Sunday, November 07, 2010

Why Did Californian's Vote For Tax-And-Spend Democrats AND Against Higher Taxes?

One of the dichotomies of the past election here in California is this.
The voters elected some of the most tax-and-spend leftists in the United States. From the legislature, to the halls of congress, to the governor's office. It would seem to be alright except for one thing.
On the nine ballot propositions, all tax and fee increases went to defeat.
In fact, one that passed makes it harder to pass "fees", which are really hidden taxes. Now, a 2/3rd vote has to happen to pass fees.
While this post will discuss the tax and fee initiatives more in detail, a look at the outcome of the propositions on the ballots shows that the California electorates is still, for a lack of a better words, conservative enough on many issues.
So, here is the order of propositions and how your humble blogger recommended the vote


Proposition 19 (Marijuana legalization)

Yes 46% No 54% RVFTLC recommendation NO and NO won.

Proposition 20 (Congressional redistricting)

Yes 61% No 38% RVFTLC recommendation YES and YES won.

Proposition 21 ($18 Hike in auto registration fees for state parks)

Yes 42% No 58% RVFTLC recommendation NO and NO won.

Proposition 22 (Prohibit state to raid local funds)

Yes 61% No 39% RVFTLC recommendation YES and YES won.

Proposition 23 (Suspending Globaloney Warming act)

Yes 39% No 61% RVFTLC recommendation YES and NO won.

Proposition 24 (Repeal business tax break)

Yes 41% No 59% RVFTLC recommendation NO and NO won.

Proposition 25 (Eliminates 2/3rd requirement for budget passage)

Yes 55% No 45% RVFTLC recommendation NO and YES won.

Proposition 26 (2/3rd Vote on some fees)

Yes 53% No 47% RVFTLC recommendation YES and YES won.

Proposition 27 (Eliminate citizen commission to redraw legislative lines)

Yes 40% No 60% RVFTLC recommendation NO and NO won.



Clearly, I did better on the public's read on these propositions. And on these, the California public voted with a definite conservative, anti-government bent.
Look at Prop. 20. It was to add the congressional redistricting to the citizen's commission. And it passed overwhelmingly. And it's evil sister, Prop. 27 failed. It would have eliminated the citizen's commission before it even begins. Clearly, the public has a strong mistrust of government in those two the way they turned out.
And I was surprised how lopsided the vote was against legalizing marijuana. Maybe the whole regulate and tax scam aspect the voters realized could not really solve the problems of the state simply over spending like drunken sailors.
And yes, I was disappointed on the failure of Prop. 23. It was the only real victory the left could claim in the referendum voting.
But look at Props. 21, 22, 24 and 26.
All of these measures were either to impose a new tax, continue to allow the state to raid local taxes, repeal a tax cut and to force the state to vote by a 2/3rd majority to raise said fees.
And the voters hamstrung the very left-wing Democrats that they elected at the same time.
HUH?!
It goes back to the fact that I wrote in this post. Here is the following:


We California voters are a dyslexic bunch. We vote for Democrats yet want Republican governance.


It is not just on taxes and the size of government.
Look at Prop. 187. That would have denied government services to illegal aliens. It passed by a very wide margin, 59%-41% in 1994. And I believe that if the exact same measure came to the voters today, it would also pass. But probably narrower numbers. Also, Proposition 8, which restored the state recognizing legal marriage to be between one and and one woman passed by a 52%-48% margin. Both measures were heavily opposed by a variety of special interests.
The point is that California is seen as a lost cause by many Republicans. And yes, many conservatives. But, I believe that the problem is that we do not put up candidates in primaries and or general election campaigns that articulate a solid, conservative message.
How can all these propositions pass that a clearly conservative in nature? Because they are clear in their message and what they would and would not do.
Is it that impossible for someone in the Republican party in California to articulate a conservative message? Is is possible for that candidate to not get bogged down in what the leftywhore media wants to talk about? You know, just those two social issues they want to talk about. Abortion and same-sex marriage. Is there not someone out there who can "speak truth to power" and admit that to keep putting so-called moderates is not the answer to what ails our once Golden State?
I can not imagine that we have to wait another 44 years for a man or woman like Ronald Reagan. As I wrote in the above linked post about the dyslexia of the California voter, I also wrote that the voting Democrat for Republican governance can not continue.
As evidenced by the results on our propositions, there are a lot of people that get that we spend too much, tax too much and that the only people the politicians are interested in are themselves and their interests.
We need to find the way to merge the ideas behind a party that will carry those ideas out. And that has to be a rejuvenated and renewed California Republican Party.

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