Gadgets, web and miscellany
Posts tagged election
On Proposition 8 in California
Nov 8th
Just wanted to put in my 2 cents against the folks overturning gay, lesbian and bisexual rights to marry in California. It seems strange to me that in the excitement of electing Obama, the “No on 8″ group was poorly funded and organized. On the verge of two historic civil rights advances (well, technically speaking, the victory happened earlier in 2008), one was denied. As a libertarian (perhaps, a “liberal”), I am deeply opposed to any interference by the government in people’s private lives (I am a firm believer in the statement by Pierre Elliott Trudeau, former prime minister of Canada: “The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation.”.)
So, I suppose the question is, who to blame for this silly Proposition passing? It’s easy to blame the african-americans, who voted 70% in favour of Proposition 8. However, I’m going to blame the Mormons on this one. They funded the Prop 8 team to the tune of $20M. How can a group so deeply committed to separation of church and state be messing around in the politics of California? Isn’t this a violation of their tax-free status? Also, I suppose I should place a portion of the blame on the “no on 8″ team, who was underfunded, and by all reports, made no efforts to even make any tentative inroads into the african-american community.
One of these people is not like the others….
Nov 8th
From this cartoonist.
In other news, I heard last night that Howie Mandel, a fellow Canuck, voted in this last election like me.
The New America: Blue shift
Nov 6th
From the New York Times. Bluer indicates shift to Democrats from Republican, red indicates opposite, this is 2008 versus 2004. White indicates no change from 2004. After the break see the bubbles indicating actually vote and size of vote in 2008.
Will my vote count? Will those of others in Boulder County?
Oct 30th
I’ll update this post as I learn more. On October 27, my wife and I returned our mail-in ballots to the Boulder County Clerk and Recorder’s office in Boulder. I had filled out the ballot completely, signed the outside, and placed the ballot within the secrecy envelope.
Ron Howard, Henry Winkler and Andy Griffith endorse Obama
Oct 24th
See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die
God’s politics in 2008
Oct 24th
Jim Wallis, an evangelist preacher (Sojourners, God’s Politics) who I respect very sincerely for his consistency and pragmatism, has written a very interesting piece on this election here. Again he is very consistent in bringing up poverty and war as the dominant issues being ignored by many politicians, and he is very much against “non-negotiable” ballot items.
