Nov 3, 2008

Californians: Progressive Voter guide to the propositions

For Californians' and progressives, here is how I plan to vote on the crucial ones and why:

NO on Proposition 4: Protect teens from a law that may force our most vulnerable teens into taking desperate measures with terrible, real-world consequences.

Proposition 4 would amend the California Constitution to restrict teens’ access to reproductive health services and put millions of young women at risk by requiring parental notification before a minor can terminate a pregnancy.

Prop 5- YES YES AND HELL YES! On Hispanic's jailed in the US:
Despite a public perception that Hispanic immigrant communities are riddled with crime, studies show the involvement of Hispanic immigrants in crime is less than that of U.S. citizens.

It is commonly suspected that the actual number of Hispanics incarcerated is higher than what is accounted for by reporting agencies.

In state prisons and jails Hispanic females are incarcerated at almost twice the rate of white females (117 persons to 63 persons per 100,000 population).
· Hispanic women are three times as likely to go to prison in their lifetime as compared to white women (1.5% vs. 0.5%).
· In the U.S. general population, 9.7% of women are Hispanic. In the U.S. prison population, 15% of women state prisoners and 32% of women Federal prisoners are Hispanic.
· Between 1990 and 1996, the number of Hispanic female prisoners rose 71%

There are 283,000 Hispanics in federal and state prisons and local jails, making up slightly over 15% of the inmate population.
· Nearly 1 in 3 (32%) persons held in federal prisons is Hispanic.
· As of 2001, 4% of Hispanic males in their twenties and early thirties were in prison or jail -as compared to 1.8% of white males.
· Hispanics are the fastest growing group being imprisoned, increasing from 10.9% of all State and Federal inmates in 1985 to 15.6% in 2001.
· From 1985 to 1995, the number of Hispanics in federal and state prisons rose by 219%, with an average annual increase of 12.3%.
These numbers are national numbers...they are WORSE in California folks.

From color of change's website:
African Americans currently make up only 7% of California's population, yet make up a staggering 29% of inmates in California's prisons.

Voting YES on Proposition 5 will close California's prison revolving door by expanding real alternatives to incarceration, including drug treatment. 70% of California's released offenders find themselves back in prison within months of their release--Proposition 5, the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act (NORA), would end this destructive cycle by changing parole policies and offering rehabilitation services. It would also help reduce crime by giving nonviolent offenders a chance to be productive members of society, rather than becoming hardened criminals while in prison.
Law enforcement is trying to spin the shit out of this proposition..don't fucking buy into it!

NO on Propositions 6 and 9: Help defeat these fuckwitted criminal justice initiatives. This is the wrong time for Californians to spend billions of dollars on two propositions that put more money into the dysfunctional prison system and take it away from our schools, healthcare, fire protection and other worthwhile programs. Visit http://www.votenoprop6.com/ and http://www.votenoprop9.com/.

No On Proposition 10!: A fossil fuel corporation owned by Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens spent three million dollars to put Proposition 10 on the ballot. That corporation will reap a bonanza if Prop 10 passes. California taxpayers will be stuck subsidizing big trucking companies at a cost of $335 million per year. California faces a $15 billion budget deficit crisis. Prop 10’s raid on the state’s coffers will mean cuts to our schools, our public safety and health programs.

Contrast Prop 10 with another clean vehicle program that is already in place. The Goods Movement Program administered by the California Air Resources Board provides up to $50,000 to replace an old dirty truck with a new clean truck. Unlike Prop 10’s first come - first served payouts, the Goods Movement Program has a competitive application process. Applications are ranked based on the amount of pollution reduction achieved. The trucks with the highest emissions are replaced first and their owners get funding priority. Unlike Prop 10, these dirty trucks are crushed, permanently removing them from our roads. Unlike Prop 10, to get a rebate under the Goods Movement Program, the trucker must accept a GPS device to track the clean new truck’s movements. If the truck leaves the state, the trucker pays a penalty. Prop 10’s corporate authors ignored this model of clean air accountability.

That is just a few of the biggies...we know to vote NO on Prop 8 already...that is a no-brainer.

Today's Photo..er..Graphic..ok, Picture.

It's moving day!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have purchased a domain name. I have been meticulously working on a new site,Leftwing Nutjob. Please change your bookmarks people..this puppy will no longer be updated as of July 1st 2011.