California Proposition Results

So here are the results of our propositions for 2008:

Legend:

• The Numbers below the propositions represent the percentage of votes.

• The left number is the "yes" votes and the right number is the "no" votes.

• An X next to a proposition means it didn't match my vote.

• ## Represents a Bond. Those Props are 1, 3, 10, and 12.

## X 1) High speed rail: Yes
52.1 to 47.9

2) Farm Animal treatment: Yes
63.1 to 36.9

## X 3) Children's Hospitals: Yes
54.8 to 45.2

X 4) Abortion Notification: No
48 to 52

X 5) Drug offense leniency: No
40.1 to 59.1

X 6) Increased spending for Cops: No
30.8 to 69.2

X 7) Renewable Energy, 50% provided by Renewable by 2025: No
35.2 to 64.8

8) Gay Marriage Ban: Yes
52.5 to 47.5

9) Victim's rights: Yes
53.5 to 46.5

## 10) Alternative Fuel Cars: No
40.3 to 59.7

11) Redistricting by Registered Voters not Politicians: Yes
50.6 to 49.4

## X 12) Veterans Bond for Loans: Yes
63.5 to 36.5

Source (Check out the source to see some interactive information. Check proposition results in counties and see detailed spreading of votes.)

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Analysis:
So 7 of the propositions did not folllow my vote, but luckily 5 did.
That's a 41.66% success rate. Not ideal but for politics that's definitely an A.

Sadly the one initiative i wanted to pass most was Prop 7. The reason it failed was supposedly weak wording or creation by lawyers. Regardless it's not hard to write on a piece of paper, "50% of our electricity will be renewable by 2025".

That single line was enough for me. I guess it wasn't enough for the vast majority of California though. :(

Bonds:

3 of the 4 that we proposed passed. I hope people actual looked at their General Election Voting Guides because I get the feeling they didn't...

I swear it's like we're in a mall, and we see some shiny toys, and regardless of the price we want it. It's a crazy shoppers mentality.

I would have been happy loosing to Prop 12, that doesn't make me angry. It's a small bond and it has a good chance of being paid back.

But prop 1.... was a joke, anyone doing a little research would have figured it out.
Prop 3 was a scam, giving money's to institutions that don't CATER to children. You'd think by the name of the proposition that they would, but the exact definition of Children's hospital was so vague that it allowed MOST hospitals to receive funding....

Private hospitals that have nothing to do with children would be eligible.... by simply treating a large number of children.

It's sad, 2 bonds, both scams, both passed, and one of them being the biggest project that California has ever funded. Prop 1 will drive us into a hole, financially, by being the biggest project ever constructed here.

All for what? So we can pay $50, as the voter's guide said, to get on a train to San Francisco? Yea, like going there is important, while we watch our own infrastructure crumble.


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We can't afford it:


On a final note, to all those people who said we couldn't afford health care, that we couldn't pay for better schools, that we couldn't pay our firefighters or cops more, that 1 trillion dollars to rebuild all of America's Infrastructure was just too much, that the minimum wage was too costly to increase, and that lowering taxes would cripple our economy

I'd just like to ask them one thing:

HOW DID YOU FIND $700 BILLION DOLLARS FOR A BAILOUT OF THE BANKING SECTOR!!!!!

That's $700,000,000,000

Oh and on another note

HOW DID YOU INCREASE OUR DEFENSE BUDGET TO $515.4 BILLION DOLLARS.(The highest military budget since WW2)

THAT BUDGET IS A 74% INCREASE SINCE 2001!!!

Source (PDF) Source (Link)

Follow up:

NY Times article entitled "Proposed Military Spending Is Highest Since WWII"
Link

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We can't afford it.... yea right....

One day you'll have to have a bake sale to buy bombs and we'll be doubling OUR budgets!!

~~Phoenix

Priorities

(I need my peers to stop following the crowd and start following what's important)

Life is all about priorities.
For some reason, my generation doesn't seem to understand that.

The inspiration for this post came from watching a small group of people in front of my college, protest for a proposition on the Ballot.

It was proposition 8 and it includes removing the right of Gay people to vote.
There were 2 groups of protesters, one for the proposition and one against.
I asked myself one thing, that probably no one there did, "Is this the most important issue on the ballot, the most important proposition that needs to pass or fail?"

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Prop 7

The answer was simple, it wasn't the most important issue, or even near it.

