Today I voted. Today I thoughtfully read each option. Today I exercised my right as an American. I am proud to live where my voice can be heard (the electoral college notwithstanding, but alas, another time). I want to document how I voted, I want to revisit my choices as time passes. I want to remember where I am today. Today is the Day of the Dead. I brought Mitch and Hannah with me today. (ah, the last time he voted, another funny story for another time)
The Ballot in District 13, Minnehaha County, Sioux Falls, SD, 2006 is HUGE! Lots of that whirly swirly change possible right here, right now...
United States Representative
Stephanie Herseth, incumbent
She received my vote last time, too. She's a free thinker who doesn't judge ideas based on their party origin; she seeks its merit. She's linked to the Ds, but she's more conservative, more my kinda Goldwater girl ::bg::
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Jack Billion and Eric Abrahamson
Jack is just an all-around good guy. He gives off good vibes, he drinks good (local) coffee, he believes the 4th amendment applies to women equally, he wants to eliminate our status as the lowest wage state in the Union (including PR). Jack is all over YouTube, if you wanna check him out... he does look like the Orek vacuum cleaner guy! And face it, I Back Jack is just a really cool slogan!
Secretary of State
I abstained
I didn't vote, there's only one guy running and I didn't know him... how freaking sad is that? Are we *really* that apathetic? Does the job suck that much that only one person in this entire state wants it? I don't know if I want to know, ya know?
Attorney General
Ron Volesky
Okay, I admit it, 'cause he's a D :::sigh:::
State Auditor
State Treasurer
I abstained
(see rant under Secretary of State)
Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Bryce Healy
really? cause he doesn't give me the willies and Jarrod does; I don't think the "good ol' boys" have done very much for this state's evolution, I can't vote for one. Sorry, I didn't even know the Libertarian Candidate, though I was glad to see her on the ballot.
Public Utilities Commissioner
John Koskan
In his commercial, he talks about wind power. There are windmills on his campaign page and though I'm torn about the ethanol issue, methinks the wind energy development overshadows that one, right now.
State Senator
Scott Heidepriem
I like his "let's get back to work" slogan. He doesn't creep me. (some politicians just give off a big ol' creepy guy factor)
State Representative
(District 13) Brian Liss
(I abstained my second choice) Brian's a way cool guy. He was my very favorite Valentine's Date ever! We've always had lively discussions, I know that in all the ways we differ, we do so intelligently and respectfully. He's wrong ::g:: but his heart's in the right place! On the really important stuff, however, we strongly agree, though for very different reasons. He'll always get my vote, I'll always know I'm voting for someone thoughtful and smart.
Supreme Court Justice Retention and Circuit Courts
This part smacked me. I didn't know anything at all about these judges, I realized I hadn't done my homework at all. It was a bizarre ballot thing anyway: it had the Justice's name and the voter indicates if the person should be retained on the Supreme Court. I don't know what happens if I vote no... do we then vote again for a whole new SC? Then there were the ones whom it seemed just wanted to keep their judge job in whatever circuit court. Is there no one brave enough to challenge them? Okay, a couple of seats have competition, but I was seriously lacking in understanding and preparation and we're talking about 1.5 columns on a longer-than-legal sized ballot! So I said yes to our current Supreme Court... I abstained if only one judge was running, with the exception of Peter Lieberman, he's got a great reputation for being gruff and fair.
Constitutional Amendment C
Marriage Amendment - No. The passing of Amendment C would amend the Constitution to allow and recognize marriage only between a male and female. It would also prohibit the allowance or recognition of civil unions, domestic partnerships or other (gotta love this!) quasi-marital relationships between two or more persons regardless of sex (I think they mean gender!)
I gotta go off on this one... showing my incredibly liberal conservative side, as only I can... First, you should come to recognize that in my mind, anytime I see the word Man, especially as it relates to any legal documentation, I see this: 'man, as in: they're too lazy to write hu- every time. 'man is shorthand for human, see? So in that light (that's why they call it enlightenment!), the American Rights Guarantee, aka our historic legal principles on which this fine country was founded, is already set up to be as blind as Justice. There is should be NO distinction based on skin color nor genetic code nor bedpartner, the Constitution is applied equally to all the members of our union. period. We just plain shouldn't need gender or skin color amendments to our constitution, certainly our sex life is protected by the 4th amendment, it's already there without it. What we need to focus on is on electing those who are willing to do their job as blindly as they're supposed to. It's on us folks. Vote!
