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Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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Left Coasters Confused About Complex Ballot

July 29th, 2008 • Richard Cochrane
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Wildly fluctuating opinionsScores of Ballot Propositions Escape Voter Attention

The California Attorney General’s Office is changing the language in the summary for Proposition 8 that will appear on the November ballot. Prop 8 is the initiative to amend the state constitution to ban homosexual marriage. The summary originally intended to amend the state constitution so “only marriage between a man and a woman” is valid or recognized in California. That language is still included in the new summary, but in an effort to reverse the California Supreme Court’s decision to allow same-sex couples to marry they’ve added wording that says the state constitution would be amended to “eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.”

A July 18, 2008 Field Poll found the proposition getting a 51% “no” vote and 43% “yes” - Democrats and those with no party affiliation oppose the proposition, Coastal Californians compose 69% of all voters, and tend to be more liberal and oppose it. Evangelicals favor the amendment by better that two to one. Catholics are split. Those affiliated with other religions or not religion overwhelmingly oppose it. Observers doubt the new wording imposed by the Attorney General will significantly shift those numbers. A prior ballot initiative tried to impose a ban on homosexual marriage but was declared unconstitutional by the California Supreme Court in June.

Twelve propositions have qualified for the November ballot and the legislatures could add more. Only Proposition 4 to require parental notification before their minor child receives an abortion has any “awareness” and only 45% say they are aware of it but their vote is split 48% “yes” to 38% “no.” By a 56-30% margin Californians say they’ll OK $9.9 billion to build a high speed north-south rail line; Proposition 2 forcing more humane treatment of farm animals is favored 63-21%; Proposition 7 requires utilities to generate 20% of their power from renewable sources by 2010 and half by 2025 is favored 63-24%; Proposition 11 would establish a commission to redistrict the state’s senate, assembly and board of equalization members is narrowly support 48-30%. “Awareness” averaged below 20% on all other propositions.

There are scores of other issues on ballots around the state, for instance: San Franciscans will vote on legalizing prostitution in that city.

There Is 1 Response So Far. »

  1. Comment by Paul Shapiro on 31 July 2008:

    Prop 2, relating to the humane treatment of farm animals, enjoys the widest margin of support of any of the ballot initiatives in the recent Field Poll. One reason for this is likely to be that it’s such a common sense measure that we can all support. We can all agree that it’s cruel and inhumane to confine animals in tiny cages where they can barely move an inch for months on end.

    Please prevent animal cruelty and vote YES on Prop 2!

    http://www.YesOnProp2.com

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