Politics and Culture

1A: High speed rail bond. Provides long-distance commuters with a safe, convenient, affordable, and reliable alternative to driving and high gas prices.

No. Trains should be privately built and operated. The summary seems awfully biased, filled with uncertain goals like dependence on foreign oil and lots of adjectives like "clean" and "safe."

2: Requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely.

No. I can see the other rules, but why would hens need to turn around?

3: Authorizes $980,000,000 in bonds, to be repaid from state’s General Fund, to fund the construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing and equipping of children’s hospitals.

No. I don't think this is a bad law, necessarily, but this should be funded either by the legislature or private funds.

4: Changes California Constitution to prohibit abortion for unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent or legal guardian.

Yes to a law that strengthens parents rights.

5: Allocates $460,000,000 annually to improve and expand treatment programs for persons convicted of drug and other offenses.

No on a law that costs money. These programs shouldn't be created by initiative.

6: Requires minimum of $965,000,000 each year to be allocated from state General Fund for police, sheriffs, district attorneys, adult probation, jails and juvenile probation facilities. Some of this funding will increase in following years according to California Consumer Price Index.

No. I agree with law enforcement, but I don't like restrictions on spending by initiative. What if it doesn't make sense some time in the future?

7: Requires utilities, including government-owned utilities, to generate 20% of their power from renewable energy by 2010, a standard currently applicable only to private electrical corporations.

No. Otherwise known as the "Make California poorer for no good reason" initiative.

8: Heck yes. Provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

My reasons here.

9: # Requires notification to victim and opportunity for input during phases of criminal justice process, including bail, pleas, sentencing and parole.
Establishes victim safety as consideration in determining bail or release on parole.
Increases the number of people permitted to attend and testify on behalf of victims at parole hearings.

I like what this law has. I'll probably vote "yes," although this also shouldn't be a proposition.

10: Provides $3.425 billion to help consumers and others purchase certain high fuel economy or alternative fuel vehicles, including natural gas vehicles, and to fund research into alternative fuel technology.
Provides $1.25 billion for research, development and production of renewable energy technology, primarily solar energy with additional funding for other forms of renewable energy; incentives for purchasing solar and renewable energy technology.

No on the welfare for universities (research) and and university professors (tax rebates for fuel efficient vehicles).

11: Changes authority for establishing Assembly, Senate, and Board of Equalization district boundaries from elected representatives to 14 member commission.

Yes. I love the idea of taking redistricting out of the politicians' hands. I would actually prefer it to be done by computer.

12: This act provides for a bond issue of nine hundred million dollars ($900,000,000) to provide loans to California veterans to purchase farms and homes.

Yes. Not only because I am one and rent, but because veterans, like they did in the time of the original G.I. Bill, have earned it by performing a service. If the voters reject it, I'd understand, however. No hard feelings.