Now, I am prone to diatribes about the lack of political action or general usefulness in any matter. The title may suggest it is one, but I would say it's not. It's a primer of sorts to the ballot measures and a slight rant about how any national office vote currently is a vote for political nihilists. If you can see the title, I obviously wish you to exercise your democratic power, but I really don't feel that how you vote on national candidates will effect the current standing of our government.
If you don't vote, due to forgetfulness, here's a reminder. If you don't vote because you don't care, I will try to give you reasons. If you don't vote because you feel uneducated about the choices given, wing it or if that does not do it, read here and get angry at me or agree, either suits me just fine. Hell, plenty of politically moronic people vote every election, and this year we're lucky to have a few running as well. If you don't vote because you are lazy, well that's just awful. I vote and my laziness has yet to find a match on this Earth, save the dead and Republican "lawmakers".
Frankly, you can vote for whomever you choose for US Senator or representative. The Democrats will most likely lose the House and keep a slight majority in the Senate. Neither one matters since Democrats have not had a successful run in Congress since the 1960's. It means a great deal when I say the best Democratic choice in the state of Missouri is a moderate at best; this is not a state for ideas to thrive in. We like our guns, our ignorance, our puppy mills, and most certainly we do not like taxes. Sure, Lacy Clay and Emanuel Cleaver will win, but if you can't win as a liberal in an urban district; you obviously have committed murder or been convicted of a felony (This is no matter in Chicago or D.C.). Now, why should it matter who is projected to win. Well, some people only vote when the elections are close, and the only relatively close race in Missouri is in Missouri's 4th District, only because Skelton has the cajones/loyal following to run in that district as a Democrat. So if you live there, your vote should have much more leverage.
And predictably, Robin Carnahan seems to be dead in the water against Roy Blunt. Now, this wasn't totally unexpected as I stated already our state continues to project further away from its heritage of moderate, reasoned voting into a state of constant political douchebaggery such as the grandstanding involved in the Aug. 3 Health Care vote and the teabaggers who think it's within our rights as Americans to treat dogs inhumanely (These same people probably however think a black man with a dog-fighting ring should burn.). I apologize for not using a more reputable site, but just look at the ballot measures that were rejected. We are edging closer and closer to being a backwards state, but at least we will have English spoken in our government and state sovereignty. I won't tell you to vote for Carnahan, because frankly it's insignificant who wins.
Roy Blunt is not a teabagger, so I don't think his particular stances are detrimental to our country as a whole. If the Democrats maintain a majority, the Republicans will still control the Senate's action, so who cares who is the majority. Nothing will get done, whether it is helpful for either sides constituents. Taxes will not be lowered for the rich, and services will not be extended for the poor and needy. The United States politically, economically, and ideologically has stepped into a stage of arrested development, and is no longer capable of doing what we did in the past century. Innovation will come from other places, as we devolve into a European nation in stature, holding our guns as symbols of our past glory while the world passes us by.
Now, I'm off my soapbox. Here's a synopsis of the ballot measures for tomorrow, and what your vote means. Of course, snark is a given, since I am prone to it, but mostly I will be honest. Ballot measures are not straight-party issues.
Amendment 1: Requires that county assessors in chartered counties be elected, not appointed.
Yes: You believe that a government official should have to be elected to hold this position.
No: You like the idea of appointing your own assessor from within government channels.
Straight-forward question with no right or wrong answer. If you are a believer in pure democracy, vote Yes. If you hope to be appointed assessor later in life, vote no.
Amendment 2: Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Former POWs
Yes: You hate taxes, and love veterans. You care not that this is redundant, since low income senior citizens (these are Vietnam vets at the youngest) get tax credits.
No: You love taxes, and hate veterans. Just kidding. Maybe you hate redundancy in government.
I seriously could care less about this one as well. It affects such a small demographic that it really means nothing other than to add another caveat to Missouri's already ridiculously managed property taxes. I will probably vote like my mother here and say no just because it's a political play made by politicians to grab sympathy for themselves by helping those deserving. It was sponsored by my state representative, whom I now am considering voting against just to shake things up since I didn't pick her for the Democratic primary anyways.
Amendment 3: Eliminates sales tax on housing/real estate sales and transfers
Yes: You can read and have to/will have to pay property taxes in the future.
No: You can't read or vote contrary to the general will always
Let's see, you pay property taxes and a sales tax. Wouldn't you rather just pay one? I argue often in favor of taxation; this one is certainly a valid idea for removing a tax.
Proposition A: Earnings Tax Initiative
Yes: You wish for the earnings taxes to have to be approved by voters. You probably do not care that voters will vote no on these taxes, because you do not live in St. Louis city or Kansas City. You do care that if you are shot in the future run-down St. Louis city that there are services available to save your life and catch the shooter. So......
No: You realize that putting cities already at a disadvantage due to the low median income of their citizens at further disadvantage is risky at best, and if you continue to wish to use the entertainment and economic benefits presented by those cities it is wise to keep their budgets maintained as well as your local communities.
Will what I stated happen? Yes, but not too quickly. The ballot measures for the taxes will be poorly worded and they will fail. The cities will make Detroit look like Disneyland, with slightly more pedophiles. This is tied more to St. Louis due to the fractiousness of the municipalities that govern the city. All of the money that flows through St. Louis flows through the county where the richer people live; taking away earnings taxes from the city takes away one of the few ways for the city to compete from a public service standpoint. Kansas City will do better, but their idiot mayor has already stated that if this measure passes he will have to raise other taxes (hurting the poorer citizens of Jackson county as opposed to the richer ones paying these taxes).
Proposition B: Dog-breeder amendment
Yes: You have a heart, and do not over-breed your dogs. You are not a complete tool.
No: Well, down the road we may decide to take your cows away, and then eat them at our liberal beef buffets. You hate dogs, or love inbred dogs. You are a complete idiot who thinks that dog breeding is agri-business (It is in Korea. Not a racist joke, they literally breed a certain type of dog for consumption.) or vital to the freedom of the United States citizens.
Will this amendment help eliminate the puppy kennels? Maybe. Will it lead to further attacks on animal husbandry in the state? No. This is simply a vote where the state would look stupid for voting it down. Voting for it in no way hurts the state of Missouri, and even if it just like the POW bill is unnecessary and redundant, it would help if for once we don't vote like we have never had a single moment of compassion or reason in our lives.
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