Burbians,
Yesterday I said I would publish a voter’s guide to our state’s amazing propositions. I have a lot of respect for our proposition system. After all, we all know that California (especially Silicon Valley) is only full of smart people who can enable direct democracy to work.
Proposition 30 Temporary Taxes to Fund Education. Guaranteed Local Public Safety Funding
Burbed recommends: No
Why? Because this increase the personal income tax on people who make over $250,000. These are the most important people in the Bay Area – the House Price Creators. Instead, this proposition seeks to redistribute their income to schools and whatnot. As we all know, Home owners are our nation’s future. Not children. Children are a terrible tax drain. They’re so obnoxious with their demands that we even banned them from working because they were so distracting to people who were adding value to our economy, and paying mortgages.
Save Home Price Creators! Vote no!
Proposition 31 State Budget. State and Local Government
Burbed recommends: No
Why? Because this is too complicated and if it doesn’t make sense in 30 seconds, it probably is bad. Also, I can’t see how a Yes for this would directly raise house prices. Pass.
Proposition 32 Political Contributions by Payroll Deduction. Contributions to Candidates
Burbed recommends: Yes
Forget the union aspect of this – let’s focus on the economics. Every $1 that is deducted for political contributions is a $1 that cannot be spent on a mortgage – which is a $1 that won’t go towards helping increase housing prices. If I could, I would ban all political contributions – except from the National Association of Realtors, of course, because their voice needs to be heard.
Help your union friends pay their mortgages! Vote yes on this. And if they lose their jobs/benefits/pay because they can’t collectively bargain anymore, then that’s ok – we don’t want poor people living here in the Real Bay Area anyway. $250k or bust!
Proposition 33 Auto Insurance Companies. Prices Based on Driver’s History of Insurance Coverage
Burbed recommends: No
It’s a good idea, but this doesn’t go far enough. I like the idea of insurance companies being able to charge a 200% surcharge for having a gap in insurance coverage (as it happens in other states) that have passed something like this. Let’s face it, if we don’t make this state more expensive to live in, we’ll attract more undesirables.
But the reality is that it doesn’t address the biggest problem: that renters should be charged more for auto insurance than real citizens – aka homeowners. Everyone knows that renters have no respect for law or lives – they’re a daily threat, clogging up streets that homeowners pay (almost nothing thanks to Prop 13) for.
Send the message that this doesn’t go far enough. Vote no.
Proposition 34 Death Penalty
Burbed recommends: No
California spends $200M a year on special death row housing and other expenses apparently. This money has to go somewhere! If we get rid of the death penalty, what will happen to all the lawyers that deal with death penalty cases? How will they be able to afford their homes.
Sure it’s kinda unfair that some people get executed wrongly. But it’s also unfair to live next to a death penalty expert lawyer, and then see your house price drop because they have to do a short sale.
Sorry death row inmates – you’ve gotta take one for the team on this one. Greater good and all that.
Proposition 35 Human Trafficking. Penalties
Burbed recommends: No
Let’s face it, human trafficking is terrible. Instead of penalizing these pimps, we need to retrain them to become recruiters for Dice so that they can grow their business and buy more billboards on 101. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing those – it’s a great reminder of how awesome the hiring scene is in the Valley, and that in turn drives up housing prices.
Proposition 36 Three Strikes Law. Repeat Felony Offenders. Penalties
Burbed recommends: Yes
Personally I think we need fewer people in jails, so we can make more room for renters who don’t pay on time. But until that becomes a criminal violation (fingers crossed!) let’s get more people on the street so that we can train them to become eventual homeowners. More demand is always a good thing. And, since we don’t really do much in the way of retraining for prisoners here in California, we can assume these folks will end up back in courts and jail – gotta think of those lawyers!
Help the lawyers, help the world. Yes on Prop 36.
Proposition 37 Genetically Engineered Foods. Labeling
Burbed recommends: No
Slippery slope my friends. First, we require companies to label food that may rise up and revolt in our stomach. Next, realtors will be required to verify claims in the descriptions in MLS. This is simply too dangerous. Less disclosure is always a good thing – moral hazard and all that.
Proposition 38 Tax to Fund Education and Early Childhood Programs
Burbed recommends: No
See Prop 30. Repeat after me: “Children are not our future. Baby boomers are our future.”
Proposition 39 Tax Treatment for Multistate Businesses. Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Funding
Burbed recommends: No
This ends tax breaks for companies. As we all know, when you give tax breaks to companies, they pass these savings on to the employees in terms of higher wages. Just like how if you are constipated, the key is to buy more toilet paper because the supply will stimulate demand.
That said, this proposition does guarantee money for green projects – which could lead to even more hype for CleanTech which would mean more multi-trillion IPOs which would mean Manhattan level housing prices even in Redwood City.
This one’s a tough one. I’m going to have to stick with no for now though.
Proposition 40 Redistricting. State Senate Districts
Burbed recommends: No
Why? Because there apparently is no opposition. That’s got to be a trap. Vote no just to be on the safe side.
And there you have it folks, a guide to voting for the propositions this year!
Make me proud!
How many of these recommendations will you take?