I heard sobs coming from the street outside. I actually couldn't tell if it was crying or laughing. It was a rhythmic repetition of guttural utterances I could not distinctively discern.Then she cried words.
Again I tried to resentfully write it off as just some drunk chick in the street at 2am.
But then in between the downpour of her heaving I heard the words:
"It's not even fair".
"Why did he leave me?!"
"I don't want to believe it, it's not happening!"
"He said we'd be together forever... I guess not."
"He's just gone!"
"I'm going to kill myself and write his name in my blood so for the rest of his life he can know that he killed me".
I'm going to kill myself".
The whole thing lasted for 20 minutes. There was a man she knew who was trying to calm her down and reassure her, but it wasn't really working. All I could think to do was pray to God and ask Him to look out for her.
Then I thought: This is why people need God. Humanity is too flaky and inconsistent. God never fails people and He never leaves.
Then I thought: These are really Christian thoughts that would make any other person roll their eyes and walk away.
Then I thought: I can't help that the truth sounds like a Christian Hallmark Card. And in fact, here we are listening to a woman who wants to end her existence and her life for some guy just because he left her -as if that's never happened before and because it's happened now she can clearly have no reason to carry on.You can say "looking to God for strength and support during hard times" sounds stupid -but without God or this line of reasoning what the hell are you left with?
"Go to bed. Nobody cares".
So with these concluding thoughts I decided that I only had about 3 hours -more like 2 -until I had to wake up and get ready for Toastmasters/work/Halloween.
Then I felt guilty about trying to brush off what had just happened. So I thought: This is life. It's moving forward with or without you and if you attach yourself to too many things, the wrong kind of moments, or the wrong kind of people, you'll end up wasting your energy and your focus and your life on an emptiness that brings you nothing because it is nothing.
Concluding thought that followed before I nodded off: Never get to high on the high and never get to low on the lows.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Absolution
Reasons
I believe the Apocalypse is coming soon:
1.
The
Suicide of Amanda Todd –and many other teens who have died the same.
2.
Elizabeth
Escalona’s brutal beating of her daughter.
3.
Catarina
Migliorini selling her virginity “for charity"
Contrary to popular belief the end of the world has
been foretold to occur on an “ordinary day”. The times will be flawed, violent,
and vain –but the conditions won’t necessarily be as devastating as many people
believe. It will be the destruction of souls rather than the planet that will
signal the “end of times”.
Granted there are currently more issues going on in
the world with wars, deforestation, poverty… but there have always been those
things. What really makes me concerned now is how close to home the degradation
of humanity is getting. Countries and societies will always have shared issues and
conflicts as a whole –but when individual lives start to fray beyond
recognition you know the worlds turned into something else.
On a personal note: 2 of my unmarried friends under
the age of 21 have had pregnancy scares. My 24 year old friend is concerned
that she needs to have a baby in order to keep her boyfriend’s interest since
he had a daughter with his ex-girlfriend. Both are living with their parents.
My other 24 year old friend just found out her husband has been having an
emotional affair for the past 9 months despite the fact they’ve been together
for 3 years and have a 1 year old daughter together. And the list goes on…
But right now I’d like to focus on 3 news stories
that illustrate this point and try to find out WHY all this is happening.
1.
The
Suicide of Amanda Todd
Teens have been committing suicide at an alarming
rate these days. It’s almost like it’s a popular trend. Youtube is flooded with
kids showing note cards of stories of the suffering they’ve been enduring at
the hand of bullies. Teens are already prone to suicide due to hormones, stress
from school, instincts towards independence while living under the house and
rules of parental authorities, drugs/alcohol/sex… Bullying is the cherry that
completes the Sunday and pushes people over the edge.
The case of Amanda Todd is distinctly unique though.
While most teens are bullied for being weak, gay, or suspected of being gay
Amanda was bullied mostly on Facebook and for her sexual activities.
Amanda Todd was an “attractive” 13 year old girl.
Some boys on Facebook kept complemented her and convinced her through flattery
to show them images of herself naked on Facebook. She messaged them the photos
and the pictures ended up in the hands of bully #1. Bully #1 threatened to show
every one of Amanda’s contacts her naked photos if she did not send him a video
of her performing sexual activities. She never answered him back and a few days
before Christmas everyone on Facebook who was associated with Amanda was sent
her naked photos –including her parents.
For me, at this point, I don’t know why the parents
didn’t sue Bully #1 for eliciting what I would call in court “child pornography”
and take their daughter to a safe place where she would not be exploited for
her mistake. Instead the family just moved to another state.