Constitutional Amendment D
Property Tax Change - No - it wants to change our easy to understand, unilateral tax system to some willy-nilly form... uh, don't think so.
Constitutional Amendment E
Sue your Jury - No This one doesn't quite make sense to me... you make a decision as a jury based on evidence at hand, the appeal is won and now you're in court for wrongful whatever and you've gotta pay damages, out of any account, including your retirement it seems. eek! It's quite hard enough to get rational folks to sit on a jury, who do ya thinks gonna show up ready and willing now?
Constitutional Amendment F
Yes - I don't know about eliminating the limitation of expense reimbursements for legislators, but they stuck it together with limiting the legislation's ability to enact special laws and removal of congressional term limits (voting IS term limits!!), prohibiting closed door vote sessions (which we're known for) and give legislature emergency powers in event of disasters (which scares me in that *V* for Vendetta kind of way... which powers? which disasters: real or implied or just plain imaginary?)
Initiated Measure 2
Tobacco Tax - NO The state cannot have vested interest in the death and ill-being of it's citizens. We cannot be committed to South Dakotans Quit AND be reliant upon the tax revenue from same-said folks. The State should be committed to our health and not profiting from our destruction.
Initiated Measure 3
School Term Start - I abstained What a freaking waste of my time... I just can't believe this is on the freaking BALLOT!?!? People put their energy, time and money into when the school term begins? holy cow! Who really needs a law, a freaking LAW to state if it's okay to start school before September 1?? If you don't want your kid there before September 1, don't send 'em!! Go on vacation instead! In fact, the first weekend after Labor Day, come on out to the Live and Learn Conference and learn why you, too, should say goodbye to School in your Life!!
Initiated Measure 4
Medical Marijuana - YES! Certified for 6 plants and up to an oz for medical reasons. Regardless of how I feel about recreational use of cannabis, I can't imagine anyone who knows Mitch's tale would deny us freedom from prosecution (and persecution) for the only medicine that worked for his radiation induced anorexia and his chemotherapy induced nausea, not to mention his situation being appropriate for an opportunity for some escape from reality, and pain relief from headaches, this specific treatment indeed was recommended by his specialists at the Mayo Clinic.
There's also this whole part of me that despises pharmaceutical companies in America. I hate that thousands of children are on medication to dull their Spark for Life and I think it's dangerous and scary and I wish it were up to me, the voter, to decide if that should be allowed... but alas it isn't here and I'm deep down glad for it... it's right back to the 4th amendment and Privacy again... ain't nobody's business if ya do! So it sure ain't yours if I do!
Initiated Measure 5
Restrictions on State's aircraft - No I was yes until I saw that violations would now be subject to civil and criminal penalties. ick! More lawyers gettin rich cause my friend the governor flew me out to see my dying grandma on the state plane. Doesn't seem right in my heart.
Initiated Measure 7
Repeal Video Lottery - Yes Sorry dad, looks like you may have to drive to Flandreau for your fun from now on. Again, it goes back to vested interest by the State. Should the state be investing in keeping folks drunk and broke? I'm thinking no. And the promises made for the huge boost in education dollars? We're still 51st and our citizens are still broke.
Initiated Measure 8
Repeal Telecommunications Tax - Yes Dang! it looks like I'm all in favor of cutting off big income to our state's budget, yikes! Anyway, I think it sucks to pay huge fees on my cell phone, on my house phone too for that matter... everyone thinks they're entitled to a certain percentage of my talking bill and it just sucks. So yeah, I'd like to keep your bloodsucking 4% as my own, thanks.
Referred Law 6
The Big One! Are women in South Dakota too stupid to understand their guaranteed 4th Amendment right to privacy? NO! There it is folks, that's all it is. Some might call this the Abortion Law, but I think the A word distorts the point. The point is that the Constitution is mine. As a human being who happens to be an American Citizen, that's it. What I do with my doctor is my business as it is yours and yours and yours and even yours. When you freely give up your rights to your government, what is stopping them from taking the rest while you sleep?
The Ballot in District 13, Minnehaha County, Sioux Falls, SD, 2006 is HUGE! Lots of that whirly swirly change possible right here, right now...
United States Representative
Stephanie Herseth, incumbent
She received my vote last time, too. She's a free thinker who doesn't judge ideas based on their party origin; she seeks its merit. She's linked to the Ds, but she's more conservative, more my kinda Goldwater girl ::bg::
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Jack Billion and Eric Abrahamson
Jack is just an all-around good guy. He gives off good vibes, he drinks good (local) coffee, he believes the 4th amendment applies to women equally, he wants to eliminate our status as the lowest wage state in the Union (including PR). Jack is all over YouTube, if you wanna check him out... he does look like the Orek vacuum cleaner guy! And face it, I Back Jack is just a really cool slogan!
