Wacky New California Propositions
A slew of new, controversial California ballot props test the patience of the country.
by George Wolfe
SACRAMENTO, California — Proposition D, the 'Divorce Prop,' did not pass. It would've amended the California constitution to state that only a divorce between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.
| Arguments For |
Arguments Against |
Would reaffirm the definition of divorce as between a man and a woman.
|
Courts have established that divorce is a right for all couples. |
| Would reinstate decision of majority of voters to ban gay divorce through passing Proposition 22 in 2000. |
Gays and lesbians should have the same miserable rights as straight people. |
Gay and lesbian domestic partners would still be allowed to be unofficially annoyed with one another while traditional divorce would be preserved as sacred.
|
Only divorce provides the insecurity that spouses provide one another. |
Proposition C, the 'Credit Waiting Period' prop, now requires a 10-day waiting period for individuals wishing to acquire a credit card or an adjustable rate mortgage, or for corporations wishing to acquire mortgage-backed securities.
| Arguments For |
Arguments Against |
Would allow for a ‘cooling off’ period prior to purchase.
|
Regulation is bad. |
Helps to prevent the next credit crisis.
|
Infringes on first amendment rights. |
A return to fiscal responsibility.
|
No more fun?! |
Proposition T, 'Legalizing Driving Maneuvers,' passed by a wide majority. It legalizes the ‘two-car-left-turn on red’, and the ‘California stop’ driving maneuvers.
| Arguments For |
Arguments Against |
Eases congestion.
|
Legalizes bad behavior. |
| Reduces road rage. |
Punishes those remaining few who do follow traffic laws. |
These are time-honored traditions — let’s acknowledge them!
|
Loosening such traffic laws is reckless & untested. |
Proposition W, 'The Rainmaker Bond,' was a winner. It authorize the state to sell $9.90 billion in general obligation bonds to partially fund a rainmaker program that would provide safe and reliable rain to Southern California, the Sacramento/San Joaquin Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Requires 90% of bond funds be spent on rainmaking projects; the remaining 10% would be funded by state Native American casino proceeds.
| Arguments For |
Arguments Against |
Would provide lots of free rainwater.
|
It’s not really free. |
Totally organic source of water production.
|
A load of B.S. |
Safe & reliable.
|
Reckless & untested. |
Proposition P, 'The Purple State,' would make purple the official state color.
| Arguments For |
Arguments Against |
| California has always been identified with the New Age movement, and its purple emphasis. |
Not everyone identifies with all that New Age purplism. |
We want to be the first state in everything, so why not colors, too? |
A trivial waste of time & money. |
There’s purple in the Gay rainbow flag — so that’s doubly cool!
|
And stupid, too. |
Proposition R, for 'River Devitalization,' would've scrapped all LA River ‘revitalization plans’ in favor of continuing to dump a bazillion gallons of fresh water into the ocean annually — as quickly as possible. If passed, it would've continued to authorize the state to spend 20% of its energy budget to pilfer and import water from other states.
| Arguments For |
| It’s just a sewer drain anyway. |
What’s wrong with shipping water from other states?
|
Screw the environmentalists!
|
Politics
