2006 Michigan Ballot Proposals September 12, 2006
Posted by Jason in 2006 Elections, Politics.trackback
4 Oct 2006 Update: Added the Citizens for Wildlife Conservation as the opposing organization for Proposal 3. Added the Stop K-16 Coalition as the opposing organization for Proposal 5.
I forgot about the ballot proposals last night. Here’s a link to a .pdf file with them. There’ll be five proposals this year (I’m not sure if they can add more before the election or not).
Proposal 1
Supporting Organization: Citizens Supporting Proposal 06-1.
Opposing Organization: None?
A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE THAT MONEY HELD IN CONSERVATION AND RECREATION CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES
The proposed constitutional amendment would:
- Create a Conservation and Recreation Legacy Fund within the Constitution and establish existing conservation and recreation accounts as components of the fund.
- Use current funding sources such as state park entrance and camping fees; snowmobile, ORV and boating registration fees; hunting and fishing license fees; taxes and other revenues to fund accounts.
- Establish the current Game and Fish Protection Fund and the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund within the Constitution.
- Provide that money held in Funds can only be used for specific purposes related to conservation and recreation and cannot be used for any purpose other than those intended.
Proposal 2
Supporting Organization: The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative.
Opposing Organization: One United Michigan.
A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO BAN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS THAT GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THEIR RACE, GENDER, COLOR, ETHNICITY, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR CONTRACTING PURPOSES
The proposed constitutional amendment would:
- Ban public institution from using affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes. Public institution affected by this proposal include state government, local governments, public colleges and universities, community colleges and school districts.
- Prohibit public institutions from discriminating against groups or individuals due to their gender, ethnicity, race, color or national origin. (A separate provision of the state constitution already prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin.)
Proposal 3
Supporting Organization: Citizens for Wildlife Conservation.
Opposing Organization: The Committee to Keep Doves Protected.
A REFERENDUM ON PUBLIC ACT 160 OF 2004 – AN ACT TO ALLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HUNTING SEASON FOR MOURNING DOVES
Public Act 160 of 2004 would:
- Authorize the Natural Resources Commission to establish a hunting season for mourning doves.
- Require a mourning dove hunter to have a small game license and a $2.00 mourning dove stamp.
- Stipulate that revenue from the stamp must be split evenly between the Game and Fish Protection Fund and the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund.
- Require the Department of Natural Resources to address responsible mourning dove hunting; management practices for the propagation of mourning doves; and participation in mourning dove hunting by youth, the elderly and the disabled in the Department’s annual hunting guide.
Proposal 4
Supporting Organization: None?
Opposing Organization: None?
A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT FROM TAKING PRIVATE PROPERTY BY EMINENT DOMAIN FOR CERTAIN PRIVATE PURPOSES
The proposed constitutional amendment would:
- Prohibit government from taking private property for transfer to another private individual or business for purposes of economic development or increasing tax revenue.
- Provide that if an individual’s principal residence is taken by the government for public use, the individual must be paid at least 125% of property’s fair market value.
- Require government that takes a private property to demonstrate that the taking is for a public use; if taken to eliminate blight, require a higher standard of proof to demonstrate that the taking of that property is for a public use.
- Preserves existing rights of property owners.
Proposal 5
Supporting Organization: K-16 Coalition.
Opposing Organization: Stop K-16 Coalition.
A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH MANDATORY SCHOOL FUNDING LEVELS
The proposed law would:
- Increase current funding by approximately $565 million and require State to provide annual funding increases equal to the rate of inflation for public schools, intermediate school districts, community colleges, and higher education (includes state universities and financial aid/grant programs).
- Require State to fund any deficiencies from General Fund.
- Base funding for school districts with a declining enrollment on three-year student enrollment average.
- Reduce and cap retirement fund contribution paid by public schools, community colleges and state universities; shift remaining portion to state.
- Reduce funding gap between school districts receiving basic per-pupil foundation allowance and those receiving maximum foundation allowance.
I may comment on individual proposals in the future.
Jason Felton is a homo sapien in his mid-20s observed to be living in west Michigan. Observations suggest that he spends way too much time on the internet reading blogs, researching family trees, and keeping track of current events in science and politics. Other interests of his include atheism, electronics, religion, and history, among many other things.
I absolutely love #2 and #4 =)
I’m with you on #4. #2 I’m not so sure about.