At a new school she met a boy who convinced Amanda
that he liked her. When the boys girlfriend went away he invited Amanda over
and they had sex. Afterwards the girlfriend found out and she, her friends, and
the boy beat Amanda at the school and left her unconscious in a ditch until her
dad found her and took her home. Amanda –who had been depressed throughout her
ordeals and had been cutting herself and contemplating suicide- attempted to
drink a bottle of bleach. She was then sent to the hospital to get her stomach
pumped. She survived, her parents moved again, and the kids at her school continued
to harass her on Facebook and say over and over how they wish she would just “die
already”.
At this point I’m wondering 3 things: 1.Why did
Amanda continue using Facebook when clearly it wasn’t exactly a fun social site
to be on, 2. Why didn’t it dawn on her parents to block her from that site and
3. Despite her parents attempt to send Amanda to therapy, why didn’t it occur
to them that moving from state to state was not going to make the issues go
away? Idiots.
Amanda posted a video on Youtube with her cue cards
sharing her story and one week later she committed suicide.
This series of events shows how radically our
society has shifted. When a 13 year old girl can post naked photos, sleep with
a guy, get beat up, and commit suicide –you know something’s gone wrong. Part
of the problem is social media –mostly the adult content that’s shown to young
generations like Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries, and so on. I’d say parents
should step up and take more control. When did they get so passive and
disinterested in their kids’ lives? It’s their job to make sure their kids are
looked after and taken care of physically and mentally.
The other problem is the fact that most teens are sexually
savvy at earlier and earlier ages. There’s a reason it’s considered rape for a
teen to have sex with someone older. Teens are naïve –especially because they
go out of their way to believe that they aren’t. Teens aren’t exactly known for
being the wisest group of people. Teen pregnancy is enough of an issue, let
alone a bunch of kids running around playing adult with elicit affairs and
sexual “drama”.
The other issue is violence. Teens are emotional
rollercoasters as is and when they get angsty and pissed off AND they group up
it’s surprising if murder doesn’t occur –and often it does. In music videos and
songs –when a girl cheats with another girl’s boyfriend the cheating girl is
often beaten up or with anthem like vengeance that is “just” and “well deserved”.
People almost root for it to happen. “She’s getting what she deserves”.
My point is: At this point if people can’t even
manage to live past the age of 13-16 what hope does this young generation
actually have?
Are
kids are screwed. Future generations are basically screwed. Our future is looking
pretty bleak in terms of human survival and integrity.
2.
Elizabeth
Escalona’s cruel beating of her daughter during a failed attempt of potty
training.
Escalona’s lawyer defended her actions saying she
was “the product of a broken home, abuse and a childhood that included illegal
drugs and hanging out with gang members”. So already, this 23 year old woman
had not exactly been having a good time in life. At 23 Escalona was a mother of
5 kids (and then a new born after the attack). I keep repeating the age 23
because she’s one year younger than me (although she looked like she was in her
mid-30s in her pictures).
When Escalona’s 2 year old daughter Jocelyn had potty
training problems, Escalona snapped and kicked her daughter in the stomach,
beat her with a milk jug, and super glued her hands to the wall –in front of
her other children who later testified in court. Her daughter was taken to the
hospital after lapsing into a coma and was found to have bleeding in her brain,
a fractured rib, bruises, bite marks, and white paint chips from the apartment
walls on the palms of her bleeding hands. Jocelyn came out of her coma after a
couple days and is doing better now.
Escalona was sentenced to 99 years in prison. The
judge said in court, "On Sept. 7, 2011, you savagely beat your child to
the edge of death, for this you must be punished." According to the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice, about 2,100 inmates are serving prison
sentences for felony injury offenses involving a child, elderly or disabled
victim. A lot of people felt that the sentence was a little “too harsh” –but the
media followed this case and most parents were horrified by the brutality used against
a mother’s own 2 year old girl. One person argued that “if a stranger had
beaten Jocelyn the same way, no one would hesitate to give that person life in
prison.”
Well it looks like the Young Adults in this country
who do make it past their teens are then screwed because their teen years were
screwed up –as often everyone’s are. The problem is really finding a solution
to help teens overcome these issues instead of continuing on a downward cycle after
their messed-up years of youth. Where is the solution? Many philosophers, spiritual
leaders, visionaries, and therapists have millions of written works that could
give greater insight and enlightenment to people –the only real tool that could
help them overcome that which they have not been able to concur on their own.
If you’re lost in a forest who do you call –someone who’s in the woods with you
or someone who has a higher line of site overlooking beyond the woods who can
see where you are and where the road you want to be down is?
But this solution is rationally impractical since
the teens and young adults who find themselves in these issues of derailment do
not turn to “wisdom” or “guidance” but instead seek refuge in drugs, sex,
violence, alcohol, vanity, sloth… whatever.
It is not just that the livelihood of the individual
is dying –it’s the rate and the means by which it is slowly sinking further and
further into the abyss.
