DON'T VOTE!

I agree at least in part with Jeff Greenfield that those who are still undecided as to how they'll vote should just stay home. I'll take it one step further, though: Don't vote unless you vote the same as I did.

I mailed my absentee ballot in last Monday. Here's how I voted:

U.S. President: Gary Johnson- No question the best choice, with a great track record of executive experience. If you'd like to vote for one of the other third party candidates, that's acceptable and there's no better time than now since Obama has the state locked up.

U.S. Senator: Elizabeth Emken- What's to say? Anybody but Feinsten, the authoritarian's choice.

State Assembly, Dist. 2: Tom Lynch- Clearly a better pick than Chesbro if for no other reason than Chesbro holds a good share of the blame for running this state into the ground. Lynch has also expressed interest in reforming state pensions which Chesbro is ill- equipped to do since he helped create that mess.

Eureka City Council, Ward 2: Wrote in Charlie Bean- Hey, it's just one seat on the council, but Bean deserves it for staying out of the Us vs. Them, Red vs. Blue fracas. The world won't come to an end regardless of who wins.

Eureka City Counci, Ward 4: Didn't vote- No reason to vote with only one person in the race. If I the incumbent had done something good, I might well vote for her as a sign of support, but nothing comes to mind so I'll leave that one blank.

Prop 30, Tax increase: NO- The Governor and state legislature have shown little, if any, sense of fiscal responsibility. Voting Yes would be akin to patting them on the back for a job poorly done and asking for more of the same.

Prop 31, Budget stuff: Didn't vote ?- I actually don't remember if I voted Yes, or didn't vote on this one. My Yes vote would have been in support of a two year budget cycle. Whatever.

Prop 32, Union dues paycheck withholding: YES- I was going to stand aside on this one but opponents convinced me to vote for it when they affirmed that union members wouldn't donate to their cause unless it was taken from their paychecks. If passed, union members get more of a choice but unions are still involved in the political process through varous PACs and such.

Will the unions still have as much money to spend? That depends on their membership.

Prop 33, Auto Insurance: Didn't vote- Six one way, half a dozen the other. I'll let everyone else decide.

Prop 34, Replaces death penalty: YES- If only to save all the money we spend enforcing it, although other reasons as well.

Prop 35, Human trafficking: NO- A solution in search of a problem. Main reason is this will clutter up sex offender list with yet more people that shouldn't be on it. Current penalties suffice.

Prop 36, Modify three strikes: YES- We need to do all we can to separate the wheat from the chaff in regards who spends life in prison, although I'm not sure this is really needed.

Prop 37, GMO Labeling: NO- More of an anti- business initiative than anything else. Also, crony capitalism could be argued as it's sponsored by organic and natural food producers trying to put the screws to non- natural producers.

Prop 38, Tax Increase: NO- We certainly don't need any more ballot box budgeting, which is what this is.

Prop 39, Out of state corporation taxes: Didn't vote ?- Here's another one I can't recall if I voted, or not. If I did, it would have been NO as all arguments I heard for it amounted to dragging out of state business down to the level of state owned businesses.

Prop 40, Referendum on redistricting: Didn't vote- Even proponents dropped their support of it. No biggie and no reason to vote one way or the other.

If you voted even close to how I voted above, especially for Gary Johnson and against the tax increases, I urge you to vote today. If not, stay home and stop ruining this state and country.