It doesn’t matter what I think anyway, I can’t vote in Mi. =)
#4 point 2 is not clearly defined in the actual proposal. The rest of it looks good.
The summary given here of point 2 is not very complete. The actual language does not cleary define what is included in the 125%. For instance, the Fed rules provide for a relocation payment above the fee value, does that amount contribute towards the “compensation” of 125%?
I have spoken to Senator Tony Stamas’s office (who introduced the proposal) and they cannot even provide an answer.
Before it goes to the people it should be defined. As it is we will be awaiting a supreme court ruling to find out.
for 1-4, against 5.
1. …Can only be used for their intended purposes. Well DUH!
2. Affirmative action = bad.
3. Pfft, sure, why not.
4. Eminent domain = bad.
5. Just what we need, more government spending. Not!
# 1 Yes no brainer
# 2 Yes equal fair is fair
# 3 Yes no brainer
# 4 Yes Clearly ythe right thing
# 5 No No No No No No
Same as voting to increase tax every year forever.
Vote NO on Proposal 5!!!! Increase in tax every year forever to fund K-12 excessive pension plans and benefits cost!! No Way!!
Vote no on proposal 2. It is NOT preferential treatment over 60% of women get the jobs that they have because of affirmative action programs. We all deserve an equal chance. Ignorance is bliss, racism, and sexism are still very prevelant, and those of you who have not experienced it are either a white male or just sit home every day. Time to open your eyes to the glass ceiling
In regards to christina’s comment about affermative action: I’m a hispanic male living in metro detroit. I have faith in my abilities and my job and I certianly would like to get jobs because I am good at what I do, and not because the company needs to fill their mexican quota. Anyone who thinks that they are entitled to a job or anything just because of the way they are is not thinking clearly.
Everybody is created equal, regardless of race, gender, religion, etc. But after that it’s everybody for themselves. Everybody has an equal chance, but when it comes to person A vs Person B for a job, employers should be choosing the person most qualified. Not because affermative action says so. It’s that simple.
If you’re smart enough to realize that affermative action is hurting us more than helping us, consider voting for Greg Cresswell for governor. This libertarian from Dearborn is the only candidate to openly support prop 2. He’s even listing it as a main reason why he’s running. OOh, and did I mention he’s african american and works in detroit? Doesn’t sound like someone who just sits at home every day.
Vote NO to proposal 3! There are no good reasons to shoot doves. http://www.davethedove.com
#2 – Affirmative action.
Affirmative action is not fair treatment. If you research statistics at all, you will be surprised to know that even despite the best efforts of affirmative action programs, opportunties are NOT currently equal for women or minorities or people with class differences. Women make 70% of what men do in jobs of EQUAL work (YOU CAN LOOK THAT UP IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME). Furthermore, because of the long history of oppression for different minorities (African Americans, Hispanics, etc) they are in a difficult position in today’s society. Let’s use Detroit as an example: over 90 percent of Detroit’s population is black and poor because of past legislation that has restricted them to live in ghettos and prohibited them from advancing their place in society.
Affirmative action does not take jobs away from white men or white women or black men or anyone. Nor does it give preferential treatment.
It acknowledges that we are not living in a meritocratic society at this point because there is still white privilege and there is still male privilege.
Affirmative action does not blame people for these privileges, but it tries to help others who do not share the same privilege.
I am white, I am female. I support affirmative action. I don’t think that it is necessarily something that will be around forever – but right now, it’s necessary.
The American Dream doesn’t exist right now – one day we’ll get there again, but if we ban affirmative action, we’re banning diversity.
Lastly, Proposal 2 will have the most impact on women. There are laws protecting minorities to a certain extent. However, women and women’s rights are currently not shielded by any legislature other than affirmative action. The ERA did not pass.
If you eliminate affirmative action, you will ruin the future of your daughters, your sisters, your mothers, aunt, nieces, friends – yourself.
Affirmative Action IS fair treatment.**
Sorry for the error in my first sentence.
#1: No! Natural resources mandatory funding is just plain silly. Michigan has many other priorities which are much more important than ensuring fish and game license money only gets spent on fish and game. Hunters are a declining minority. Let’s not tie the hands of government when the money could be put to better use.