3.
Catarina
Migliorini auctioned off and sold her virginity For $780,000.
Catarina is a tan, voluptuous 20-year-old college girl
from Brazil. For that reason alone she would be desirable by any man’s standard.
Over the past few weeks her “prized possession” was up for grabs and was taken
by a man from Japan named “Natsu”. There were 5 other interested parties whose bids
were in the $100,000s but Natsu’s took the cake with $780,000.
Catarina has told the media that she will donate 90%
of the money to her local community with charities that will build homes. (Although
I don’t know what charity would want to be associated with money gained from
the prostitution of a virgin).Whether the donation to charity itself actually
happens or not remains to be seen. The auctioning of her virginity is also a
part of a documentary that has been going for the past 2 years. As far as the
details of the inevitable encounter are concerned –the act will not be filmed
but there will be before and after interviews of both people.
To avoid jail time for prostitution, Natsu and
Catarina will be joining the “mile-high club” on a private jet between
Australia and the U.S. Natsu of course will be checked for sexually transmitted
diseases prior, Catarina will be checked to make sure her “purity” is in check,
and Natsu will also have to wear a condom –as stipulated in the contract.
In Catarina’s words in defense of her activities,
she states: "If you only do it once in your life then you are not a
prostitute, just like if you take one amazing photograph it does not automatically
make you a photographer." The auction is just business, I'm a romantic
girl at heart and believe in love. But this will make a big difference to my
area."
Issues with this go beyond moral issues concerning Prostitution
and Pre-marital sex. It’s about the precedent being set. The internet is making
it easier and easier for women to “get popular and wealthy” from displaying
sexual behavior –which in turn is making their desire to do so increase.
The problem with this ultimately is how/when/or even
if you can say: This is Wrong. Many would argue that she is “of age” and can
decide what to do with her body and is technically not doing something illegal.
True.
And that’s it. If that’s the only reasoning we can
use as a society that’s it. That’s where we’re at now.
It’s convenient indifference. As long as you don’t
physically hurt yourself or anybody else –do what you want. I don’t care. Nobody
is taking responsibility for their lives and nobody else is making them. Nobody
else is stepping in. No one is telling them “No”. We live in a society of “whatever”
and “do what you want” and “it’s not my concern” and “it’s that person’s
problem not mine”. This is not compassion. There’s no grace to this line of
thought. There’s no concern for the wellbeing of others. It’s easy. It’s
simple. It’s uncomplicated. It’s apathy.
And when nobody cares and nobody feels cared for
then why should any of it matter. If anything goes as long as we stay in the
grayish confines of the line, why NOT do whatever?
It all comes down to the Absolute. When morality is relative
there is no morality. What you say is right is right by you and what I say is
right is right by me. But rape, murder, and other obvious crimes like stealing
are things we can all agree are bad. But with these “lesser issues”… that’s up
to you not me. And yet it’s also my views and beliefs and actions of whatever
whatever whatever...
It’s hard to state what is and isn’t wrong and what
is and isn’t right if there isn’t a common ground that we agree to stand on
together. It’s the chaos of an invisible social matrix. And yet despite our
lack of moral standing people still find ways to judge others. If you were a complete stranger
who said “I like cheating with married men” the response of most people would
be an awkward turn of the head and a disconcerting look of disapproval. If it
was your husband on the other hand, you’d have a little bit more of a reaction.
If it were your daughter who sold her virginity to a
stranger for money. If it were your sister who was beaten by her mother. If it
was your niece who committed suicide. Then there’d be a reaction.
Despite all of our technology and knowledge we still
fail as a people to see how interwoven are lives are. How deeply impactful the
actions of others ripple out to the people round them. How can we pretend we aren’t
affected by this? When did it become “just another teen suicide”? Lump in in
that category with all the other cases like it and move on.
This is why the world will end soon. Not because our
society is worse than others –the Inquisitions were pretty bad. But unlike any
other century before it we live in one of the only times when man has the freedom
to choose his own way with as little moral restraint as there has ever been. You
HAD to marry by the age of 13 if you were a girl in the 1600s. You were put to
death or ostracized for having an affair. You were arrested for being gay. You
were shunned and disowned for getting an abortion. Whatever the government
decided was moral on the basis of religion was FORCED upon people. They
essentially had their God-given free will taken from them like an infant being toddler
a cookie.
But not anymore. Now we’re free to choose. Now we
are free to act for or against God on our own accord. Now God has a fair chance
to see who will honestly choose to follow Him because they genuinely choose to
and who will go their own way and disregard Him. If ever there was a time it
was easy to see who was with God and who was against Him –it is now.
And that’s why the world will end soon. And I’m ok
with that.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Iterating Iterations
Iterations are Irritating. But every time I go back to update images and designs previously conceived to be good -they end up looking like crap compared to the new ones. Dangs.
