An Appeal for Obama (and other CA endorsements)
Election day is here. For many, with record numbers choosing to vote early this year, the election is already over with simply the tallying of votes left to be done. But since I strongly subscribe to the policy of better late than never, here are my endorsements for 2008:
President and Vice-President: Obama/Biden '08
I am not going to list policy differences between Obama and McCain as reasons for my endorsement. This campaign has gone on long enough and positions stated often enough that doing so would be the equivalent of flogging a fossilized horse.
To put is succinctly, I support Barack Obama because he represents a generational change in politics. I truly believe he is running for President to lead all of America, not just 50% + 1 of America. While John McCain's campaigns has gone to great lengths to drive a wedge between "real" Americans and others, Barack Obama's message is the same now as it has always been: we do not live in blue states and we do not live in red states, we live in the United States.
Obama shares Howard Dean's 50-state strategy. The problems afflicting the people of Alabama are the same as those afflicting the people of New York. Obama, like Dean, knows that you do not abandon large tracts of the country assuming they will never vote for you. After all, if you don't respect them enough to go and explain your positions and ask them for their vote, what chance do you have of winning? This mindset of inclusive politics can be seen comparing the electoral map of today versus the electoral map of four years ago. The map is more blue than it is red and some of the toss-up states such as Virginia, North Carolina, and Indiana have long been derided as "deep red" and not worthy of putting up a fight. Barack Obama may still lose this election (unlikely as that may be), but it will not be because he did not try hard enough to get people with to vote for him.
A message of hope, unity and action versus one of division and 50%+1 politics. The choice could not be more stark.
This video says it all about the once-in-a-generation candidacy of Barack Obama!
California-specific Endorsements:
California is one of those peculiar states where elected representatives, despite having a job to do, pass the buck back to citizens in the form of propositions to vote on. This year is no different. So here are my endorsements on some of the major propositions before voters today:
Proposition 1A - Vote YES on 1A
Proposition 1A is a bond request measure to begin construction on the first high-speed rail network in the United States. This is an essential measure towards upgrading California's clogged and outdated infrastructure.
Proposition 2 - Vote NO on 2
Proposition 2 is a feel-good, sound-good proposition measure supported by the Humane Society of the United States. Proposition 2 however could not be any more wrong. Proposition 2 will simply cause egg production to shift from California to states such as Iowa, where there are far fewer regulations on animal welfare than in California, since it will be economically unfeasible to produce eggs here. It will destroy the egg industry in California, the vast majority of which consists of small farmers who already lead marginal livelihoods.
Furthermore, there is NO scientific proof that cage-free housing (cage free housing is DIFFERENT from free-range; this measure will simply require cages to be removed, not for the chickens to be free-range) is beneficial for chicken. In fact, there is scientific evidence that chicken kept in large numbers without cages actually display higher rates of cannibalism. Proposition 2 is a measure in contravention of scientific proof, promoted by an extremist advocacy organization , the Humane Society of the United States.
Proposition 7 - Vote NO on 7
Proposition 7 is another measure that reads really well. Unfortunately, it is a very badly worded proposition that will harm California's steps towards increasing renewable energy generation. It is such a bad proposal, it is opposed not only by the California Republican Party, but also the California Democratic Party as well as the Sierra Club.
Proposition 8 - Vote NO on 8
Proposition 8 would overturn the recent Supreme Court verdict and amend the state constitution to make same-sex marriages illegal. Vote against writing discrimination into the constitution. Vote for a tolerant California that can lead the way in America. Vote NO on 8.
Proposition 10 - Vote NO on 10
Proposition 10 would set aside a bond measure to reward consumers for natural gas and other alternative fuel vehicles. The Los Angeles Times editorialized that "Spending bond money on something as intangible as privately owned vehicles is a terrible idea unless there is a clear public benefit." Proposition 10 is opposed by the League of Conservation Voters. Another fishy thing about Proposition 10 is that it seems to disproportionately favor one Texas oilman, whose runs a natural gas supply firm for cars and trucks.