The most important proposition in my mind was proposition 7.

California Proposition 7 would, if approved, require California utilities to procure half of their power from renewable resources by 2025. California utilities will be required to increase their purchase of electricity generated from renewable resources by 2% annually to meet Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements of 40% in 2020 and 50% in 2025. Under current law, investor-owned utility companies must comply with an RPS of 20% by 2010.

Source

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Marriage or Energy independence?

So I know proposition 8 only affects gay couples, but just to be fair, I'll assume my right to marriage is in jeopardy.

So i ask myself, what's more important, Marriage or Energy independence?

The answer for me and millions of Californian's is simple, Energy independence.
Are we blind or something?
Is this question a joke?
Is this even a contest? Should we even be comparing such things that clearly have a night and day difference of importance?

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My peers

So being told that... why are those protesters focused on prop 8?

I don't get it... i've seen them there almost every time i go to college, for more than 2 weeks.

Why put so much focus on marriage?

Have they even heard of proposition 7, or the other amazing ones that NEED to pass, that NEED our support to change America and California?

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Potential movements Die, with the power of 1,000 civil rights movements.

I lower my head now, and i ask the people of the future who read this, to pity me.

To pity me as they see me in history, having to deal with such problems.

This isn't the period of hatred and violence, back with racism and segregation.

This is the period of Ignorance and laziness, the time where we thirst for no knowledge and quench our questions with biased water.

I ask the people of future years to help me never let this happen again, to never allow the media to so totally push us away from the CENTRAL issues of our time.

Please, help me, as i watch the important things in life drift away, as i watch a potential movement as strong as the civil rights, die.

I watch potential movements, with the power to bring down nations, wallow away.


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Spreading information, Shining the light that will start the movements of my time

I watch as my peers sit by complacently, as if the world is as it should be.

I see the world and treat it as it should be, not how it is, and what we have now, will never be acceptable to me.

If a movement won't start and a people will not rise, I will turn on a light so bright, that no one will be able to look away.

I just hope others can help me carry the burden, helping to awaken the mass of sleeping people, put there by their manipulators(Dual party system) and their media(ABC, CBS, FOX, MSNBC, and CNN).

Rest well my peers, soon you'll be awakened and actualized.
We'll have third party candidates and Governmental coalitions some day.

A light bright enough to awaken my peers, where can such a light be found? How can such a newspaper be made? Might this blog serve as that first candle?

The information will get to them, the question is how.

~~Phoenix

They Preach water but Drink Wine

(We're an ever changing puzzle, very few can understand, let alone solve)

Someone on the Riz khan show today said an excellent quote "They preach water but they drink wine".

They were referring to America on a number of issues. The issue focused on in that episode was transparency in our election.

America was calling for free and open elections but was not meeting their commitments with electronic ballots and voter fraud allegations.

We make fun of Zimbabwe and Kenya when they have censored and biased elections, yet we do very little to upgrade our own system.


A few other things America preaches but refuses to drink themselves:

• Anti-Nationalization of businesses for government (AIG, and many other banks were nationalized)

• Health care for it's people.(50 million strong don't have it)

• Free media, not affected by big business

• Invasions of countries such as how Georgia was invaded by Russia, after it invaded south ossetia (Iraq war stands as a clear contradiction to this as well as our past history)

America wants a lot of things, but it is too hypocritical when it comes to applying it's own standard to itself.

We want freedom yet we take the freedom of others away.

We want fair elections and transparency, yet we allowed 2 elections to be stolen by bush.

We need to preach water, and drink it too.

We've become drunk from all this wine and the hangover has yet to come.

Morality losing to My Generation

There has been a gradual loss of morality as the years have ticked away.

I've been seeing general trends of immorality increasing.

It has gotten so bad that i get scared looking at how the kids are dressed at my middle school.

When i was that young, which wasn't that long ago, I would never see little girls wearing some of the small outfits they are now, or shirts with very flirtatious messages.

Just changing the position of the text of a shirt sometimes gives a provacative look. (On the chest of a girl for instance, another example given later as well.)

And all this at a middle school? That's 6-8th graders... or 11-13 year olds; children.

My Generation's Morality:

1) Cars: I was driving today and I was leaving College down the only road that heads to the freeway. 

Naturally lots of other classes end when mine ends so there was a long line of cars behind and in front of me. 

I passed two side streets and both had vehicles waiting. How long they wait depends on the generosity of the person.

