What the ballots say (source: www.votesmartaz.org):
What it does:
Amends the Arizona Constitution to state that any ballot initiative that establishes, imposes, or raises any tax or fee or mandates any spending obligations may only become law if it is approved by a majority of registered Arizona voters
Arguments for:
-Many tax increases have been passed due to low voter turnout
-Makes it more difficult for special interest groups to circumvent the Legislature and enact new taxes and spending measures at the ballot
-See www.letthemajorityrule.com
Arguments against:
-Makes it nearly impossible for civic and community organizations to impact public policy through the initiative process
-Those who do not vote should not have the ability to decide elections
Why the ads should be infuriating to you:
Perhaps you have seen the TV ads of the fat, lazy, potato-chip-eating slob sitting in his recliner lamenting on whether or not he should bother peeling himself away from his beloved sitcoms to vote this year. A narrator tells viewers that Prop 105 allows the opinions of those who won't bother to vote to decide elections; that your "yes" vote will be canceled out by those who do not vote at all. Sounds ridiculous that we would even consider such nonsense, right?
What they are not telling you is that Prop 105 was developed with the interests of the people at heart. It is in no way, shape or form meant to cover any and all initiatives placed on the ballot, nor does it affect candidates. It is ONLY applicable to the passing of new taxes or the raising of old ones, with the goal that if the majority of registered voters does not vote in favor of higher taxes, they should not be passed at all. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS that you may not want to support will reap the benefits of your hard-earned money if this proposition does not pass. It requires that a MAJORITY OF REGISTERED VOTERS favor higher taxes, not a majority of those who voted on the initiative.
For example, let's say there are one million registered voters who can vote on a tax raise, but only one thousand actually vote on the issue. Of the one thousand, seven hundred vote in favor of the higher tax. If the Voters of Arizona had their way, those seven hundred people would be making the decision to raise taxes on the entire population. This is NOT a majority vote. They are doing everything in their power to deceive you into believing that this proposition will affect every single issue on the ballot. You should be insulted that they assume you are foolish enough to believe it! I plead with you to vote "YES" on Prop 105 with me at the polls this year.
Please, for the love of God, don't gauge your vote by the ads you see on TV. I have had enough of the blatant lies, twisting of the truth, and elements taken completely out-of-context that are set forth by political interests desperate to have their way. Perfect example: the attacks on Sidney Hay. When the ads parrot about her intentions to "impose a 23% sales tax on goods you use every day" that will "abolish corporate taxes" and that she is a "corporate lobbyist" it makes me want to poke out my eyes with hot forks. Anyone who has been paying attention should immediately make the connection between "23%" and "Fair Tax," which would abolish ALL taxes with the exception of the 23% sales tax on goods and services. No income tax, no IRS, no estate tax, no death tax, no business tax, so by default, no corporate tax.
It should be outrageously insulting to our intelligence that people would put forth things so blatantly out of context to keep someone out of office, but unfortunately many people are uninformed and make decisions based on ads- I should know, I majored in advertising in college! Go figure. If money were no object, I'd be out there countering the lies with the truth in ads like mad. However, unlike their Democratic counterparts, the conservatives I support don't spend record amounts on campaigns and advertising to ensure their candidates get into office and their initiatives pass... they trust the people to make decisions on the issues and candidates and not what they tell them to believe in a 30-second spot on TV.
I could go on and on about how blatantly ignorant people have to be to miss Obama's plain-as-day Marxist tendencies, but I digress. You will be spared since I already covered that in my last blog. I am literally praying that people are properly educated and armed with opinions based on FACT before they enter the polls this November 4th.
2 comments:
I love your blog, but I think you've lost touch with reality RE Prop 105!
; )
Seriously, it DOES affect every conceivable initiative. The language is very broad. Please read it right here:
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Arizona:
The Constitution of Arizona is proposed to be amended by adding Section 1.1 to Article IV, Part 1 as follows, if approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon and on proclamation of the Governor:
Section 1. Article IV, Part 1, Constitution of Arizona, is amended by adding Section 1.1, as follows:
§1.1. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH TRUE MAJORITY RULE
SECTION 1.1. TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH TRUE MAJORITY RULE, AN INITIATIVE MEASURE THAT ESTABLISHES, IMPOSES OR RAISES A TAX, FEE, OR OTHER REVENUE, OR MANDATES A SPENDING OBLIGATION, WHETHER ON A PRIVATE PERSON, LABOR ORGANIZATION, OTHER PRIVATE LEGAL ENTITY OR THIS STATE, SHALL NOT BECOME LAW UNLESS THE MEASURE IS APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS THEN REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THIS STATE.
Section 2. Short Title: This Constitutional Amendment shall be known as the "Majority Rule--Let the People Decide Act."
This is extremely broad language. The phrase "MANDATES A SPENDING OBLIGATION" in particular is so broad that it is impossible to conceive a measure that doesn't create at least administrative costs--these would clearly apply.
105 is about voting rights and voting rights only. The couch potato ad is NOT misleading.
Let's dial down the emotions, stop pretending this is about taxes, and Vote No on 105. Join voters from across the political spectrum in opposing this.
Most of your postings are so excellent, I was shocked to see this one.
Thanks for all of your work.
I am afraid that this proposition has nothing to do with "voter rights" and everything to do with keeping taxes under control for a change.
Currently, a small but vocal minority of voters are able to concoct, and frequently get passed tax increases on all of us whether we agree or not. Passage of Prop. 105 might actually cause more people to come to the polls and vote for a change!
It would also obviate the rather sneaky way in which some tax increases are scheduled via a vote on a particular pet project when it is assumed most people won't be paying attention.
Make certain that you please vote YES on Prop. 105 so that only tax increases approved by a true majority will pass. We've had too many unnecessary tax increases slipped by us in the past!
It should be noted that Darcy Olsen of the Goldwater Institute is also in favor of Prop. 105 so support of passage is broad by knowledgeable and concerned people.
Post a Comment