President and Vice-President: Obama/Biden '08
I am not going to list policy differences between Obama and McCain as reasons for my endorsement. This campaign has gone on long enough and positions stated often enough that doing so would be the equivalent of flogging a fossilized horse.
To put is succinctly, I support Barack Obama because he represents a generational change in politics. I truly believe he is running for President to lead all of America, not just 50% + 1 of America. While John McCain's campaigns has gone to great lengths to drive a wedge between "real" Americans and others, Barack Obama's message is the same now as it has always been: we do not live in blue states and we do not live in red states, we live in the United States.
Obama shares Howard Dean's 50-state strategy. The problems afflicting the people of Alabama are the same as those afflicting the people of New York. Obama, like Dean, knows that you do not abandon large tracts of the country assuming they will never vote for you. After all, if you don't respect them enough to go and explain your positions and ask them for their vote, what chance do you have of winning? This mindset of inclusive politics can be seen comparing the electoral map of today versus the electoral map of four years ago. The map is more blue than it is red and some of the toss-up states such as Virginia, North Carolina, and Indiana have long been derided as "deep red" and not worthy of putting up a fight. Barack Obama may still lose this election (unlikely as that may be), but it will not be because he did not try hard enough to get people with to vote for him.
A message of hope, unity and action versus one of division and 50%+1 politics. The choice could not be more stark.
This video says it all about the once-in-a-generation candidacy of Barack Obama!
California-specific Endorsements:
California is one of those peculiar states where elected representatives, despite having a job to do, pass the buck back to citizens in the form of propositions to vote on. This year is no different. So here are my endorsements on some of the major propositions before voters today:
Proposition 1A - Vote YES on 1A
Proposition 1A is a bond request measure to begin construction on the first high-speed rail network in the United States. This is an essential measure towards upgrading California's clogged and outdated infrastructure.
Proposition 2 - Vote NO on 2
Proposition 2 is a feel-good, sound-good proposition measure supported by the Humane Society of the United States. Proposition 2 however could not be any more wrong. Proposition 2 will simply cause egg production to shift from California to states such as Iowa, where there are far fewer regulations on animal welfare than in California, since it will be economically unfeasible to produce eggs here. It will destroy the egg industry in California, the vast majority of which consists of small farmers who already lead marginal livelihoods.
Furthermore, there is NO scientific proof that cage-free housing (cage free housing is DIFFERENT from free-range; this measure will simply require cages to be removed, not for the chickens to be free-range) is beneficial for chicken. In fact, there is scientific evidence that chicken kept in large numbers without cages actually display higher rates of cannibalism. Proposition 2 is a measure in contravention of scientific proof, promoted by an extremist advocacy organization , the Humane Society of the United States.
Proposition 7 - Vote NO on 7
Proposition 7 is another measure that reads really well. Unfortunately, it is a very badly worded proposition that will harm California's steps towards increasing renewable energy generation. It is such a bad proposal, it is opposed not only by the California Republican Party, but also the California Democratic Party as well as the Sierra Club.
Proposition 8 - Vote NO on 8
Proposition 8 would overturn the recent Supreme Court verdict and amend the state constitution to make same-sex marriages illegal. Vote against writing discrimination into the constitution. Vote for a tolerant California that can lead the way in America. Vote NO on 8.
Proposition 10 - Vote NO on 10
Proposition 10 would set aside a bond measure to reward consumers for natural gas and other alternative fuel vehicles. The Los Angeles Times editorialized that "Spending bond money on something as intangible as privately owned vehicles is a terrible idea unless there is a clear public benefit." Proposition 10 is opposed by the League of Conservation Voters. Another fishy thing about Proposition 10 is that it seems to disproportionately favor one Texas oilman, whose runs a natural gas supply firm for cars and trucks.
posted by Vivek at 4:34 PM
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