Behold the evolution of the GUI:
Concept: This display would basically go in car where the radio would be and it would display audio settings, dvd settings, and temperature settings. This initial design looks like crap. It is actually a 2nd iteration. I added more color. I probably burned the original one. Thankfully...
I spoke too soon... I found the original. Oh God the font!!!
Then they didn't like how "plain" it was and said it needed more depth. They also said they preferred the blue.
Then they said it needed to look more like a smart phone with more colorful backgrounds, transparency, and better graphics...
I thought the last one was pretty frikkin glorious. The colors are beautiful and the background is an amazing mountain shot... But they said the background was distracting and needed more gradient color and pattern design.
So now...
Behold the evolution of the GUI:
Concept: This display would basically go in car where the radio would be and it would display audio settings, dvd settings, and temperature settings. This initial design looks like crap. It is actually a 2nd iteration. I added more color. I probably burned the original one. Thankfully...
I spoke too soon... I found the original. Oh God the font!!!
Here's Iteration #3: I added more coherent color and went with an overall "theme" of blue and red -cold v. hot.
Then they didn't like how "plain" it was and said it needed more depth. They also said they preferred the blue.
Then they said it needed to look more like a smart phone with more colorful backgrounds, transparency, and better graphics...
I thought the last one was pretty frikkin glorious. The colors are beautiful and the background is an amazing mountain shot... But they said the background was distracting and needed more gradient color and pattern design.
So now...
I think it's pretty.I think it's snazzy. Yah. I'm probably going to have to do 12 more iterations on it, but at least it's better than it was. This thing has gone through about 9 lives now. It keeps evolving through reincariteration.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Dear Future Me
As of this moment it is October 15th (2 weeks before Halloween). You are sitting at your desk at work. You're sort of bored trying to figure out what to do because 1. The work you needed to do has been done and 2. the work you haven't finished is pending because it needs other people's input.
Despite this today has been rather productive for the 3 hours you've been conscious enough to enjoy it. You updated the TM schedule. Good job. You out up 2 more "art pieces" on your gallery cubicle wall. Nicely done. You added 3 new slideshow pictures to your rotating display wallpaper screen. Like a pro. You used Google maps to tour France, Mt. Rushmore, and Lake Tahoe. (France was weird -out door toilets? Really? And why is there traffic with all the moped-scooter-bicycles? Mt. Rushmore you are too far from the road. Get closer. Tahoe... you're as classy as always :)
Yes... today has been very productive so far.
I think I have old person tendencies. I want the text I read to be REALLY BIG. I want to go to bed early. Let's keep social gatherings short -no longer than 3 hours. I just want to stay at home, draw, and watch my favorite TV shows.
Now that I'm done complaining as old people like me are prone to do... it's time to talk about Jos.
My friend Jos is throwing on an event next year for 200 entrepreneur women. I'm her "logistical coordinator" -who had her title changed to "project manager?... something manager" because Jos wanted me to have a more legit title. So Jos and I have been meeting twice during each week after work and on Sundays from 11am-3pm. We've been planning our plans, working on promotional material, looking at possible venues, planning our budget, scheduling speakers, trying to put our website together... it's a large project for just 2 people who've never thrown on an event before.
Currently you're a little overwhelmed by work, the women's event project, and Toastmasters but you're still writing this which indicates to me that either you have crappy time management skills and are prone to procrastination or you've got you're sh*t together and aren't that worried. Considering how much you've accomplished in the last 3 hours and where you're at with your ongoing projects I'd say you're pretty on top of things. You've/I've always been good at multitasking.
Lastly I'd like to mention family relations. They were a little rocky there for a little bit... But something happened in the past week. I just let go. I didn't "try" to let go... I just let go. It's like the tension and resentment wasn't there towards my step-mom. I feel really close to both of my sisters right now and my dad and my mom + Dean. And my Aunts who've been visiting. I don't know, it's like you just embrace people without thinking or trying and they open up to you. Just relax and don't worry and it's all good.
Oh yah and by the way you're Table Topics Master in 3 weeks start writing up some questions for that meeting...
Despite this today has been rather productive for the 3 hours you've been conscious enough to enjoy it. You updated the TM schedule. Good job. You out up 2 more "art pieces" on your gallery cubicle wall. Nicely done. You added 3 new slideshow pictures to your rotating display wallpaper screen. Like a pro. You used Google maps to tour France, Mt. Rushmore, and Lake Tahoe. (France was weird -out door toilets? Really? And why is there traffic with all the moped-scooter-bicycles? Mt. Rushmore you are too far from the road. Get closer. Tahoe... you're as classy as always :)
Yes... today has been very productive so far.
