Time to vote again! I do hope you take the time to vote like me. Let me explain my basic philosophy: Peace is better than war, love is better than hate. We have enough of an economy left that everyone could, if we were smart (big if), work 10 hours a week, take care of families and loved ones, explore art and creativity, or just chill on the beach the rest of the time, if we'd just stop watching each other and creating useless overhead.

I vote for who I'd like to see win, regardless of whether they have a "chance" or not. Mediocracy sucks, even if it's popular.

Unfortunately, the voters themselves just may be the problem. Clearly the resources spent feeding greed, anger and delusion is massive. The Buddhists had it right: that's fucked up. I continue to be amazed at the ignorance of the sheeple, while simultaneously inspired by the rest of us, our tribe. The Buddhists also teach one must avoid attachment to result. So I simply speak my truth, even when I'm confused. For some reason more of the choices this time were confusing ones, and it seems harder to find good information than usual.

I vote at my main house in Siskiyou County, home of the world's worst politicians. The ballot in San Francisco is always more lively and there's even some right wing propositions - making it illegal to sit on the sidewalk - how stupid is that??? Unfortunately SF does not have the benefit of my voting wisdom. So you should vote, wherever you are, but don't be an idiot.

I marked my ballot and made some decisions. Here they are:

Governor - Laura Wells

Green once again! Meg Whitman? Good gawd, y'all, what a truly horrific choice. Did anyone notice Republicans have stolen the economy? Did anyone notice her track record, even in business, would call for jail time in any just society? Don't her supporters need immediate treatment for the Stockholm Syndrome? Sure she's spent something like $150 million of her own money on her new hobby...doesn't that alone indicate there's something seriously wrong with this woman? There is absolutely no overlap between her interests and that of 99.5 percent of the populace. So 40% vote for her? Sick, I tell you.

The Jerry Brown of old (and I did work for the state legislature back in those days) was interesting but a mixed bag. He had two kinds of people working for him - incredibly excellent visionaries and complete losers, at least no one was mediocre. From his campaign it seems he's compromised in the intervening years, and there's an authoritarian streak that's a bit scary. He says he'll even support carrying out state sponsored murder now. Sigh.

So vote Green, that will scare the major parties who arrested Laura at the debates. What exactly are they afraid of? Go find out!

Lieutenant Governor - Jimi Castillo

Green again! You have to give Gavin Newsom credit for a brilliant poltical move on marriage equality, right after barely squeaking into the Mayor's office in San Francisco. Some good, some mediocracy. Still, he's a functionary, at the end of the day. Elect a Native American to office - the rest of us are immigrants!

Secretary of State - Ann Menasche

The biggest nail in the coffin of remaining US democracy was the Citizens United Supreme Court contortionist decision freeing corporations from campaign financing limits. Now slick advertising people have unfettered access to lie to dumb people. That's why Meg Whitman has a chance. While in the Secretary of State's race, Debra Bowen hasn't done a bad job, the times call for radical action. Ann will take corporations on, head on. And we really, really need that.

Controller - Ross Frankel

Treasurer - Charles Crittenden

Attorney General - Peter Allen

Insurance Commissioner - William Balderston

Green. Says it all.

State Board of Equalization - Toby Mitchell-Sawyer

Sometimes I vote Peace and Freedom...not sure why there's no Green in this race...

US Senator - Duane Roberts

Carly Fiorina is perhaps even worse than Meg Whitman. And Barbara Boxer, while good on some issues, has gone off the deep end at times (supporting guns in airplane cockpits - gimme a break). Green, much better, once again.

US Representative - No recommendation

State Senator - No recommendation

State Assembly - No recommendation

The Republicans in these offices are the worst of the worst. And the two moderate Democrats won't change things much. If this keeps up I may have to run a Green party campaign myself.

California Supreme Court - No on Cantil-Sakauye, No on Ming Chin, Yes on Carlos Moreno

Court of Appeal - No on Nicholson, Hull, Butz

There isn't a whole lot of information available on judges...the ones on the Supreme Court who were on the wrong side of Prop 8 should go. And I can't find enough information on the Court of Appeal, so that no is maybe a protest vote. Actually, I'm not sure judges should be subject to a vote of the people. This is an important issue I shall ponder more in the future.