If no car stops for them (Which by law they don't have to) they will probably be there for more than 10 minutes. If a car waits for 10 seconds, and lets them go, that is beneficial to both parties and a nice gesture.

So at the first side street i let someone go who just arrived there, and the driving becomes stop and go. 

After only about 20 ft or so (yet 2 minutes of waiting bumper to bumper), we get to the next  side street, and a guy wants to make a left into it. There were about 10-20 cars in front of me and none of them let him turn.

It would have taken less than 10 seconds and they would have been able to continue their stop and go experience.... but no one did it.

What happens to a world where people are not willing to be generous, by waiting less than 10 seconds?

I let the man pass and i was sad because i didn't know if anyone else would have. I thought of how long he might have had to wait.

I was shocked to see all those cars in front of me go, and none of them stop for him, to let the poor guy cross.

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2) Clothes: This is something most guys won't appreciate because they've been enjoying this luxury for about 3 decades now.

Female clothing is getting ridiculous. 

• Messages on her behind: Pants that have messages in places that are asking guys to look. The sad thing is that the mentality here in America is that there is nothing wrong with looking; actually your'e gay if you don't look. I saw a girl with pants like these, with nothing provacative on them, It simply had the USC school colors and had "USC" typed on the pants. She probably didn't see anything sexy or provacative about it at all though. But that's the problem...  She probably doesn't think it's bad but if she really thinks about it, she would see that it does turn guys on, and guys won't mind looking at the USC letters, not because of what's written but the fact that' it's on her nicely shaped behind.

• Really high skirts or shorts/short jeans: For some reason, even in the coldest weather, there are always girls with very short skirts or short jeans on. Again, regardless of the cold. Btw it's rarely cold here in SoCal, so on those hot days, the weather begs those skirts to get worn and come out. 

• Stomach: How can we forget the stomach look, it's been around for a while now and it's probably here to stay. This look though is seen as provacative, and it's a must for the party/clubbing life. Don't forget the accessory that is the belly button piercing.

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3) Arguing: People have lost respect and morality in this manner. Discussions and dialogues have lost their meanings. What once was used as a medium to discuss and compare ideas has turned into a screaming match and mud slinging. 

People do not have proper conversations or discussions anymore.

What discussions should be about:

1) Taking insight and seeing problems in a different light

2) Wondering why the other side holds such beliefs.

3)  Discussing what positions would have to be true or false, for your friend to change their opinion on the topic. 

Right now it's all about, "I'm right, and here is why". It's never about, "What positions and complex of situations does the other person believe in that i don't, that causes their position."

You don't delve into why people might disagree, you just plain disagree, and that ruins a discussion, and turns it into an arguement. You then end up looking arrogant and stubborn.

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People losing their ways:

They've lost it because they allow a man's sexual and animalistic desires to take hold.

They take women and transfer them from human beings, to objects of sexual attraction, something to be used and admired for shallow reasons, like an animal at the zoo. 

But she's worth more than that, she shouldn't be paraded around as your fantasy.

But Morality is fighting a loosing war.

Why would a women wear any pants that have writing written on their behind, knowing full well guys will read it, and actually asking them too, promoting the text by putting it in a sexual place. 

But what about good old plain manners? Why let a car wait 10 minutes when you can ease him of his suffering by waiting 10 seconds. 

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To sum it up

There needs to be an awakening amongst females. They need to stop being used as sexual toys and treated as meat to be stared at.

They're more than that, they're intellectuals and nurturing souls, they've helped build this world into the strongest economies we've ever seen. 

They're not to be used and abused like we've been doing, and women need to stop enabling this by wearing horrible clothing. 

But none of this will change unless there is a feminine movement to do so. 

General Morality:

We need the Neighbor mentality, we need to sacrifice for others, in what little ways we can.

Let a car pass if you see they have to wait 10 minutes, and you only have to wait 10 seconds. 

Don't be impervious to the line of cars stacked behind you. 

Stop acting like you know everything, and take input from others. Actually listen to what they have to say, because if you don't, you'll never progress and will be wrong on many occasions. 

When you have a discussion, don't turn it into an argument of who is right and who is wrong.

In the end, everything I'm writing is futile, it's in vain, and it won't see the light of day.

A new morality is taking hold. A morality where cheating on your gf/bf is acceptable, and you're expected to forgive them. If not that, forgiving them is a serious option, when in reality it should only be used as a last resort, in desperate consequences. 

