(no subject)

[novapsyche]

I stayed up late watching election returns.

My joy at seeing the House reclaimed and the end of one-party rule is quite tempered by the passage of Prop 2. I guess my options at this point are to support a measure to have it repealed from the state constitution, or move.

But good on South Dakota voters, who rejected the most draconian abortion measure that would have been enacted, and voters in Arizona, who did not approve a same-sex marriage ban.

Comments

fear and loathing in the American electorate

[jdoggiedogg.livejournal.com]

This election looked like a win for the Democrats, until looking at ballot issues. Arizona might have made a good decision, but the other states didn't South Dakota (the state praised for repealing the abortion ban) decided (along with several other states) that it's okay to refuse to allow Homosexuals to have the same rights as other citizens. Some day such measures will be viewed as being as offensive and contemptible as the racist laws which used to be on the books.

As for the Democratic win, the real issue is that it is a Republican loss. People didn't vote FOR Democrats, they voted AGAINST Republicans. So now we've got the asshats from one party instead of the asshats from the other party.

Add to this repealing affirmative action and declaring English the official language and it's clear that the primary motivation for a majority of voters is fear and hatred.

Re: fear and loathing in the American electorate

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Some day such measures will be viewed as being as offensive and contemptible as the racist laws which used to be on the books.

I agree.

People didn't vote FOR Democrats, they voted AGAINST Republicans.

I think that's true for some moderates and/or independents. I daresay that Democrats actually voted for Democrats. I know I did. I voted for my governor, for my senator, all the way down to the local level.

Add to this repealing affirmative action and declaring English the official language and it's clear that the primary motivation for a majority of voters is fear and hatred.

You're preaching to the choir. But, in the toxic political atmosphere of the last 6-12 years (depending on whether you're viewing it from Bush's presidency or the propelling of Republicans into their House majority a dozen years ago), it's not surprising. People have been encouraged to fear, to be suspicious, to look out only for themselves instead of the common good.

Prop 2

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

I'm disappointed, but not surprised. A few things to keep in mind:

1. The margin was not large, and Michiganians were split not too far from even on this issue.

2. Not everyone who voted "yes" on Prop 2 is a racist, sexist bastard. I know a fair amount of people who consider themselves traditional liberals who don't believe in affirmative action, or don't believe in how it's currently implemented. Their thinking typically goes something like, "If it's not acceptable to use race or gender as a factor in discriminating against minorities or treating them badly, it's also not acceptable to use race or gender as the basis for giving women and racial minorities the tie-breaker vote when it comes to jobs and university admittance." They may be naive, but I don't think they're (all) actively racist in their thinking.

[chimalis.livejournal.com]

I disagree with what S. is saying -- I was surprised to see how large the margin was. I wasn't surprised that Wayne and Washtenaw voted no on 2 ... but I thought SOME other county might have also come up no.

[brendand.livejournal.com]

The Arizona same-sex marriage ban was much closer than I'm comfortable with. But it's better than all the other states who hate us.