Feds Threaten CA over Prop 19

I'm sure many of you have heard by now that officials in the Obama Administration are threatening to take the State of California to court should Prop 19 pass on November 2. I've heard some people suggesting this, and the fact Prop 19 is contrary to federal law, are reasons we should vote against Prop 19.

I strongly disagree. If anything, this is a reason for people to vote for Prop 19. The feds shouldn't be dictating law to the states and they shouldn't interfere with state laws at all, unless those state laws violate the civil rights of that, or another state's, citizens.

I say vote YES on Prop 19, if for these threats alone. Let the feds take us the court and let the battle be joined!

An Argument Against Prop 19

I'll take issue with at least one point this gal makes in a San Francisco Chronicle commentary arguing against Prop 19, the upcoming ballot initiative to legalize and tax marijuana in California. Susan Manheimer, police chief of San Mateo, claims passage of Prop 19 will allow people to legally drive cars "with marijuana in their system".

I don't know how she can say that. It's illegal to drive in California under the influence of alcohol, drug or narcotics. That applies whether the alcohol or drugs are legal, or not. Prop 19 won't change that and, as one comment to her commentary pointed out, people who smoke pot and drive are likely already engaging in such behavior.

We can quibble about some of her other arguments, and there are some legitimate- even libertarian- reasons to oppose Prop 19, but I don't think worrying about pot smoking drivers is one of them.

Add Your Name: YES on Prop 19

Interesting, isn't it? Prop 19- the upcoming ballot initiative to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana- has both an authoritarian and a libertarian agreeing on an issue for a change. Those two being Robert Cruickshank, a card carrying authoritarian, and myself being the libertarian.

We're both supporting Prop 19, although I'll have to say I really have to hold my nose to vote for something just so it can be taxed and regulated. This really makes my skin crawl.

Isn't it also interesting that this issue has two authoritarians disagreeing, with Senator Dianne Feinstein (predictably) announcing her opposition to the measure just in time to try and sway the State Democrats into opposing the initiative?

Cruickshank is asking supporters of the measure to sign this online petition to send a message asking the Democratic Executive Committee to endorse the initiative. I added my name. Will you add yours?

Ooops! I just noticed the deadline is today at 10am. You better hurry.

Prop 19 Winning On Facebook

The Sacramento Bee reports the Prop 19 campaign- the upcoming ballot initiative to legalize and tax marijuana- has a Facebook page up with quite a lead over the opposition as far as Friends of the page go. Funny thing is, just yesterday I was searching Facebook for a Prop 19 site and couldn't find one.

I'm wondering if Facebook Friends numbers could be an half- way decent gauge of how campaigns might do in an election? I watched the Friends lists of both Downey and Hislop during our last Sheriff's race. I forget the exact numbers but Downey had Hislop beat early on with Facebook Friends and won the election handily.

Did anyone notice any instance this last election where a campaign with the fewest Facebook Friends won? Wouldn't it be weird if it turned out you had a good chance of predicting outcomes in elections by simply looking at which campaign had the most support on Facebook?