I think I have old person tendencies. I want the text I read to be REALLY BIG. I want to go to bed early. Let's keep social gatherings short -no longer than 3 hours. I just want to stay at home, draw, and watch my favorite TV shows.
Now that I'm done complaining as old people like me are prone to do... it's time to talk about Jos.
My friend Jos is throwing on an event next year for 200 entrepreneur women. I'm her "logistical coordinator" -who had her title changed to "project manager?... something manager" because Jos wanted me to have a more legit title. So Jos and I have been meeting twice during each week after work and on Sundays from 11am-3pm. We've been planning our plans, working on promotional material, looking at possible venues, planning our budget, scheduling speakers, trying to put our website together... it's a large project for just 2 people who've never thrown on an event before.
Currently you're a little overwhelmed by work, the women's event project, and Toastmasters but you're still writing this which indicates to me that either you have crappy time management skills and are prone to procrastination or you've got you're sh*t together and aren't that worried. Considering how much you've accomplished in the last 3 hours and where you're at with your ongoing projects I'd say you're pretty on top of things. You've/I've always been good at multitasking.
Lastly I'd like to mention family relations. They were a little rocky there for a little bit... But something happened in the past week. I just let go. I didn't "try" to let go... I just let go. It's like the tension and resentment wasn't there towards my step-mom. I feel really close to both of my sisters right now and my dad and my mom + Dean. And my Aunts who've been visiting. I don't know, it's like you just embrace people without thinking or trying and they open up to you. Just relax and don't worry and it's all good.
Oh yah and by the way you're Table Topics Master in 3 weeks start writing up some questions for that meeting...
Friday, October 12, 2012
Props to Me for This
Props: Basic Overview:
–Let’s be honest here, I’m not going to do further
research on this topic and neither would most people. This is your soap box. If
you can’t provide legitimate reasons for or against
a prop in this space, you’ve lost my vote in your favor. This shouldn’t be like
an episode of LOST where I end up with more questions than answers after
reading your written retort.
Prop 30: Temporary taxes to fund education.
Guaranteed local public safety funding. Initiative constitutional amendment.
What it does:
1.
Increases
taxes on earnings over $250,000 for seven years.
2.
Increases
sales taxes by ¼ cent for four years, to fund schools.
3.
Guarantees
public safety realignment funding.
4.
Fiscal
Impact: Increased state tax revenues averaging about $6 billion annually over
the next few years.
5.
Revenues
available for funding state budget. In 2012–13, planned spending reductions,
primarily to education programs, would not occur.
PRO: Taxes people earning above
$250,000 to temporarily pay more taxes so schools don’t have to suffer budget
cuts.
CON: This raises sales taxes and we’ll never know where the
money actually goes.
Prop 31: State Budget. State and
local government. Initiative constitutional amendment and statute.
1.
Establishes
two-year state budget.
2.
Sets
rules for offsetting new expenditures, and Governor budget cuts in fiscal
emergencies.
3.
Local
governments can alter application of laws governing state-funded programs.
4.
Fiscal
Impact: Decreased state sales tax revenues of $200 million annually, with
corresponding increases of funding to local governments. Other, potentially
more significant changes in state and local budgets, depending on future
decisions by public officials.
PRO: Local governments (a.k.a. the
citizens) will be able to see what the government is up to financially behind
closed doors. There will be more fiscal accountability and more transparency
with the government’s spending. It will require governments to report results
before spending more money.
CON: Proposition 31 is a flawed initiative. It will cause
expensive, conflicting provisions into the Constitution, causing lawsuits,
confusion, and cost.
(From what I’ve seen these people don’t have any
concrete evidence for their concerns and they brought in the “stand with the
village people, teachers, orphans, Santa Claus, police, and fire men” language
–which makes me doubt them even more. The real people of the village they
mention would have had a more concise response with a lot more validity to what
they were saying. They also say this prop threatens: “public health, the
environment, prevents future increases in funding for schools, and blocks tax
cuts”. I’m sure it also threatens Little Orphan Annie, NASA, Cancer Survivors,
and United Nations.)
Prop 32: Political contributions by
payroll deduction. Contributions to candidates. Initiative statute.
What it does:
1.
Prohibits
unions from using payroll-deducted funds for political purposes.
2.
Applies
same use prohibition to payroll deductions, if any, by corporations or
government contractors.
3.
Prohibits
union and corporate contributions to candidates and their committees.
4.
Prohibits
government contractor contributions to elected officers or their committees.
5.
Fiscal
Impact: Increased costs to state and local government, potentially exceeding $1
million annually, to implement and enforce the measure’s requirements.
