Pleas VOTE today!

[somewheregirrl]

"I vote because then I can reserve the right to bxtch!", said my best friend yesterday.

I am only familiar with the issues and people on the ballot here in Maine. We have a HUGELY important election. The absentee/early voting/early a.m. numbers today are smashing all records for participation in an non-presidential year. Go Maine!

I realize that your state may not have as "important" questions or positions up for election, but don't let that stop you. VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Then you'll have the right to crow or bxtch!

I'd love to hear what's on your ballots today ... I'll get a copy of ours and put it up.
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Fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.

[somewheregirrl]

Maine's ballot (local school boards, town councils etc. also)

The following are the referendum questions that will appear on the Ballot this year in Maine. (As gathered from the Maine Secretary of State Website)

Question 1 (People’s Veto Question): “Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?”

NO ... no brainer for me. (as long as I vote the right way and don't misread the question!!!).

Question 2 (Citizen Initiative): “Do you want to cut the rate of the municipal excise tax by an average of 55% on motor vehicles less than six years old and exempt hybrid and other alternative-energy and highly fuel-efficient motor vehicles from sales tax and three years of excise tax?”

No. This only benefits people with new cars (I am one of them), and the money it takes away from our general fund is not worth the tax break. It's unfair to people with older cars.

Question 3 (Citizen Initiative): “Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect?”

No. We have been consolidating schools (for the past several years), and in 99% of the cases, it results in better curricula, better teachers, better options for kids. And our one-room schools can keep their way of doing things too.

Question 4 (Citizen Initiative): “Do you want to change the existing formulas that limit state and local government spending and require voter approval by referendum for spending over those limits and for increases in state taxes?”

No. We don't need more voter referendums. Each of them costs lots of money. Our legislators are elected to make decisions. So make them.

Question 5 (Citizen Initiative): “Do you want to change the medical marijuana laws to allow treatment of more medical conditions and to create a regulated system of distribution?”

No. (Does that surprise you? ). While I am very "pro" medical marijuana for cancer, glaucoma, and a few other diseases, I am not convinced that the expansion of the law will serve us well. Anxiety disorders? Um, no. We already have decriminalization for less than 1 ounce, and a system set up for letting people use pot for several diseases. Convince me and I might change my mind some day.

Question 6 (Bond Issue): "Do you favor a $71,250,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, public transit facilities, ferry and port facilities, including port and harbor structures, as well as funds for the LifeFlight Foundation that will make the State eligible for over $148,000,000 in federal and other matching funds?"

Yes. Our bridges are falling apart, and our ports/ferries are integral to our survival up here.

Question 7 (Constitutional Question): "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to increase the amount of time that local officials have to certify the signatures on direct initiative petitions?"

Yes. Because of voter fraud (this only addresses a small part of it, however), I think officials need as much time as possible to verify signitures calling for these referendum questions. The goobers who approached me and friends at the post office this spring who were against the same sex marriage law NEVER asked if we were voters, residents, or ANYthing. They were just collecting names as best they could ... which was fine until they opened their mouths and said things like "Whaaat, do you want yo' cousins marrying??"

So that's that. Now I need to go and do MY duty.
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Fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.

[crockett]

“Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?”


Your answer surprised me.

[Herbie]

swg, i was watching msnbc this morning and they were talking about the maine vote today and the news lady began reading the first question and then gave an explicit explanation of how you should vote no.

i thought they were one of the few that were fair and balanced

[somewheregirrl]

Herbie, you are kidding, right?? I was watching NBC all morning, and at noon, and they never said anything like that.

I've NEVER said MSNBC is fair and balanced, nor do they make that claim (like some others). Was it a news show or an opinion show? Fox gets away with it by saying only their opinion shows are one-sided.

For haha's sake, I wish I was listening to Fox to see what they said. "Part of a nation-wide conspiracy ..."

Crockett. And you too are kidding, right?
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Fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.

[Herbie]

i don't know the people, but it's the morning meeting program. the lady is the one who is the guys side kick. if the guy isn't careful he will recruited to fox.

[somewheregirrl]

Ahhh ... those lovely "hybrid" shows where they can get away with eye rolls, head nods, and guffaws in reaction to a story. Like Fox and Friends, I haven't watched MSNBC in so long ... Tucker Carlson? No ... the republican token at MSNBC .... so boring I don't even remember his name. (I much prefered Imus at that time).
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Fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.

[crockett]

[somewheregirrl]

It would be no slam on you if you did read it wrong, Crokett. I once voted the wrong way on a Moose hunting referendum.

The process to come up with the wording of a question is long and sometimes ridiculous. It's like picking a jury ... both sides put in words or phrases and they duke it out till a compromise is reached ... Damn the readablility!

The vote is whether or not to RESCIND a law that now allows gays to marry. Our legislature passed it last spring.

So "No" means keep the law, and "Yes" means repeal it.
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Fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.

[crockett]

Doesn't "of course" mean yes?

[somewheregirrl]

Man I hope that wasn't an indication of what I'll do in the booth!!

See? I did it and I've been harping on this one for months now!

Thank you dear one! You just saved me from voting the wrong way.

(I'm editing the original post now)


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Fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.

[Mary S]

[somewheregirrl]

You know, I won't even go there today, Mary.

Both sides bicker out the wording, so it's no one's fault ... but if I did it (said the wrong thing on this thread), and you KNOW how passionately I feel about this, how many other people did it?

It's a moot point now.
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Fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.

[robert]

whether you're for it or against it, the question is self-explanatory. not difficult at all.
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"change you can step in"