#2: No! As someone who is in a mixed race marriage and who has seen racism and sexism overtly expressed toward my hispanic indian wife, I can say with 100% assuredness, #2 is not fair. Until society is colorblind, the rules must reflect this reality.
#3: No! Again, hunters are a declining minority. Allowing dove hunting will do nothing economically to benefit the state, and doves are not a population that needs management. Hunting is only reasonable for pest populations like deer, who do millions in crop damage. Otherwise, hunting is simply an anachronistic barbarism.
#4: Yes!!! However, I think this proposal is actually too weak. I would argue blight is not sufficient cause to take property that meets building code. *Unless* there is a clear economic benefit, and unless the reason for the taking is public use like a highway, school, etc., government should not be able to take property.
#5: Yes!! Nothing stimulates the economy like a well trained work force. Education spending is an investment that always returns dividends.
JUST THINK MY NEIGHBER SAID SHE WOULD GET A BETTER PENSION AND MORE MONEY IF PROPOSAL 5 GOES THRU,SHE IS A TEACHER…WOW
#1-no
#2-yes
#3-yes
#4-yes
#5-no
Proposals
1-yes – Why wouldn’t conservation funds go into conservation?
2-yes – Affirmitive action is racism end the quota’s.
3-yes – Hunting is Michigan’s heritage, attracts tourism, and increases state travelling, and small arm sales. Also Dove tastes very good, kinda like squirrel.
4-yes – Government taking homes is destructive to the family and generational assests
5-yes – its an investment in our future, these are the people that will be taking care of us in our senior years.
Proposals
2-I went to school for 2 1/2 years for computer programming. While still in school I started looking for a job in that field. It was the mid 70’s when affirmative action first came into existance and I was consistantly turned away or offered a key punch operators job with the implied promise of eventually becoming a programmer. I was so distraught that one interviewer finally told me the truth. That I was the right gender but the wrong color and that he had exactly ONE application from a black man that was not nearly as qualified as I was. My grades were 3.5 and I had a good work record but his hands were tied. I had a child to support so became a lousy secretary with low pay and few benefits and a constant struggle to just live. I have been angry about this ever since. Affimative action is not a good thing.
Case in point. While a secretary working for temp services I ended up working for a black man who was obviously a token for this quota system. He was a supposed executive but his desk NEVER had a single sheet of paper on it nor did he ever do a single report himself. He ALWAYS assigned it to someone else. He also spent very little time in the office. He did not deserve the respect he asked for.
Affirmative action needs to be abolished in ALL levels of government.
2 – Amending the constitution …..How can affirmative action be a bad thing? In the 60s and 70s, when everybody was talking about equal rights, all NON-WHITE MALES benefitted from proposals/laws/etc. We are just beginning to uncover the iceberg of injustices WHITE MALES have and continue to bring to the american society.
In these times, it is a constant struggle for EVERYONE to find employment, regardless of color, sex, or creed. It has only been a couple of decades (since ERA and Civil rights movements) and we see that women and people of color are doing the same job and still not making the same salary as white males. But some people are saying 200 years of slavery, wartime internment, theft of land, etc…. that stuff is in the past, man, let’s move on….
This is a joke. Face it: Men don’t like working for women managers/supervisors and whites don’t like answering to people of color. Any color.
My firsthand account: I worked in a group with a East Indian manager, educated in Europe and the States. It was a great multicultural working environmentand we accomplished a lot working in teams. Some of the ‘caucasion’ workers complained about lack of leadership and communication problems… so the manager was transferred out of our group and replaced first with white female, then with a white male. It has continued to have a white male manager since then. The structure of the group changed, ie. “levels” of management instead of teams, and our productivity and creativity diminished.
That East Indian male? He is now a senior vice president in a Fortune 500 company. Many of the people in the group stayed for job security, but they are not happy. I visit them now and then and see the inefficiency, because a white male HAD to be put IN CHARGE.
Proposal #2 must not pass! Look at Proposal 209 which passed in California, and think of how that will, too, effect Michigan in a negative way. School and educational programs created to help everyone but especially influence female and minority students will no longer be funded. Women are ONLY protected under Affirmative Action…hence, without it, we will no longer have this protection! We will see a decline in women and minorty figures in jobs such as medical, educational, and business. Also, if true to what has happened in California, the number of students who are in the minority will decline in attending colleges. How is this helpful to our world and economy? It is proven that African American law students end up doing more pro bono work, and African American doctors end up working in communities which truly need medical attention. This world is not perfect enough to arrogantly believe that Affirmative Action is unnecessary and unfair to white males!