PRO: Unions and corporations could not
use money deducted from an employee’s paycheck for political purposes. Unions,
corporations, and government contractors would be subject to additional
campaign finance restrictions. It cuts the money tie
between special interests and politicians to the full extent constitutionally
allowed. Bans contributions from corporations And unions to politicians. Prohibits
contributions from government contractors. Stops payroll withholding for
politics, making ALL contributions voluntary. No loopholes, no exemptions.
CON: Prop. 32 isn’t reform—it exempts
business Super PACs and thousands of big businesses from its provisions, at the
same time applying restrictions on working people and their unions. It’s
unfair, unbalanced, and won’t take money out of politics. Unions shouldn’t have
their power stripped just so major corporations can get their hands kept from
reaching into the cookie jar.
Prop 33: Auto insurance companies.
Prices based on driver’s history of insurance coverage. Initiative statute.
What it does:
1.
Changes
current law to allow insurance companies to set prices based on whether the
driver previously carried auto insurance with any insurance company.
2.
Allows
proportional discount for drivers with some prior coverage.
3.
Allows
increased cost for drivers without history of continuous coverage.
4.
Fiscal
Impact: Probably no significant fiscal effect on state insurance premium tax
revenues.
PRO: Insurance companies could offer new customers a discount
on automobile insurance
premiums based on the number of years in the previous
five years that the customer was insured. Basically Californians with car
insurance earn a discount for following the law. Normally if you switch
companies you lose this discount. Proposition 33 allows you the freedom to
change insurance companies and keep
your discount. Proposition 33 makes insurance companies compete, helps lower
rates, and will insure more drivers are insured.
CON: Proposition 33 is another deceptive insurance company
trick. Insurance companies spent millions to pass a similar law in 2010—voters
defeated it. Proposition 33 allows auto insurers to raise premiums on
responsible drivers up to $1,000, unfairly punishing people who stopped driving
for legitimate reasons.
(How would premiums be raised if they were
responsible and they did have coverage? This argument seems counter-intuitive
in its reasoning. Why would insurance companies purposely support a bill that
would by law lower rates for those covered prior to signing up with a new insurance
company?)
Prop 34: Death Penalty. Initiative
statute.
(Holy Sh*t. We just went from “how to best manage
government spending” to “should take the life of murderers”. Heavy. Wait, this
Repeals the death penalty? Then why don’t they title it: “Repeal Death
Penalty”?)
What it does:
1.
Repeals
death penalty and replaces it with life imprisonment without possibility of
parole.
2.
Applies
retroactively to existing death sentences.
3.
Directs
$100 million to law enforcement agencies for investigations of homicide and
rape cases.
4.
Fiscal
Impact: Ongoing state and county criminal justice savings of about $130 million
annually within a few years, which could vary by tens of millions of dollars.
One-time state costs of $100 million for local law enforcement grants.
PRO: It has been proven before that
“criminals” have been executed that were later found to be innocent. What
happened to the phrase: It is better to set 10 murderers free than to take the
life of one innocent man. There is has also been recent evidence presented that
suggests lethal injection may in fact be inhumane and cruel do to the
uncertainty of whether or not the chemicals injected before the lethal injection actually make the criminal unconscious during the lethal injection.
CON: California is broke. It would cost taxpayers $100
million over four years and many millions more, long term. Taxpayers would pay
at least $50,000 annually, giving lifetime healthcare and imprisonment to
killers who tortured, raped, and murdered children, cops, mothers and fathers.
Prop 35: Human trafficking. Penalties. Initiative statute.
What it does:
1.
Increases prison sentences and fines for human trafficking
convictions.
2.
Requires convicted human traffickers to register as sex
offenders.
3.
Requires registered sex offenders to disclose Internet
activities and identities.
4.
Fiscal Impact: Costs of a few million dollars annually to state
and local governments for addressing human trafficking offenses. Potential
increased annual fine revenue of a similar amount, dedicated primarily for
human trafficking victims.
PRO: “Human Trafficking” is
just a nice way of saying “Enslaved Prostitution” –usually of women and
children. Traffickers force women and children to sell their bodies on the
streets and online. Prop. 35 fights back, with tougher sentencing, help for
victims, protections for children online. Trafficking survivors; children’s and
victims’ advocates urge: YES on 35. We need longer prison sentences and larger
fines for committing human trafficking crimes.
CON: Proposition 35 actually threatens
many innocent people “My son, who served our country in the military and now
attends college, could be labeled a human trafficker and have to register as a
sex offender if I support him with money I earn providing erotic services.”—Maxine
Doogan. Please Vote No.
(What “erotic services” are you providing exactly.
If they are legal services why would
this bill have anything to do with you? And EVEN if this bill did impact you as
an individual in a that rare and very random circumstance does that mean the
greater whole of this country has to run the risk of more human traffickers
being on the streets?)
Prop 36: Three strikes law. Repeat
felony offenders. Penalties. Initiative statute.
