". If anyone really wanted to protect marriage they would outlaw divorce since roughly half of marriages end in divorce. Protect children? From what? The evil ungodly queer lifestyle? For some stupid reason these people believe that if gay marriage isn't outlawed kids will jump at the chance to suck some cock or munch some lesbian carpet all while denouncing the lords name. Give me a fucking break. Homosexuality is not a choice. People don't turn gay. No matter if you disagree with some one's lifestyle you simply can't deny their civil rights because of your own personal retarded religious views.
9 - Criminal justice system. Victims' rights. Parole.
NO.
This doesn't really do anything at all since most of the provisions are already law.
10 - Alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy bonds
NO.
The main supporter and donor to this is none other than T. Boon Pickens. Why would this oil-man support such a proposition? He happens to own a company that by pure coincidence provides natural gas for vehicles. It is a self-serving bill that takes money away from the general fund.
11 - Redistricting
UNDECIDED.
I haven't made my mind up yet. This would add an amendment to the state constitution that will hand over the task of redistricting California's 120 legislative districts every ten years to a 14-member non-partisan committee.
12 - Veterans bond act
YES.
Money for veterans is always a good thing no matter how big the financial hit the state takes.
County Measures
R - Traffic relief, train extensions. Reduce foreign oil dependence.
YES.
Subway to the sea! Expo line to LAX! Synchronized traffic lights! Who would oppose these things? The Bus Rider's Union. Why? Because they are stupid. Seriously. They call this a "racist tax" because it "guts [the MTA's] most successful and cost-effective transit project—the bus system". According to them light-rail and subways are racist because a greater number of white people ride them more than buses. As someone who owns a TAP card and rides the bus on a daily basis, I can say that buses fucking suck. They are part of the traffic problem. What sounds like a better option? Being stuck in traffic in your own air-conditioned car while listening to "All things considered" on NPR or being stuck in traffic inside a hot, standing room only bus full of weird stinky people and screaming children? Light rail might be more expensive but they have a clear advantage of being more efficient. If we truly want to solve LA's traffic nightmare, we must build a light rail network.