Secretary of State
I abstained
I didn't vote, there's only one guy running and I didn't know him... how freaking sad is that? Are we *really* that apathetic? Does the job suck that much that only one person in this entire state wants it? I don't know if I want to know, ya know?
Attorney General
Ron Volesky
Okay, I admit it, 'cause he's a D :::sigh:::
State Auditor
State Treasurer
I abstained
(see rant under Secretary of State)
Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Bryce Healy
really? cause he doesn't give me the willies and Jarrod does; I don't think the "good ol' boys" have done very much for this state's evolution, I can't vote for one. Sorry, I didn't even know the Libertarian Candidate, though I was glad to see her on the ballot.
Public Utilities Commissioner
John Koskan
In his commercial, he talks about wind power. There are windmills on his campaign page and though I'm torn about the ethanol issue, methinks the wind energy development overshadows that one, right now.
State Senator
Scott Heidepriem
I like his "let's get back to work" slogan. He doesn't creep me. (some politicians just give off a big ol' creepy guy factor)
State Representative
(District 13) Brian Liss
(I abstained my second choice) Brian's a way cool guy. He was my very favorite Valentine's Date ever! We've always had lively discussions, I know that in all the ways we differ, we do so intelligently and respectfully. He's wrong ::g:: but his heart's in the right place! On the really important stuff, however, we strongly agree, though for very different reasons. He'll always get my vote, I'll always know I'm voting for someone thoughtful and smart.
Supreme Court Justice Retention and Circuit Courts
This part smacked me. I didn't know anything at all about these judges, I realized I hadn't done my homework at all. It was a bizarre ballot thing anyway: it had the Justice's name and the voter indicates if the person should be retained on the Supreme Court. I don't know what happens if I vote no... do we then vote again for a whole new SC? Then there were the ones whom it seemed just wanted to keep their judge job in whatever circuit court. Is there no one brave enough to challenge them? Okay, a couple of seats have competition, but I was seriously lacking in understanding and preparation and we're talking about 1.5 columns on a longer-than-legal sized ballot! So I said yes to our current Supreme Court... I abstained if only one judge was running, with the exception of Peter Lieberman, he's got a great reputation for being gruff and fair.
Constitutional Amendment C
Marriage Amendment - No. The passing of Amendment C would amend the Constitution to allow and recognize marriage only between a male and female. It would also prohibit the allowance or recognition of civil unions, domestic partnerships or other (gotta love this!) quasi-marital relationships between two or more persons regardless of sex (I think they mean gender!)
I gotta go off on this one... showing my incredibly liberal conservative side, as only I can... First, you should come to recognize that in my mind, anytime I see the word Man, especially as it relates to any legal documentation, I see this: 'man, as in: they're too lazy to write hu- every time. 'man is shorthand for human, see? So in that light (that's why they call it enlightenment!), the American Rights Guarantee, aka our historic legal principles on which this fine country was founded, is already set up to be as blind as Justice. There is should be NO distinction based on skin color nor genetic code nor bedpartner, the Constitution is applied equally to all the members of our union. period. We just plain shouldn't need gender or skin color amendments to our constitution, certainly our sex life is protected by the 4th amendment, it's already there without it. What we need to focus on is on electing those who are willing to do their job as blindly as they're supposed to. It's on us folks. Vote!
Constitutional Amendment D
Property Tax Change - No - it wants to change our easy to understand, unilateral tax system to some willy-nilly form... uh, don't think so.
Constitutional Amendment E
Sue your Jury - No This one doesn't quite make sense to me... you make a decision as a jury based on evidence at hand, the appeal is won and now you're in court for wrongful whatever and you've gotta pay damages, out of any account, including your retirement it seems. eek! It's quite hard enough to get rational folks to sit on a jury, who do ya thinks gonna show up ready and willing now?
Constitutional Amendment F
Yes - I don't know about eliminating the limitation of expense reimbursements for legislators, but they stuck it together with limiting the legislation's ability to enact special laws and removal of congressional term limits (voting IS term limits!!), prohibiting closed door vote sessions (which we're known for) and give legislature emergency powers in event of disasters (which scares me in that *V* for Vendetta kind of way... which powers? which disasters: real or implied or just plain imaginary?)
