What proposals did your state have on the ballot? What do you think about them?
I’m not to sure on all of them, but I know of three (in Michigan):
Proposal 1
– I’m not to clear on what this was actually, but I know it invovles the money for school coming from the lottery [correct me if I’m wrong though]. I don’t have a comment on this.
Proposal 2
– Banning of homosexual unity. I know it goes beyond that (according to FairMichigan.org), but that’s the main point of it. I find it to be a MAJOR low blow to the foundings of America, since this completely destroys the seperation between State & Religion. I feel very strongly about this, and I won’t say to much here. If you want to know more though (of my opinions), PM me or something.
Proposal E(ducation) ** Might actually be proposal 1 also…TV ads get confusing **
– As far as I can tell, this was just about letting us elect our school board members. I live in very small town, so it honestly has a very little effect on [us]. I believe people should have the power to choose…instead of living a lower-form of dictatorship.
The ballot measure I found most interesting is the ban on same sex marriage. Many states are split on who should be the next President; however, they know for sure that they want to ban same sex marriage. The number’s are just staggering… Mississippi banned it by 86%.
States that Banned Same Sex Marriage, ordered by percentage of voters endorsing the ban:
Mississippi - 86%
Georgia - 76%
Oklahoma - 76%
Arkansas - 75%
Kentucky - 75%
North Dakota - 73%
Montana - 66%
Utah - 66%
Ohio - 62%
Michigan - 59%
Oregon - 57%
Proposal One basically gives the people the right to vote as to whether or not casinos can be established in certain places. Some do not like it because it takes away from the state lottery, which helps to fund Michigan education, and elections cost money. Nonetheless, if I could have voted, I would have voted yes. It gives the people the choice - the basic principle of this nation. My reasoning here is that, even if the majority had voted no, there would still be a major possibility that casinos would be established.
Just based on how I’ve been brought up, I would have voted yes on Proposal Two, which technically only redefined state law to read “marriage between a man and woman.” No rights are being taken away from civil unions, which I do agree should be in existence.
I would have voted no on Proposal E. In my opinion, I do not think that people such as Detroit’s mayor should have as influential a voice in the selection of the Board of Education. I definitely support the election of board members by means of people who have actually have been involved with the whole education scheme.
Results:
Proposal One - Yes
Proposal Two - Yes
Proposal E - No
We had two statewide proposals, then one that affected the Columbia area.
The first ballot question was regarding minibottles. Basically, the state constitution requires bars and restaurants to serve alcohol from sealed, small bottles. We’re the only state in the country that requires them, and the fact that the bottles are bigger than most free-poured drinks contain makes our drinks stronger (which supporters of the question say causes extra highway deaths). Either way, the question was whether or not the state should change the constitution to allow free-poured drinks. Approved.
The second ballot question asked whether the constitution should be changed regarding farm property taxes. The current system says that farms owned by corporations with ten or fewer shareholders were taxed at 4%. The proposal was to allow the state legislature to raise the number of shareholders. Rejected.
The final one was a local issue. Both Richland and Lexington counties were pitching a 1% increase in sales tax to offset property taxes. The idea was to shift the burden to people who use the county, but don’t own property. Approved on both counts…much to my dismay.
The only one that I can really remember here in California was Proposition 71, which allows state funding for Stem Cell Research. It passed, which I am glad of.
I know this isn’t my state, but I thought this was interesting. Someone I live with is from Alaska, and one of his proposals was the decriminalization of marijuana. I read the proposal, and it was complete decriminalization, like, you could smoke it, grow it, buy it, sell it, etc. I thought it was crazy! Yea, they could tax it, but it didn’t require growers to have licenses, so how would you tax that? Fortunately, it didn’t pass, 57% to 43%.
Unfortunately, if people had read the propositions they voted upon, they’d have realized that in addition to banning same-sex marriage, they also banned, in many cases, domestic partnerships, civil unions, and common law marriage. These are situations that affect heterosexual couples as well and establish the Christian idea of marriage as the “right” idea, no pun intended. I’m honestly shocked that someone hasn’t recently tried to ban divorce.
Allow for a distirct representative to stay in their disctrict after a re-zoning due to a census, even if that representative is moved to another district.
Proposal 2:
Adds more people to the sucession line incase the Govenor dies and other ones do.
Section 11. Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage.
Michigan:
The proposal would amend the state constitution to provide that “the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose.”
Arkansas:
SECTION 2: Martial Status Legal status for unmarried persons which is identical or substantially similar to marital
status shall not be valid or recognized in Arkansas, except that the Legislature may
recognize a common law marriage from another state between a man and a woman.
…ad infinitum. If you are interested in reading the actual text of those amendments, as it’s pretty obvious you have not yet done so, visit the Secretary of State website for each of the 11 states wherein this was on the ballot.
I know this isn’t my state, but I thought this was interesting. Someone I live with is from Alaska, and one of his proposals was the decriminalization of marijuana. I read the proposal, and it was complete decriminalization, like, you could smoke it, grow it, buy it, sell it, etc. I thought it was crazy! Yea, they could tax it, but it didn’t require growers to have licenses, so how would you tax that? Fortunately, it didn’t pass, 57% to 43%.
You know that is an interesting issue. It’s another one of the states/rederal government rights concept.
…ad infinitum. If you are interested in reading the actual text of those amendments, as it’s pretty obvious you have not yet done so, visit the Secretary of State website for each of the 11 states wherein this was on the ballot.
Sorry. I actually did research on it before posting. I just missed the one line that stated the civil union part. Only three states actually dealt with marriage alone. What can I say but try and fight the amendments in the courts.
Just that one. Maybe it was the number. I zoned out afterward. 