What it does:
1.
Revises
law to impose life sentence only when new felony conviction is serious or
violent.
2.
May
authorize re-sentencing if third strike conviction was not serious or violent.
3.
Fiscal
Impact: Ongoing state correctional savings of around $70 million annually, with
even greater savings (up to $90 million) over the next couple of decades. These
savings could vary significantly depending on future state actions.
PRO: Repeat offenders of serious or
violent crimes get life in prison. Nonviolent
offenders get twice the ordinary prison sentence. Saves over $100,000,000
annually and ensures rapists, murderers, and other dangerous criminals stay in
prison for life. Some criminal offenders with two prior serious or violent
felony convictions who commit certain non-serious,
non-violent felonies would be sentenced to shorter terms in state prison.
In addition, some offenders with two prior serious or violent felony
convictions who are currently serving life sentences for many non-serious,
non-violent felony convictions could be resentenced to shorter prison terms.
(Firstly your claims are kind of contradictory
about the lesser felonies. Secondly, how do you get a life sentence for “many”
non-serious, non-violent convictions? They should give better examples of what
kinds of crimes these are exactly. I want to make sure people who don’t deserve
longer stays in prison aren’t kept in there beyond a reasonable amount of time.)
CON: Proposition 36 will release dangerous
criminals from prison who were sentenced to life terms because of their long
criminal history. The initiative is so flawed some of these felons will be
released without any supervision! Join California’s Sheriffs, Police,
Prosecutors, and crime victims groups in voting No on Proposition 36.
(Now I’m really confused. How can a bill be doing
the exact opposite of what it literally has written out in front of you. Are you
sure you guys aren’t just being paranoid? “The bill says it will give rapists
and murderers life in prison, but what it’ll really do is free them all!!! And give
them a coupon to shop at any convenience store of their choosing.”)
Prop 37: Genetically engineered
foods. Labeling. Initiative statute.
What it does:
1.
Requires
labeling of food sold to consumers made from plants or animals with genetic
material changed in specified ways.
2.
Prohibits
marketing such food, or other processed food, as “natural.”
3.
Provides
exemptions.
4.
Fiscal
Impact: Increased annual state costs from a few hundred thousand dollars to
over $1 million to regulate the labeling of genetically engineered foods.
Additional, but likely not significant, governmental costs to address
violations under the measure.
PRO: Proposition 37 gives us
the right to know what is in the food we eat and feed to our families. It
simply requires labeling of food produced using genetic engineering, so we can
choose whether to buy those products or not. We have a right to know.
(For those on the side of Genetically Modified
veggies and fruits, this prop begin passed means the price of GM plants will go
down –which means more people will end up buying cheaper fruits and veggies.
You’re talking to a country that consumes fries linked to cancer and soda
linked to diabetes. Something tells me our nation is willing to “take the hit”
to save some money. For those against GM plants –congratulations, I have a
feeling your prop will pass. That’ll teach people to modify plant DNA so plants
can naturally defend themselves from bugs instead of lacing everything with harmful
pesticides like we do now!)
CON: Prop. 37 is a deceptive, deeply
flawed food labeling scheme, full of special-interest exemptions and loopholes.
Prop. 37 would: create new government bureaucracy costing taxpayers millions,
authorize expensive shakedown lawsuits against farmers and small businesses,
and increase family grocery bills by hundreds of dollars per year.
(Food labeling scheme? Yes those tricky food labelers
trying to swindle society! It would create a new government bureau –like the
Men in Black only they would be the Men in green and they would arrest any
suspicious looking tomatoes or fruit that appeared “out of the norm”. These
people should write soap operas –maybe then people would actually start
watching them.)
Prop 38: Tax to fund education and
early childhood programs. Initiative statute.
What it does:
1.
Increases
taxes on earnings using sliding scale, for twelve years.
2.
Revenues
go to K–12 schools and early childhood programs, and for four years to repaying
state debt.
3.
Fiscal
Impact: Increased state tax revenues for 12 years—roughly $10 billion annually
in initial years, tending to grow over time.
4.
Funds
used for schools, child care, and preschool, as well as providing savings on
state debt payments.
PRO: Helps schools in the ways
stated in the prop. This Prop prevents Sacramento politicians from touching the
money. Spending decisions are made locally with community input and strong accountability
requirements, including independent audits.
(I think the biggest fear is where they money will
go. You hand it off to the government and it seems like we never see what
happens to it. And doesn’t it suck that politicians don’t seem to generally
care or try to raise funds normally throughout the year so we all just end up
paying large lump sums through taxes that end up God knows where…)
CON: If you earn $17,346 per year in
taxable income, your taxes increase. Total of $120 BILLION in higher taxes. No
requirements to improve student performance. Can’t be changed for 12 years even
for fraud. Damages small business. Kills jobs. Educators, taxpayers and
businesses say No on 38.
