MAY 16, 2009: Vakay Gets It Right

For a change we’ve decided to give you someone else’s opinion on our blog. Here is an article from a Los Angeles area newspaper, The Signal. Columnist Lynn Vakay hits the nail on the head, this election is not about party politics, it’s about proposition’s that have dire financial consequences for California taxpayers that must be defeated.  Vakay also stresses the need for voters to educate themselves; we believe this is critical if we are to take our state back from the brink of fiscal calamity.  Enjoy….

Lynn Vakay: Coming together to stop the props

I was surprised when the Service Employees International Union voted to oppose 1A. 

I was surprised when the California Nurses Association and the California Federation of Teachers voted to oppose 1A.

I was surprised when fellow Santa Clarita Democrat columnist Carole Lutness stated her opposition to the propositions, and particularly 1A.

And, I was really surprised when the California Democratic Party did not endorse half of the propositions on the May 19 ballot, particularly 1A.  

I realize the reasons Democrats have for opposing the propositions are entirely different from my reasons. 

However, this grassroots bi-partisanship should prove, finally, that these propositions have major flaws and should be voted down by every single voter regardless of party affiliation.

Interestingly, this Democratic opposition came right on the heels of the California Republican Party voting against our own Republican (in name only) governor by endorsing a “no” on all the propositions. 

I can’t help but wistfully think maybe, just maybe, most Californians (including Democrats) are getting sick and tired of being taxed to death and deceived by tax-happy politicians — on the left and the right.

I also can’t help but hope that maybe these same Californians are waking up and realizing that we cannot tax and spend ourselves into prosperity.

I do know that everyone I talk with on a personal level (Democrat, Republican and Independent alike) recognizes this basic principle. 

Most Americans realize that the government has no right to behave carelessly with money. When individuals have to work hard, budget, save, cut back on spending and live within their means, then government should also.

When most Americans are sacrificing in many areas of their lives due to cutbacks, layoffs, foreclosures and tax increases, government continues to demand more money and more “sacrifice.” This is unconscionable. 

The next time I hear a politician say, “We all need to sacrifice,” I think I’m going to throw up.

When the state and federal budgets include spending increases, it’s not sacrifice. It’s insanity. 

Whatever happened to good old-fashioned “living within our means?”

I’m quite sick and tired of hearing fat-cat politicians preaching to hard-working Americans about financial responsibility and the importance of saving and avoiding debt while at the same time bilking these same Americans out of billions — oh, excuse me, now it’s trillions of dollars — they can never pay back.

As I have continued to ponder the state of our economy, particularly here in California, I keep realizing that part of the problem is the fiscally responsible voter who is unwilling to go to the polls on special elections such as this one. 

We somehow have come to believe that our vote doesn’t count or maybe we are just too busy and uninformed to cast the ballot.

First, every vote does count. 

Second, we are all too busy and uninformed. However, we must vote, especially when both parties are opposing the same legislation. 

It’s a no-brainer.

I must say, I have also revisited the question of who should be voting. The infamous Jefferson-Hamilton debate over voter qualifications has often run through my mind in recent years. 

This is due to the realization that our electorate is undoubtedly uninformed. This is really by no fault of our own. It is simply because the system has become so complicated and detailed that no single voter can really know what is behind every piece of legislation on the ballot. 

In the end, a typical voter will throw up his hands in frustration and avoid the hassle altogether. This is why our founders established a republic and not a direct democracy … but this is a subject for another column on another day.

For now, we cannot — we must not — miss this opportunity to vote down these irresponsible and deceptive measures. We must all vote on May 19 and we must all vote “no.”

Please join me and my fellow Republicans, Democrats, Independents and every other registered California voter in saying a big fat “no” to Sacramento and their deceptive tax increases. 

Let’s prove to the politicians that we have figured them out this time and we will join together to stop their reckless behavior.

Oh, yes, and after you have voted on May 19 please join me and your fellow Santa Clarita Valley voters for a “We Stopped the Props” victory party at Route 66 restaurant in Canyon Country. The party will start around 7 p.m. and last ’til who knows when. 

See you there.