>Subject: The "Special" Election >From: Jackie Goldberg >Hi everyone-There are only four weeks to go until the so-called "special" >election. And the big worry is that only reactionary people will vote! I >can tell you for a fact, that this may be one of the more important >California elections in recent years. >You see, the corporate take-over of California is what is being proposed. >Several of the Governor's measures, all sponsored and paid for by members >of the corporate elite of California and the United States >have several goals. First and foremost they do NOT want to be bothered >having to work with the pesky >legislature. So, they propose something they call "Live within your >means." This measure makes the Governor a King where matters of money are >concerned. It also trashes the Prop. 98 guarantee for Public Education. >What that means is that the Governor can unilaterally determine how to cut >the budget if the legislature cannot get a 2/3 vote to do so. And that >means that the Republicans will NEVER vote for a budget if there is a >Republican Governor who will be able to cut anything he wants, however he >wants, without the approval of the legislature. It means that the >legislature is irrelevant to the budget process. >Regardless of what you feel about the current Governor, it is not hard to >believe that at some time, some Governor will slash health care, human >services, and public education because he/she needs no one to >approve. Checks and balances were set into the California constitution to >prevent one-man rule. This election could overturn this. >Then, of course there is the redrawing of district election lines. No >state uses retired judges. In fact almost all of them do it the way we in >California currently do it. That is the legislature, with the signature of >the Governor, writes a plan every ten years. Both sides have to agree. >When they cannot agree, a lawsuit puts it into court, and then an active >judge will make the changes necessary to make it fair. Think about retired >judges. Currently almost all of them are going to be Anglo males, largely >drawn from the men appointed by Governors Wilson and Deukmejian. This does >not sound "non-partisan" to me. >All in all, it is just a power grab. Even the so-called Prop. 78 "drug >savings" measure is paid for by the biggest pharmaceutical companies and >would be entirely voluntary on their part. The real savings to consumers >would come from Prop. 79 and the drug companies are spending millions to >stop this good measure. >This ballot has something to hate for everyone. One proposition tries to >kill off the voice of public employee unions by making it harder to get an >OK from members to use money collected to lobby or support candidates. >Another tells a young person who wants to teach that they will have >absolutely NO job protection for five years! No other job in the state is >treated like that. Talented young people with about $100,000 in debt from >five years training at a University will not likely choose teaching >because of this uncertainty. >And of course, no assault on our rights would be complete with an attempt >to limit a woman's right to choose. So here is how I am going to vote: > >Prop. 73 NO Prop. 75 NO Prop. 77 NO >Prop. 74 NO Prop. 76 NO Prop. 78 NO >That is six big NO's on the November 8th ballot. There are actually two >good measures and they are, of >course, at the very end. They are Prop. 79 YES; and Prop. 80 YES. >I am voting YES on Prop. 79, because it would require the drug companies >to negotiate a real deal with the >state of California that would cover Medi-Cal recipients, and the savings >would also be passed on to all Californians in lowering the drug costs for >them as well. And Prop. 80, I am voting YES because it would re-regulate >electricity in California so we don't end up with blackouts and with the >gaming of our system by Texas Oil and Gas, and Electric company traders >like Enron, etc. >So, be sure to vote on Tuesday Novebmer 8th! Vote absentee, or go to the >polls. But VOTE! If we fail to show up, those who want corporate rule will >win by default. This is why they wanted a $50 million special election. >They knew there was no urgency. They want this vote because they believe >we won't go to the polls and a very small minority of reactionary voters >will be able to carry the vote on these draconian measures. >If you want more detail on these measures, go to the >website: www.speakoutca.org <http://www.speakoutca.org> . There you will find >background info, and a printable voting guide to send >to your family and friends, and co-workers. Remember, >friends don't let friends neglect their civic duty. >Especially when so much is at stake. >If you would like to hear more in person, I am having a community meeting >at Logan Elementary School on October 27th, Thursday, from 6:30 to 8:30 >p.m. And if you want to help defeat these measures, call SEIU Local 347, >at (323) 712-1779 to join me in walking precincts. Or you can phone voters >by calling (213) 381-5611 ext. 40 and ask for Norma Lopez. I'll see you >there too. >Warmest regards, as always, >Jackie > > > >P.S. >Remember If you can not attend the community meeting www.speakoutca.org >has information on all of the initiatives and a downloadable voters guide >in english and soon in spanish as well! The "Special" Election is on >Tuesday November 8th! >
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