(Firstly: How would you require the government to “improve
student performance”? Is the government going to start executing kids who get
less than a “B-“? Will the government give out cheat sheets? Government just
funds schools it doesn’t run them. As for the taxes –where did you think the
money would come from? If you don’t pay taxes that go to schools parents will
end up paying out of pocket for all school supplies like they are now. Either
we pay as a nation for the embitterment of our future generation or we make
parents pay on their own out of pocket. Secondly: How does it “kill jobs”? What
does this bill have to do with jobs –other than people are paying taxes they
will inevitably pay anyway? You may as well say this bill negatively impacts
the environment because more school funding = more trees being cut down for paper
to make notebooks and pencils.)
Why don’t we just pass a bill that lets Americans
vote American Idol-style on where the current taxes go? Then we wouldn’t have
to raise taxes because the amount we already pay would be spent more wisely.
Prop 39: Tax treatment for multistate
businesses. Clean energy and energy efficiency funding. Initiative statute.
What it does:
1.
Requires
multistate businesses to pay income taxes based on percentage of their sales in
California.
2.
Multistate
businesses would no longer be able to choose the method for determining their
state taxable income that is most advantageous for them.
3.
Some
multistate businesses would have to pay more corporate income taxes due to this
change.
4.
Dedicates
revenues for five years to clean/efficient energy projects.
5.
Fiscal
Impact: Increased state revenues of $1 billion annually, with half of the
revenues over the next five years spent on energy efficiency projects. Of the
remaining revenues, a significant portion likely would be spent on schools.
PRO: YES on 39 CLOSES UNFAIR
TAX LOOPHOLE letting OUT-OF-STATE CORPORATIONS avoid taxes by keeping jobs out
of California. Closing the loophole protects local jobs and provides $1 BILLION
to California. Funds used for job-creating energy efficiency projects at schools
and for deficit reduction. YES on 39—CLOSE
THE LOOPHOLE.
(WAY TO BE EXCITED!!!! AREN’T CAPSLOCKS FUN :0 !!!)
CON: Proposition 39 is a massive $1
billion tax increase on California job creators that employ tens of thousands
of middle class workers. It’s a recipe for waste and corruption, giving
Sacramento politicians a blank check to spend billions without real
accountability. California is billions in debt; Prop 39 makes it worse.
(Well if the “job creators” are then sending those
jobs out of state then shouldn’t they be called “job creators who create jobs
that are of no benefit to Californians because they are out of this state”?)
Prop 40: Redistricting. State senate
districts. Referendum.
What it does:
1.
A “Yes” vote approves and a “No” vote
rejects: new State Senate districts drawn by the Citizens Redistricting
Commission.
2.
If rejected, districts will be
adjusted by officials supervised by the California Supreme Court.
3.
Fiscal Impact: Approving the
referendum would have no fiscal impact on the state and local governments.
4.
Rejecting the referendum would result
in a one-time cost of about $1 million to the state and counties.
Alright, one question: Who the heck is the “Citizens
Redistricting Commission”?
PRO: Yes on 40 protects the
State Senate maps drawn by the voter-approved Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Yes on 40 upholds
the will of California voters to hold politicians accountable by keeping them
out of the redistricting process. Good government groups, seniors, businesses
and taxpayers recommend “Yes on 40.”
(Ok second question: how does this bill keep
politicians out of the redistricting process? I need details people!)
CON: As sponsors of Proposition 40, our
intention was to overturn the commission’s State Senate districts for 2012.
However, due to the State Supreme Court’s ruling that kept these districts in
place for 2012, we have suspended our campaign and no longer seek a NO vote.
(What happened? Ok all I got from that is the
supporters of Prop 40 no longer seek a vote against it… Yah cause that makes
sense. Either way, there’s no “NO” vote here so I guess I’ll go with “Yes”? I
wish “Maybe” were an option.)
Well this was the first 10 pages of the 144 page
PDF. Let’s fast forward to Page 79 so we can check out the nominees for Best
Politician.
Just for the record: A
U.S. Senator:
• Serves as one of two Senators who
represent California’s interests in the U.S. Congress.
• Proposes and votes on new national
laws.
• Votes on confirming federal judges,
U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and many high-level presidential appointments to
civilian and military positions.
Each candidate has about 3 paragraphs worth of
their “who I am and what I promise to do with my time in office” speech. Since
it’s all drivel for the most part and not exactly reliable since it’s coming
from someone self-nominating themselves in writing I’ll just list the nominees
and leave you take pick the candidate.
Nominee #1 DIANNE FEINSTEIN –Democrat
Nominee #2 ELIZABETH EMKEN –Republican
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