Superintendent of Public Instruction - Tom Torlakson

But don't necessarily take my word for it. I'm kind of relying on the SF Bay Guardian's endorsement here. There doesn't seem to be much difference between the two candidates. Even with the Internet and all that, it's hard to get good information.

Siskiyou Community College District - Justin Lowenthal

Going mostly on this article, Justin had the better answers.

Weed Elementary School District - Leonard, Lee

Could be wrong, but based on this article, I made my decisions.

Sheriff - No recommendation

Lopey is a Tea Party nutjob. Both of these guys support the evil War on Some Drugs and our local police state. Neither of them should be anywhere near a position of authority. Hope I don't get in trouble for sayin' that.

Now on to the propositions:

Proposition 19 - Legalizes Marijuana - YES

I see Dennis Peron's point in opposing this - it bends too far over backwards towards regulation and taxation. And after years of "medicinal" legalization, we certainly don't want to retrogress, giving redneck local governments more power. Still, it's an improvement over the existing laws that ruin hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

Not that this is my biggest issue. Still it is a big injustice for the victims of present laws. Not sure how it will affect the grower's economy but I have a feeling they will end up just fine. The real question here is why anyone voted for this Obama guy whose people are refusing to listen to reason. I voted Green, just sayin'.

Proposition 20 - Reapportionment - YES

There is no "fairness" in reapportionment, whatever way it's done. I'm not completely sure about this one but it seems an independent commission would better than having the Legislature do it. But I could be wrong.

Proposition 21 - Vehicle License Tax for Parks - YES

I feel a bit blackmailed into this decision. The right way to fund parks, or any useful government service for that matter, is a progressive taxation scheme where rich people pay more than poor people. Since the populace is deluded and ignorant, things don't work out that way. Still, it's hughely important that we have access to state parks, and the alternative of soaking the users with high overhead fees is unacceptable. So I vote yes, though this should be an income tax funded service.

Proposition 22 - Local Redevelopment Funds - YES

Prop 13 of 1978 threw a bomb into any effort to budget rationally. There's a tension between federal, state and local funding, and we certainly are supporting squads of lawyers and accountants handling the money back and forth before any of it gets spent on useful projects. We need a fair, progressive, simple taxation system and maybe we need to start over. It's a toss-up but I decided on the basis of local control. I could be wrong.

Proposition 23 - Suspending Air Pollution Control Laws - NO, NO, NO!!!

The proponents of this propositions are what's known as "Lying Sacks of Shit". Green technology actually creates jobs, if you're interested in that. This one is another basic intelligence test - people who breathe should vote no. It's really not complicated.

Proposition 24 - Repeals Corporate Tax Breaks - YES

Our tax system is broken, filled with loopholes that shift the tax burden to individuals from corporations. Time to stand up to tax scams. Vote yes.

Proposition 25 - Simple Majority Budget Passage - YES

Why should the kids who won't share their toys get two votes, and the nice kids get one? The two thirds requirement to pass a budget is unfair and leads to gridlock and blackmail. Easy decision.

Proposition 26 - Two Thirds Vote For Fees - NO

Same logic, though dyslexically presented on the ballot. This one is even worse, complete with polluter money backing it. I'd vote yes if we could eliminate bridge tolls, parking fees, and outrageous tickets. Too bad about that. We need progressive income and wealth taxes.

Proposition 27 - Eliminate Redistricting Commission - NO

For the same reason I voted yes on Prop 20. Do you think this whole yes/no thing is just designed to confuse us?

And there are two local propositions:

Measure D - increase the Transient Occupancy Tax - YES

Could be wrong, but whatever.

Measure G - Dam Removal - YES, YES, YES!!!

Everybody from Schwartzenegger on down has signed off on the Klamath River dam removal agreement. This near unanimous agreement is the only way to save the fisheries. But the Siskiyou Supervisors, obedient servants of ranching interests, have put this "advisory" vote on the ballot to keep the dams, which hopefully won't happen no matter what. The question is should the dams go, and the intelligent answer is yes. Geez.

Remember, vote early, and vote often!