The particular responsibility of the California Voter

Is this the future of American Democracy?



While the Massachusetts State Constitution is the oldest, continually-working constitution in the world (and the one that inspired the U.S. Constitution), the California equivalent is the longest one on the planet (aside from the nation of India and the state of Alabama). If voters have their say this time around, we in California, would tackle issues as varied as:

  • Education funding (Proposition 30)
  • Budget cycles (Proposition 31)
  • Union dues (Proposition 32)
  • Auto insurance (Proposition 33)
  • Death penalty (Proposition 34)
  • Human trafficking (Proposition 35)
  • Prisoner sentencing (Proposition 36)
  • Food labeling (Proposition 37)
  • More Education funding (Proposition 38)
  • Clean energy regulation (Proposition 39)
  • Redistricting for state senators (Proposition 40)
My head is dizzy and I'm a politics guy.

These choices, mind you, do not include any of the SF City and County ballot measures or any candidate on the local or national level.

Apart from this Safeway Democracy, there's this persistent feeling here that you're always on the verge of getting sued if you lose your temper here. The Golden State is a land of strange contradictions, for in so many other ways, you are encouraged to be free and unique. It's not that I'm turning into a conservative Republican; I'm simply looking to check off the box that says "Leave Me Alone."

The initiative process of the California State Constitution was born out of the "power to the people" Progressive Era, a stretch of time in the early 20th century when citizens were fed up with the power of the railroad companies. But in the law of unintended consequences, these initiatives (in which private parties could collect x enough of signatures to put an issue on the ballot) became tools of the new ruling class. Why lobby representatives when you can go straight to the people with sly advertising?

Is this enough of a push for me to leave? I love the weather and the food and the trolley. And I have a feeling that leaving San Francisco would be a regret that would seep to my bone marrow. But make no mistake - she's this crazy, hot lover that takes all your money and never apologizes. But at least she's asking for your thoughtful opinion on how you'd like your household run.

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