Election day tomorrow...

[hellziggy]

I've avoided talking too much about politics here this year.
After how heartbroken I was after the last presidential election, I'm just having a hard time staying optimistic.
If you saw the "Who would you vote for?" widget I posted a few weeks ago, you know I'm voting for Obama. A huge majority of you here on my flist are voting for Obama. Many of my non-LJ friends are voting for Obama. But until the final counts are in I just can't let myself hope that he will win.
I'm not even that scared of McCain winning, even though the McCain currently running isn't the same one I actually used to respect. I'm freaking TERRIFIED that McCain might win and then die. The idea of President Palin quite literally makes me nauseous. Also, while I don't think race should matter one bit, I have some fear that Obama may lose some states simply because there are people who just won't vote for a black man. In 2008 prejudice is still that strong in some people. How fucking sad is that?
*sigh*

But anyway, this post wasn't meant to be about the presidential race. I wanted to put my view out there about one of the issues on the ballot:

Constitutional Amendment
"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to dedicate funding to protect our drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore our wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve our arts and cultural heritage; to support our parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore our lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2009, by three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2034?"
Yes
No

I support each and every issue listed in this. I believe that those are all things that we should be doing.
But I am voting NO.
Yes, earmarking tax money for this is something I support. But I DO NOT support using a Constitutional Amendment to do it!
The definition of constitution from dictionary.com:
8. the system of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state, corporation, or the like, is governed.
9. the document embodying these principles.

The constitution is not the place to make laws. I voted against the transportation amendment in 2006, and I intend to vote against this one.

Comments

[scubagrrl.livejournal.com]

I really hate ballot measures. If we're making our own laws, what do we pay the clowns in the capitol for?

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Crossing my fingers for Prop 8 to fail!

[allegraconbrio.livejournal.com]

I admire how you are voting. This is a good thing to do, but changing the constitution to do it is absolutely not the right way to do it. You are a smart lady, no wonder I like you so much. :)

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)
It's tough because I really do believe in everything they are trying to do with it but I just can't support the idea of changing the constitution willy-nilly.

[boliviafang.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting that! I had been hearing ads about protecting our water. And water, locally and globally, is a huge issue for me. But something about what I was hearing didn't feel right. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I was uncomfortable. Thank you for explaining what the amendment was about.. and I, too, agree with all those issues, but I appreciate your explaining why it shouldn't be an amendment. I agree with that, too.

The constitution is not the place to make laws. That's an excellent point to remember.

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

This one is really hard for me. I really really really want to vote yes because the issues are all ones I believe in. But I just can't vote yes to it. Tax allocation is something that needs to be done at the legislative level. *sigh*
At least it's a no lose situation for me because if it does pass I'll be happy with the protections even if I do think they did it the wrong way.

[boliviafang.livejournal.com]

That's how I feel about the presidential election. I have to vote what I personally believe is right, and that unfortunately puts me at odds with.. oh, my entire state, not to mention the majority of the country. But the good news is, I don't dislike the other candidate, and I will not be mad when he gets elected. I will probably be relieved. Then maybe I'll get to complain for eight years.

[mle292.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting the wording, I was unsure how that one was going to look. I wholeheartedly agree on voting 'no,' but it's not for any of the reasons already mentioned, even though they're all good.

Sales tax is the most regressive tax that there is. People with the lowest incomes pay the highest percentage of income.

This is all stuff that should be funded. That funding needs to come from the general fund, and be funded by responsible progressive income tax, not a sales tax.

I can't imagine that it will pass.

[scubagrrl.livejournal.com]

Good point to remember about the types of taxes. People like sales taxes, because it seems fair: you buy stuff, you should pay the tax. But they forget it affects poor people more.

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

I support each and every issue listed in this. I believe that those are all things that we should be doing.
But I am voting NO.

I feel the same way you do. I support each point, but this does not require amending our constitution - it requires a Bill and funding.