Proposal 1 is a danm fine thing. The money that is being debated here is paid BY the people who will get the benifit for it.I use my state parks several times a month. The fees I pay for hunting, fishing, camping at my local state park should be used to maintain these areas, not to support other issues. I agree that there are many important places that our tax dollars should be spent, but let money spent for something specific go to support that cause.
Proposal 2 is a good thing.affirmative accion is a joke. I have worked jobs were I had to work harder than I should have had to because the guy beside me wasn’t qualified to do the job. That’s not fair to me. I greew up in Detroit. I worked my but off to get good grades. Then I worked my butt off to do well at work, so I could afford to go to college. ANYONE can get ahead if they work hard, and I shouldn’t have to do my work and yours because you think something should be handed to you.
Proposal 3 is good. God said we should master the world He gave us. He gave us animals for food. I belive we should never kill any animal that we don’t eat, but if you will eat it, Heck, we should be able to hunt anything not indangered.
Proposal 4 is good. What give the government the right to take our property because they can get more money from it with a differant owner? Sounds like something a king or dictator would do, doesn’t it? If anything, this proposal should be kicked up to the point where it would be very prohibative to use eminant domain. This is just one more way for the rich to screw the little guy.
Proposal 5 is good. Yes it will mean more taxes, But our kids are worth it. Remember, these kids will be running the world some day. Don’t you want intellegent, well educated leaders in the future for your kids and grandkids sakes? What we need to do is cut out the teachers pentions and make them prepare for retirement with 401K programs and IRA’s like the rest of us working stiffs.By the way, My kids are out of school next year, so voting yes to this proposal won’t benifite me like someone with younger kids, but I will still vote yes. If your worried about high taxes, Force your elected officials to account for every cent spent on anything, and push for ONLY government programs that aren’t a waste of money. Why not force people on welfare and unemployment to work a few hours a week? They could do alot of unskilled labor around the state that we are currently paying tax dollars to do.Why give money for free? THese people could work 10 or 15 hours a week and still hit a couple of job interviews.
Chris the liberal (in response to comment #14):
For someone who is supporting affirmative action (in proposal two), if hunters are a “declining minority” (as quoted by you in your comments on proposal three), should the hunters not be given some sort of preferencial treatment as well? Or was it somehow acceptable to use “declining minority” as a pejorative in comment number three, while in comment number two, that same description would be the whole rallying force behind your support of the issue?
Don’t get me wrong, I am not a hunter, nor do I have strong feelings either way when it comes to mourning doves (though I do not take delight in the death of animals). I simply found it a bit ironic how you found it acceptable to use the fact that hunters are a “declining minority” to support the fact that you are against one proposal when if I or anyone else had used those words in that same context as a way of supporting proposal two, we would be immediately condemned as a bigot, a sexist or a racist.
Of course I would not use that argument as a way of supporting proposal two (though I DO support it). I simply found it curious that you can use your typical, predictable, sophomoric tendencies in one paragraph as a compassionate, tender, caring person (though no doubt, you probably are), and in your next point, you use a descriptor that you would immediately raise all kinds of red flags to if used in reference to racial minorities. But when used in regard to those barbaric hunters, well, they are not only a minority, but they are a DECLINING minority.
The funny thing is, most liberals have been so brainwashed into nonsensical ways of thinking that they will no doubt agree with you. Ignorance must be bliss because then you can say whatever you want, however you want, even if it doesn’t match up with what you said yesterday, or in one of your previous paragraphs. I love hunting for mourning doves.
