On Prop 8

When Prop 8 passed, I was deeply surprised, and disgusted. It was similar in spirit and intent as the constitutional ban here in Oregon. So, it was with some trepidation I awaited the judgment on whether Prop 8 should be overturned.


As you all know, it was not overturned- and for good reason. When things are present to a vote as part of the process of representation, people have the right to choose the best choice open to them, however abhorrent. After reading the judgement, I can see where the judges where coming from. When this was frame as the will of the people, you cannot simply overturn the proposition simply because the process is imperfect.

This, in a small nutshell, is what is wrong with California's initiative process. Instead of having proportional representative democracy, you have the tyranny of the majority bullies. This is why you have California bankrupt, again, because of Prop 13, in which a majority of Californians will not pay proportional taxes, while at the same time voting all sort of services in for themselves.

It's not really state democracy, where there is discussion and consensus and a reasoned vote. States that do that- Iowa, Connecticut, Massachusetts and soon New Hampshire, D.C. and New York- don't have the self serving, self centered sort of majority government,and don't have as many funding problems ( not to say that these states are not financially hurting.) Discussion and consensus is necessary

I think the key to fixing Prop 8 is to acknowledge the overall problems in the initiative process itself, to acknowledge the blatant class discrimination at various levels for gay/lesbian partnerships (there are severe medical and tax implications that are not present for straight partners at all) and to acknowledge a larger sense of community. For so long California has been associated with individualism and freedom- now it's associated with conformity and repression of civil rights. I think that consensus and understand the differences in one's community will go a long way in getting Prop 8 overturned.