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My US general election ballot (aka. We should have more referendums...)
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| rabbitjoker |
My voting residence in the USA is North Dakota (ND).
I got my US election absentee ballot in the mail today. Not only do I get to vote for President but I also I get to vote for: ND Senator, ND Congress Representative, ND Governor, ND Secretary of State, ND State Auditor, ND State Treasurer, ND Attorney General, ND Commissioner of Insurance and Agriculture, ND Public Service Commissioner, ND Tax Commissioner, ND Superintendent of Public Instruction, ND Justice of Supreme Court, ND District Judge, ND State's Attorney (chief Crown lawyer), ND Supervisor - Soil Conservation, Director Garrison Diversion (Water Supply). HOLY SMOKES! Talk about a lot of work/research that is needed to cast an educated vote!!!!
But get this...
In the USA - not only does the US have it's own constitution, but each state has a constitution. Similar to Canada - the federal gov't has certain responsibilities and guarantees within the federal constitution and the states have certain state-specific laws and responsibilities. (this should not be a surprise).
So - the last question on my ballot (yes or no vote) - specific to North Dakota:
"This constitutional measure would add a new section to article XIO of the North Dakota Constitution, as follows:
Marriage consists only of the legal union between a man and a woman. No other domestic union, however denominated, may be recognized as marriage or given the same substantially equivalent legal effect."
"Yes" approves the measure above. "No" means you reject the measure above.
This is BIG and important stuff. I know my vote on this (no, reject) but I wish we had opportunities to vote on important things like this in Canada. It begs me to ask the question if America or the US states can have referendums, why can't Canada/Ontario.
Important issues are worth the time of having a referendum. If the USA, with ~300 million people can have each state propose constitutional changes – why can’t Canada or Canadian provinces???
Having the general masses vote “yes” or “no” on an issue brings a certain resolution to an issue – it ends the debate of “the gov’t acting without the will of the people”.
Does the gov’t of Canada not trust the people enough to make important decisions? Beyond voting for an MP or MPP – Canada leaves EVERYTHING up the will of a political party leader and party-vote in the Legislature/House of Commons. I'm not saying that all things and positions should be voted for (Senators, Justices, Judges, Crown, etc should -not- be) but certain things deserve public opinion/influence. |
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| DigiNut |
| Geez RJ, it almost sounds like you're suggesting we should have a democracy here or something. You must be one of those right-wing nuts. :p |
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| j_spot |
| I think the cost is a huge deterant. |
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| rabbitjoker |
| quote: | Originally posted by j_spot
I think the cost is a huge deterant. |
Cost of adding a "Yes" or "No" question to a ballot??? You got to be kidding me.
Side note:
The ballot is one of those computer-scan forms where you fill in the oval completely with a pencil or pen (no X, no dot, completely fill the oval).
The ballot is 1 page (legal), double sided and contains ALL of the above votes (18 total votes on 1 ballot). |
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| DJ_Elyot |
Cost of having a referendum ---> MASSIVE
Cost of having a referendum question asked on another ballot anyways ---> MINIMAL
And no, right-wing nuttiness has nothing to do with democracy... it has everything to do with capitalism. Right wing politics wouldn't be so bad if there were more laws in place to prevent big business from finding every excuse to ruin humanity in order to turn a profit. |
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| rabbitjoker |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ_Elyot
Cost of having a referendum question asked on another ballot anyways ---> MINIMAL |
Exactly my point.
And exactly the point of our provincial tax laws that specified that a referendum would be required to raise taxes.
I wish we had a referendum on the $900 "health-levy" (tax) I now have to pay ever year as a result of the last election. |
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| halo20 |
R.J don't quote me on this, but I believe that Canada is quite "wonky" when it comes to referendum policy becoming constitional or rather "real" law.
I took a Canadian (provincial and federal) electoral legislation class a few years back and this issue came up on a weekly basis. (as it would) Ultimately, we can only use referendum questions on a ballot for suggestive means. (at least from what I remember, but what do I know, I was probably nursing an "e" hangover at the time) |
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| ShadoWolf |
| The Lieberals would never allow referenda, recall, a Triple-E Senate, or elected SCC Justices because they would lose some of their dictatorial power. |
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| fn_xtc |
| quote: | Originally posted by rabbitjoker
I wish we had a referendum on the $900 "health-levy" (tax) I now have to pay ever year as a result of the last election. |
2nd!!!!! :whip: :whip: :whip: And I still purchased extended health coverage!! Somethings need to change out here...
Canada compared to the US: Lower wages, higher taxes, higher cost of living <---(is this true?)..oh and our gas prices..approx. USD 2.3 per gallon...(@ CAD.765 per liter) |
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| TrueToTheCrew |
Jean Chretien said, you cant allow the majority of people decide the rights of a minority group.
ill reserve my opinion in order to prevent thread hi-jacking. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by rabbitjoker
Exactly my point.
And exactly the point of our provincial tax laws that specified that a referendum would be required to raise taxes.
I wish we had a referendum on the $900 "health-levy" (tax) I now have to pay ever year as a result of the last election. |
Mcguinty changed the referendum law so that he could raise taxes without a referendum. Some democracy!
We had a referendum on the charllottetown accord about 15 years ago. The country voted no. I agree, questions should be on the ballot but then you get the left wing whinies who use the tyranny of the majority arguement. I say this, in a democracy the majority rules. If the majority is a tyranny it is your job to educate them. |
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