A new morality is taking over, one where it's o.k to hurt someone else's feelings.

If they're annoying or not as smart as you, they're inferior, so what should it matter to you if their feelings get hurt?

There's no one to stick up for them in this new world, and we all live for ourselves, not as a community.

A new morality is taking over, and i'm the last of a dying race. 

I will not sell out my fellow sisters on the world, for their mere looks or flesh. 

They will matter more to me than that.

They won't be paraded around and put on magazines with cars on them. 

They won't be forced into scandalous scenes, to make it big in the movie industry.

A new morality is taking over, and there is no room for "I'm sorry" anymore.

My Generation is holding the old morality in it's hands, and is prepared to strike out the last signs of life, of a dying people during a trying time.

A new morality is taking over, and i'm forced to live amongst it.

~~Phoenix

Possible final post on Cordelia Blog

Btw, why is it that my comments are discarded now on this blog?

I had to change the name just to post this.

Maybe i'm unwelcome now, and an open discussion isn't what you wanted.
That's fine, because in the end I only want to speak to people willing to listen.

Why waste my energy, and yours, if you seem to not want to take in anything I say?

Again I'm asking why my comments on the name "Theephoenix" are being discarded?

And if it's because you don't want an open discussion, I'm fine with going away.

Next time place a disclaimer on the site: "No opposing views shall be endorsed or expressed, and the vilification of Islam will remain, regardless of our Previous Pope's Views or the Teachings of Jesus Christ, the uniter of humanity."

~~Phoenix

Third post

"asimplesinner" our stances remain crystal clear, whether you want to admit it or not, you demonize muslims.

Just through reading your responses, it's clear you don't side yourself as an Ally of muslims.

The problem is, John Paul II did ally himself with Islam, and so did many of your leaders.

Your shield in all of this was simply writing an article, but your beliefs stem deeper than that, they reverberate in your responses.

Even if the article is o.k and accepted by us, your beliefs in this discussion are not.

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You do as many people have done, you ask for Muslim Condemnation of evil actions.

You continuously ask it, even when we both agree that something is AGAINST Islam, you ask for our condemnation of it. Again even after we agree it goes against the religion.

Where have the muslim's condemned it?
Why do the moderates not speak up?
Where is the majority?

These all reverberate through your comments.

The problem is, your eyes are closed, there are muslims here condemning such things who are speaking to you as you read this.

And as for political condemnations:
http://www.islamicinformationcenter.org/

The strongest governmental muslim organization that routinely condemns acts of violence.

If you had bothered to look for condemnation you would have found it, the problem is you shut your eyes to it. That organization is headquartered in Washington and is a powerhouse for muslim political activity.

Again if you had bothered looking for it, you would have found it, the problem is you don't actively look for condemnation.

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1.3 billion muslims are condemning the actions of a few, and are upset with their governments.

Just because your media doesn't show it, doesn't mean it isn't there.

Try watching Al Jazeera English, or the BBC, and get an international Viewpoint, maybe you'd become less biased.

http://english.aljazeera.net/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/

CNN and MSNBC are not in the business of informing you, they're in the business of business.

~~Phoenix

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After I wrote that and posted in on the Black Cordelia's blog, it said the comment was discarded.

I tried submitting it again, but that name is now set to auto discard all comments.

I assume I'm not invited to speak on the blog anymore, maybe they don't want to have true discussions, whatever the case, i'll make this clear in my next post to them, and ask them why they don't welcome open debate.

~~Phoeinx

Second Post to Cordelia

A second post, after my previous one, just to hit home that the Papacy is not at war with Islam, and neither are the Catholics, as some of them would want.

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Oh as a last note, Pope John Paul II said something you probably are too proud to say, and yes he believed it, as you should:

"In August 1985, when he visited Morocco at the invitation of King Hassan II, he became the first pope to visit an officially Islamic country at the invitation of its religious leader.

There, at a historic meeting with thousands of Muslim youths in Casablanca Stadium, he emphasized that "we believe in the same God, the one God, the living God."

http://www.catholicnews.com/jpii/stories/story04.htm


Christianity, the true version of it, is not at war with Islam.

But some factions of the church, such as some writers of this blog, are fighting the church and fighting the teachings of Christianity.

Peace is the way to prosperity, not hate or ignorance.

~~Phoenix