Just got home from voting

[dreamflower]

Most of y'all know who I voted for in the Presidential race and I know some of you agree and some don't; I hope you voted for the person you think best.

There were some interesting state and local measures on the ballot--two of which I was not even aware of until I read the ballot.

I voted to raise our county taxes by 1/16 of a percent in order to provide up to date equipment for the fire department.

And I voted for allowing alcohol to be served on Sunday in this county. I don't drink myself, but I can't see that blue laws really serve any real purpose in this day and age.

On the state level I voted to NOT abolish the Department of Human Services, to retain affirmative action, to do away with taxing services and licenses, and to lower the cap on property taxes from 5% to 3%.

There were a few other issues I voted on, but those were the main ones.

Comments

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I always vote for fire department taxes. They need all the funding they can get.

How busy were the polls? I haven't voted yet but when I drove by the parking lot of my polling place, on the way to dropping my daughter off at school, the parking lot was jammed. Nice to see a big turnout.

[dreamflower]

We're in a small town at a small precinct. We vote at a little Baptist church. The parking lot was full, but there was no line--still for every person who left another was coming in.

I just saw some local coverage of the voting from OKC and the reporter interviewed an older lady (perhaps early 60s) who is voting for the first time ever. She said she could not read or write, but she was going to be able to vote this time with help! I found that very touching!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Aww, how sweet! It's never too late to start voting, is it. Good for her!

Ah yes, voting in small towns is fun! I vote at the Methodist church. It's always fun to go in there and see the League of Women Voters ladies running the election, with all their crock pots of homemade soup and chili spread out on the table behind them. Voting tends to make me hungry. LOL

[dreamflower]

I'm old enough to recall when election day was a national holiday! I wish that it still was!

We Methodists always like an excuse to feed people! *grin*

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

I probably would have done the same except for the last one. But that's because property taxes pretty much pay for the library where I work, and we've already had so many cutbacks I've been going into work sick just so we can open the doors.

[dreamflower]

Well, this was a cap on the state tax, rather than the county or city. I believe the librarian told me that the library here is funded by city bonds which are split up between various projects. She told me that if they had not raised new bonds about ten years ago to build the youth athletic center, the library would probably have had to close then because the building was in such bad shape.

I'm not sure about the other library I use in Stillwater. I think some of its funding comes from OSU, but I'm not sure about the rest.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Ah! I see. I don't think the state here collects property taxes. It's very much the city. Bonds pay for construction, but it's the property taxes that pay for operations.

Mostly, I don't vote to cut taxes when things are tight because it usually means something that needs to get done gets privatized, and I lose the chance to make the provider of the service accountable.

[the-mad-hobbit.livejournal.com]

We probably voted for the same person for president. My vote will be more than wiped out, but you have to take a stand.

Hugs,
Rach

[dreamflower]

Yeah, my vote was pretty much wiped out too. But I was still proud to vote for him whether it counted or not.

[addie71.livejournal.com]

How could the State abolish the DHS? Aren't a lot of their programs federally mandated?

[dreamflower]

They are going to micromanage the programs through the legislature.

*rolls eyes* Isn't that a recipe for success! Not.

[addie71.livejournal.com]

Don't tell me this passed? Please.

[dreamflower]

Of course it passed. This is Oklahoma.

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

Our polling place is the local Boston police station about 4 blocks away so I was able to cast my vote and catch the train into work quite easily.

I strongly suspect we voted for the same presidential/vice-presidential candidates. :^) The MA US senate race is one that has captured my attention in a big way.

Our questions were the following

1. A proposal that would require automobile manufacturers to provide non-proprietary diagnostic directly to consumers and also the safety information needed to repair their cars.

2. A proposed measure to allow a terminally ill patient to be given lethal drugs. A terminally ill patient would be defined as a patient being given six months or fewer to live.

3. A measure that would legalize the use of medical marijuana in the state.

Questions 1 and 2 were "no's" for me. Although I agree in essence with Question 1, the proposal is too vague. And Question 2? Holy moly. The way that proposal is written is REALLY sketchy. Question 3? Yes. Might as well make it legal, esp. because marijuana genuinely does help terminally ill patients and also, because the pharma industry has little vested interest in developing a legal equivalent.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

I'm in Boston too! I went ahead and voted yes for number one, because the booklet with the entire thing I got in the mail a few weeks back made it clearer. I waffled on two, but came down to yes because I know someone who really wants this choice available when (not if) her quality of life degrades to the point where she can't function between the pain meds or the pain. And I said yes on three too. And four, even if it wasn't binding.

But it was awfully nice to see so many people in line at my polling place.

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

I tend to think Question 1 will carry as a Yes.

Number two is a tough one for exactly the reasons you state. Again, in principle, I agree with the idea that someone with a terminal illness should have this choice (my major project focuses on a potential medication for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). The current proposal needs further safeguards from what I see.

Question 4! Not binding, but it felt good to fill in the Yes vote.

[dreamflower]

So, er, what was Question 4?

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

Here we go...

Should the legislator in this district be instructed to vote for a resolution calling on Congress and the president to prevent cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and other assistance programs, invest in creating jobs, close corporate tax loopholes, raise taxes on incomes over $250,000, and reduce military spending by bringing US troops?

[dreamflower]

LOL! Well, good luck with that! Seriously.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

I voted during early voting here.

I can sleep well, no matter the outcome.

[dreamflower]

(((hugs)))