| | Rodney, what I do in the booth is my business in a free society.
Since you asked openly and honestly, I will say that at the national level no choices feel compelling.
- Senator McCain's health and mental acuteness are serious issues as is his history of internvenionist political economy going back to the Keating Five. Gov. Palin is not prepared to be President of the United States. Who really would rule in her administration is a complete mystery to me.
- Senator Obama is all the worse for his politics and the mysteries behind him. If he had a couple of terms in the senate, more would be known. What little I do know only makes me happy that my wife and I did some camping this summer.
- Former Congressman Robert Barr and his neighbor Cynthia McKinney are incapable of serving in the office of President. They simply lack depth of character. Robert Barr is less of a libertarian than Ron Paul was. He is a homophobic Guns-God-and-Gold conservative seeking to get his name in the almanacs via the Libertarian Party. As for McKinney, I may criticize the concept of publicly financed law enforcement, but whacking the Capital Police is never a good idea. They are truly there for her benefit, but McKinney's "Coz is a fool" comment shows her true disregard for those whom she considers beneath her. She is a villain right out of Atlas Shrugged.
Utlimately, right now, the differences between Sens. McCain and Obama as President are between which pains and sufferings we will face. Think back to 2004... or 2000... Who could have predicted the state of the world in 2008? ... and what did the President have to do with the really important things that have happened since then, like the iPod and two private space launch vehicles?
At the state and local levels, I have few options. Carl Levin is a shoe-in for Senate. I voted for and gave money to his colleage, Debbie Stabenow because she was my county commissioner 25 years ago, and then up the ladder office by office to US Senate. I disagree with her politics 180 degrees, but she does the job of a representative. Whereas Sen. Stabenow represents Michigan in Washington, Sen. Levin represents Washington in Michigan -- and I'm stuck with him. Locally, most of the offices here are unopposed incumbants. Ann Arbor is a Democratic Party enclave. I can protest by voting Libertarian, Green, or Republican, but that's about it.
We have two statewide constitutional amendments on the ballot.
PROPOSAL 08-1: A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TO PERMIT THE USE AND
CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA FOR SPECIFIED MEDICAL CONDITIONS
The proposed law would:
Permit physician approved use of marijuana by registered patients with debilitating medical
conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HlV, AIDS, hepatitis C, MS and other conditioils as
may be approved by the Departmelit of Community Health.
Perimit registered individuals to grow limited amounts of marijuana for qualifying patients in
an enclosed, locked facility.
Require Department of Community Health to establish an identification card system for
patients qualified to use marijuana and individuals qualified to grow marijuana.
Permit registered and unregistered patients and primary caregivers to assert medical reasons
for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marijuana.
Should this proposal be adopted'?
PROPOSAL 08-2: A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO
ADDRESS HUMAN EMBRYO AND HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH
IN MICHIGAN
Tlic proposed constitutional amendment would:
Expand use of human embryos for any research permitted under federal law subject to the
following limits: the embryos --
-- are created for fertility treatment purposes;
-- are not suitable for implantation or are in excess of clinical needs;
-- would be discarded unless used for research;
-- were donated by the person seeking fertility treatment.
Provide that stem cells cannot be taken froin huinan embryos more than 14 days after cell
division begins.
Prohibit any person from selling or purchasing human embryos for stem cell research.
Prohibit state and local laws that prevent, restrict or discourage stem cell research; future
therapies and cures.
Should this proposal be adopted?
The first is fine with me. The second is fraught with contradictions.
So, this time around, while I will show up at the polling place, sign for a ballot, and turn in a ballot, marking the ballot will not take long.
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