Initiated Measure 2
Tobacco Tax - NO The state cannot have vested interest in the death and ill-being of it's citizens. We cannot be committed to South Dakotans Quit AND be reliant upon the tax revenue from same-said folks. The State should be committed to our health and not profiting from our destruction.
Initiated Measure 3
School Term Start - I abstained What a freaking waste of my time... I just can't believe this is on the freaking BALLOT!?!? People put their energy, time and money into when the school term begins? holy cow! Who really needs a law, a freaking LAW to state if it's okay to start school before September 1?? If you don't want your kid there before September 1, don't send 'em!! Go on vacation instead! In fact, the first weekend after Labor Day, come on out to the Live and Learn Conference and learn why you, too, should say goodbye to School in your Life!!
Initiated Measure 4
Medical Marijuana - YES! Certified for 6 plants and up to an oz for medical reasons. Regardless of how I feel about recreational use of cannabis, I can't imagine anyone who knows Mitch's tale would deny us freedom from prosecution (and persecution) for the only medicine that worked for his radiation induced anorexia and his chemotherapy induced nausea, not to mention his situation being appropriate for an opportunity for some escape from reality, and pain relief from headaches, this specific treatment indeed was recommended by his specialists at the Mayo Clinic.
There's also this whole part of me that despises pharmaceutical companies in America. I hate that thousands of children are on medication to dull their Spark for Life and I think it's dangerous and scary and I wish it were up to me, the voter, to decide if that should be allowed... but alas it isn't here and I'm deep down glad for it... it's right back to the 4th amendment and Privacy again... ain't nobody's business if ya do! So it sure ain't yours if I do!
Initiated Measure 5
Restrictions on State's aircraft - No I was yes until I saw that violations would now be subject to civil and criminal penalties. ick! More lawyers gettin rich cause my friend the governor flew me out to see my dying grandma on the state plane. Doesn't seem right in my heart.
Initiated Measure 7
Repeal Video Lottery - Yes Sorry dad, looks like you may have to drive to Flandreau for your fun from now on. Again, it goes back to vested interest by the State. Should the state be investing in keeping folks drunk and broke? I'm thinking no. And the promises made for the huge boost in education dollars? We're still 51st and our citizens are still broke.
Initiated Measure 8
Repeal Telecommunications Tax - Yes Dang! it looks like I'm all in favor of cutting off big income to our state's budget, yikes! Anyway, I think it sucks to pay huge fees on my cell phone, on my house phone too for that matter... everyone thinks they're entitled to a certain percentage of my talking bill and it just sucks. So yeah, I'd like to keep your bloodsucking 4% as my own, thanks.
Referred Law 6
The Big One! Are women in South Dakota too stupid to understand their guaranteed 4th Amendment right to privacy? NO! There it is folks, that's all it is. Some might call this the Abortion Law, but I think the A word distorts the point. The point is that the Constitution is mine. As a human being who happens to be an American Citizen, that's it. What I do with my doctor is my business as it is yours and yours and yours and even yours. When you freely give up your rights to your government, what is stopping them from taking the rest while you sleep?
3 comments:
Way to back Jack! I voted for him too!!
Referred Law 6 ickiness:
I got a call on my cell phone, out of state area code, some crazy antichoice organization telling me to vote yes for life and they blatantly lied, saying the law has exceptions, which it doesn't! I couldn't call the number back, it was one of those automated things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In our mailbox yesterday was this page: (I'll rant about the illegalities another time!)
{my commentary}
"I'm Pro-Choice
(A woman has the right to choose!)
--She can choose to abstain.
{except for when that choice is forcibly removed, no rape exceptions}
--She can choose to use birth control.
{except not all pharmacists will give you birth control, it's up to their own morals; unless she's a minor &/or unless that choice is forcibly removed; no rape nor incest exceptions}
--She can choose to keep her clothes on.
{see above}
--She can choose adoption.
{who is gonna adopt this baby with only a brainstem? who's gonna adopt the baby who's birth defects will leave her hospitalized for the entirety of her short but painful life? No birth defect exceptions}
She should not be allowed to kill the consequences of her own POOR choices!
{and she should futhermore be faced everysingle day with the consequences of someone else's poor choices; or worse, the consequences of a genetic mishap that was no one's choice}
oops, koskan supports nuclear energy... the other guy's a true believer... wind energy is the ruse that the pierre boys use to fool the voters while giving tax abatements to coal and nuclear industrial freaks.
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