Your Take: Ballot Initiatives

As promised, here's the recap from our favorite ballot issue poll! Thanks for everyone taking time to write out a response to last week's question.

Joe in Oxford, Ohio writes:

"I think I'm going to select Proposition 8 out in California. Although I'm baffled, surprised, and a little angry that marriage is now more specifically defined in yet another state, I think that at least it was a valid attempt. Plus, I think that referendum may have very far-reaching consequences. After all, if it can't pass in California, it starts to look like the issue as a whole will face an even more uphill battle in the future. However, the vote showed that not all preconceptions are true--obviously San Francisco is not representative of the entire state of California, fortunately or unfortunately."

Casey in Cincinnati, Ohio told me:

"I would have to say may favorite issue on the ballot was [Ohio] Issue 5, because it took me by surprise. I had no idea Payday loan places were able to charge 391%!! That is insane, and doesn't help our economy that already has people 10 feet under."

And finally Sarah from Columbus, Ohio sent in this note:

"The ballot initiative which stuck out in my mind was Ohio's Issue 6, involving the in-state casino. Ohioans have been voting 'No' on this issue for years and years. I knew as soon as I heard about it, before hearing any details, the issue would be shot down because Ohioans simply don't want a casino in their state.

The only way it would come close to passing is if there were a lot of strings attached and more than the usual share of casino revenue would be going back to the state. I personally voted for it because I see more benefits than drawbacks. More jobs, money staying in state. Crime wouldn't be much of a factor - look at the surrounding state's casinos for evidence of this.

The state confirmed my suspicions on November 4th, however, when they voted it down. I'm looking forward to next year when we get the chance to debate the issue further. Maybe the lawmakers will actually come up with something that sparkles this time."

Two things stuck out in my mind with this replies:

1. People learned things from the ballot initiative campaigns, as Casey points out about the 391% annual interest rate the pay day lenders were getting.
2. None of this is done, as both Joe and Sarah wrote. Democracy is never really finished unless it's killed by a military coup...so I take their comments as a good sign.

There you have it! Two state issues and an eye on the national scene. Two monetary issues and one social concern. I'm not a statistician, so I'm not sure what this tell us about the concerns of the voters (not that three is an acceptable sample of the Ohio population...), but it does make for interesting water cooler talk. I mean, anything but actually working, right?

My Take: Obama's Centrist Moves

As Obama stopped campaigning, and started getting down to the business of running the country (I mean, someone has to...) it's become somewhat obvious he's not quite the socialist, nationalizing commie he's been made out to be by the right wing.

Likewise, he's not quite the champion of the progressive movement who will bring peace and happiness to all, as the left wing has promised.

To me, that's a damned good thing. My rule of thumb is when the extreme ends of the spectrum are BOTH mad at you, you're smack dab where you want to be.

I've been watching the nominations and the leaks of nominations. I've listened to the news conferences, and the analysis of those conferences. And all this seems to be adding up to is the man is making some calculated steps in the direction of sound governance.

I know, it's been such a foreign concept for the last decade. While it's a little annoying ("What do you mean, he's not promising to shut down Gitmo by February???") it's also the sign of a mature mind. You can't argue very well against the desire to have something in place before knocking down the old regime.

Really, I think all we can expect from Obama right now is to set up a solid, well rounded team...and to tackle this pesky economic crisis. Really, that's all we should have on our minds right now, because unless our house is in order...we can't even think about landscaping the lawn.

I can wait for Gitmo to be closed. I can wait for education reform. I can wait for taxes to be made sensible again. I can wait for healthcare and social security to be worked out. Because you need the little things, before the bigger things. Obama seems to understand that very clearly, and is setting up people who think the same way.

And really, that's how a moderate works. That's how someone who thinks about the issues operates. So all in all, I feel quite good.

And that's more than enough rambling for this Tuesday. You folks have fun.