The Propositions
Recomendations for the California conservative…
[Thomas G. Del Beccaro] 10/28//05

Prop 73 – Parental Notification – Vote Yes

There is no getting away from the fact that this proposition is part of a greater cultural war over abortion. Nevertheless, this Proposition cannot and should not be judged solely within that prism.

It is also begs the simple question of whether we, as a society, believe in the importance of the family and parents. My 13 year old daughter is required by her school to obtain my written permission to take even the most common medicines. Presumably, beyond the liability issue, that permission is needed because, well, she is a child – not capable of making certain decisions for herself. Moreover, her school requires my phone number and permission to treat her if she is hurt at school.

In other words, as a society we require parental involvement for her injuries and the taking of medicine, deny her the right to vote, the right to drink and the right to go to war and kill others. If she is to be denied the right to do those things and otherwise needs my permission to take an aspirin, regardless of what overlay is placed on a contentious issue, there can be no satisfactory logic that she, or others, are capable of making arguably the most momentous decision affecting her body that she could ever make.

Prop 73 is a simple acknowledgement of all of the above and is a clear statement that we do not want villages bringing up our children but instead - parents.

It is that simple. Vote yes on Prop 73.

Prop 74 – Teacher Tenure - Vote Yes

The issue of teaching is not just about teachers. Indeed, it is and should be primarily about children. They deserve our best. Culturally, we are a country borne of individual initiative and competition. It is a system that had produced the highest quality and most abundant goods and services for consumers in history. In the education system, children and parents are the consumers.

Yet, we have built a system that, as a practical matter, is devoid of competition and rewards its participants, teachers, the same regardless of their desire or performance. That flies in the face of human nature and our culture. It is no wonder our true heritage is not taught under such a system. Prop 74 delays giving permanent jobs to teachers from 2 to 5 years and makes it possible to fire bad teachers.

When you realize that the massive Los Angeles Unified school district only took one teacher all the way through the termination process in a recent school year – you know the system is a failure. Frankly, Prop 75 will do precious little in my view to really change that system. Nevertheless, it is a step in the right direction and deserves your support. Vote yes on Prop 74.

Prop 75 – Paycheck Protection – Vote Yes

There simply is no shortage of good reasons to vote for this measure. The measure merely asks that public unions ask permission of employees before they deduct money from their paycheck to use for political lobbying. Nothing more. Under the current system, an employee who wants to keep their money for themselves - to buy schools supplies for their students perhaps – must opt out and incur the wrath of the union to do so. As a result, it is a rare occurrence.

Most importantly, all of the money/union dues subject to this measure are tax dollars paid by the public at large. You pay taxes, the government gives those taxes to public employees in the form salaries – but not quite – before they get to those employees they are deducted out of their paycheck and given to “public” employee unions and spent 97% (national avg.) on the causes of the Democrat Party. It is a brilliant system for unions and the Democrats and bad for the public. Given that even a majority of union members find that partisanship to be wrong, it should not be hard for the public at large to see that as well or to understand that public money should never benefit one party over the other.

Beyond that fairness issue, it is also remarkable that the opponents of this type of reform refuse to entertain the notion that individual union members should not have a real choice when it comes to their own money. Clearly the party of “choice” is not. Oh, and as far as corporations spending shareholder's money, those shareholders have the choice to sell their stock any day of the week, union members whose families depend on their jobs do not.

Finally, without question, public employee unions have far too much influence over public policy. The desires of the unions actually play a greater role than the needs of the public. If you are the least bit cynical about politics, or if you subscribe to the “golden rule” - those with the gold make the rules, then you know that such influence must be curbed. For those reasons and others, Vote yes on Prop 75.

Prop 76 – Budget Reform - Vote Yes

This modest measure seeks to limit government growth to an average of the prior 3 years’ revenue growth and allows for mid-year adjustments. California’s budget has no such controls at present – no wonder the budget has had doubled since the early 1990’s. We cannot afford to have the budget double every 10 years lest we risk another Davis type fiscal disaster, the loss of jobs and tax revenues which hurt education and the ability to provide essential services.

The mid-year adjustment option, contrary to the Left’s commercials, requires the Governor to call a special session of the Legislature to deal with budget shortfalls. If the legislature does not act, only then can the governor act. That is a measured and balanced approach.

Frankly, this measure falls short of what is needed as well. California needs true budget restraint consistent with the Gann initiative – spending that increases the same as population and inflation. In the meantime, Prop 76 is a step in that direction. Vote yes on 76.

Prop 77 – Redistricting Reform - Vote Yes

Which makes more sense: (a) politicians choosing their voters or (b) voters choosing their politicians? If you chose principle (a) over power politics (b), then that is all you need know – vote yes on 77.

If you need further explanation, know that contrary to comments made by its detractors, the 3 judge panel has remarkably little to do under this measure. They have little to do because the parameters they must work under to create the new districts require cities to be left in tact and counties as well wherever possible. That means no more gerrymandering.

Some Congressional Republicans are against this measure because they fear that if this reform bug spread to other states, Republicans may lose seats in Congress. Excuse me, but I thought Republicans are the Party of Principle not situational politics. Enough said. Vote yes on 77. CRO

copyright 2005 Thomas G. Del Beccaro

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