On Nov 6, California voters put a stake through the heart of the Republican Party. Really! Not to take away from the landmark victories in the rest of the country, which are momentous and deserve every bit of attention they're getting, but, in the words of Robert Cruikshank at Calitics:
...the California Republican Party, and the California conservative movement, are as dead as Monty Python's parrot.
I'm not sure if this is as bad as it looks, but I'm interested in seeing what other people think. In danps's post on emergent party laziness, I commented that Greens were irrelevant in California, because other than the presidential race, there are none on our ballot. Boy, was I wrong.
I completely forgot about the recently passed "top two" legislation, which is now spreading to other states -- where it is preventing third parties from even appearing on voters' ballots.
A teacher friend here in LA, who has spent probably 20 or more years teaching in inner city high schools, sent this email to everyone she knows yesterday, highlighting the importance of voting YES on Proposition 30.
I have never done anything like this before, but I feel like the stakes are so high, I just had to say something.
Please vote yes on Proposition 30.
LA Times columnist George Skelton does a pretty good job of addressing concerns on both sides of the issue here.
A California-based company called VWR is busting its union, moving work to a non-union workforce a few hours away and receiving both federal and state tax incentives to do it. The scandal is yet another example of how companies can game the tax systems while hurting workers, and the government does little to stop them.
Whenever I hear our thugs in higher office say "infrastructure program," I think complicated privatization schemes, outrageous no-bid contracts, and other creative ways to sodomize the American purse.
One such example is the sewer project that has completely ruined Jefferson County, Alabama.
And now, The Exiled has uncovered the latest attempt to steal the most precious resource to all of us: water.
WATER WARS: GOV. JERRY BROWN’S PET PUBLIC-TO-PRIVATE WEALTH TRANSFER PROJECT IS A GO
By Yasha Levine
Even the wealthy can get in over their heads, real estate-wise. But if you default on a seven-figure mega-mortgage in the 90210 zip code, you're a lot less likely to end up on the sidewalk. In fact, you'll probably be able to continue living in the house -- rent and tax free -- for years!! Read below the fold...
Tuesday, November 23, 2010, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will meet to discuss a proposal that would institute a “complete ban of all medical marijuana dispensaries (MMD) in the unincorporated areas of the County.” Please call your county supervisor TODAY and respectfully ask that he or she reject this proposed ordinance.
The link to MMP above includes contact info and recommendations on what to say. Be prepared to provide your Zip Code. Read below the fold...
UPDATE: If you'd like to know more about the non-legacy party candidates for California governor, they'll be debating tomorrow (28 Oct). Brown and Whitman have been invited, too, but, according to the press release, neither one has responded yet.
The debate is sponsored by the Free and Equal Elections Foundation. It's scheduled for 1 to 2:30 pm. Pacific Time, and will be streamed live and archived at the Free and Equal website (link above).
Participants include Peace and Freedom Party candidate Carlos Alvarez, American Independent Party candidate Chelene Nightingale, Libertarian Party candidate Dale Ogden and Green Party candidate Laura Wells. End of update Read below the fold...
For those of you confused about the lack of motivation from activists in supporting Obama's and Congress' healthcare reform, healthcare activists take to the streets in California demanding REAL Healthcare Reform.
Lobby Day is an annual gathering and advocacy event staged at the California State Capitol in which health professional students from all over California visit their legislators to urge passage of the California Universal Healthcare Act (SB 810, formerly SB 840).
If Jerry Brown becomes our next governor -- and he will -- there's a not-bad chance that SB 810, the proposed California single-payer legislation, will prevail.
Once this state paves the way, all others will eventually follow suit. It's inevitable. Businesses will want to relocate to a state where employers do not have to pay for health care. To stay competitive, other states will soon have to follow California's lead.
Some comments, Jerry Brown has announced his opposition to single payer. However, as it has passed the California legislature TWICE only to be vetoed by the Gropinator. I don't think that Brown would actually veto it, but something to keep in mind. Read below the fold...
Single Payer Now held its annual Potluck and Health Care Forum December 19 in San Francisco. Hear Jody Reid, the Executive Director of the California Association of Retired Americans (CARA), speak on current efforts to pass SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act. The CARA membership fully supports Single Payer Health Care. State Representative Tom Ammiano also spoke at the event. (13 minutes)