Proposal #2 is very bad! The person who has pushed for this amendment to be on the November ballot is Ward Connerly. He lives in California and got the amendment passed there in 1996. Since then there has been huge drops in the enrolment of African American’s and women in schools and being hired. This bill does not allow outreach programs, minority health programs, women’s health (breastfeeding help) programs, scholarships for race or gender specified, integration programs in schools, the list goes on. Also California and Michigan have the most segregated schools! He is being paid lots of money. When he brought this to Michigan, the wording on the petition made it sound as if they were signing for equality and Ward had hired blacks to petition. There was a lawsuit filed because people were misled. The language on the ballot was forced to be changed, but is still confusing. No groups in Michigan support it. Jen Granholm and her opponent DeVos oppose it. A.A. is helping the U.S. by creating more diversity. It enforces that people are not being racist when choosing someone for a position. It creates much needed diversity. Things are not equal yet. Please I urge you to vote no on Proposal #2. Oh yeah, women are paid 67 cents for every dollar a man makes in Michigan.
re: #5
Giving more money to government run education by no means implies that the populace will be better educated. To say so is confusing good intentions with actual results. If the premise #5 is based on were true, Detroit would have a literacy rate higher than 48% and our universities wouldn’t have to offer so many remedial classes to freshmen. If one wants educated children, then teach your own child well. Responsibility of education belongs to parents and individuals, not the state. Given the waste and corruption found in public education today, I am surprised any effort to give them more money is even entertained.
re: #2
If AA is eliminated then organizations that target minorities will target those in poverty (where the root problem is anyway) instead. Additionally, it only stops state funded programs from descriminating. Private organizations can still pick and choose who they want to give aid to.
To say that women can only achieve sucess through AA doesn’t seem to give women much credit. Women are not fragile beings incapable of setting their own course in life. The female med students I see and talk to every day are not here because of AA. They are here because they studied hard, recieved good scores on the MCAT and are making all the sacrifices needed to succeed. To say that AA is what brought them here diminishes their effort and puts AA on a pedestal where it should not be.
The college drop out rate of black Americans to Whites is 25% higher. The answer is not to push more people into situations they are not prepared for, it’ll only make that rate higher. The answer is to fix k-12 education, and you don’t need AA for that.
Proposal 2 – Remember that affirmative action addresses this question: Who gets the job (contract, placement) when there are more QUALIFIED applicants than positions? Without affirmative action, the answer used to be: white men.
Affirmative action is about expanding options for women and minorities, not about qualifications or quotas.
Affirmative action is about inclusion, not exclusion. It is a tool to promote fair decision-making, not about unfair preferences.
Vote NO on 2.
Prop 2 gives everyone an equal shot based upon qualifications. Current PC affirmative action requires minorities gain access or rights over the majority even though others may be more qualified. Can you say dumbing down!
Prop 5…at what point do we say public education is broke? Throwing more money at teachers is not right
in response to #19, stop blaming white males for all of the problems in this country. if people lean on that crutch any harder it is going to snap. i will not be held accountable for the mistakes that i did not make. this is exactly why hate continues to grow. people chant “no justice, no peace,” well i say “no forgiveness, no peace.” the only way is to forgive the sins of the past, learn our lessons, grow, and move on.
Prop #5 shouldn’t even be an issue. A grass roots group in northwest Michigan is pushing for equal funding to all the schools. There is an unequal funding amount going on across this state. The South eastern corner is recieving an exorbitant amount above the per pupil amount. Bloomfield Hills recieved of $300 million extra dollars, alone last year. Why? No one can seem to give a legitamite answer. Visit the site and see for yourself.
http://www.citizensforequity.org/default.htm
Joe again Sorry I miss stated Bloomfield Hills recieves over $30 Million per year in political favors money. Not the $300 million total I previously stated. Sorry for the miss info. But no one can even give a good reason that much either.
#14, are you listening to youself. Do nothing for MI economy? What about the license and stamp fee’s, gasoline taxes, and hunters do have to eat. And, if MI hunters are a declining minority then what would it hurt to allow the dove hunting, if with your explanation there will be no hunters eventually, right?
Proposal #3, response 14: are you listening to yourself. Do nothing for the economy? What about the license and stamp fees (read Pro. #1)? Gasoline taxes, and hunters do eat, have to feed their dogs, buy hunting clothing, etc.! And if as you say, hunters are a declining minority, then there will be none soon so why not let the “few” enjoy a sport which is enjoyed in over 30 other states? Why are none of those states being attacked?
To Dave the Dove. They are great with a piece of bacon around them. Using “logic” that they have very little meat would preclude us from eating shrimp too – I believe theres more meat in a dove than there is on a shrimp. Tell Texans that they’re not game birds, in fact Remington shotgun shells have them on the cover of “dove and quail” ammunition and have since I can remember.
#1 yes
#2 absolutely yes. hire the best person for he job, regardless of race, gender, etc.
#3 yes. a dove pooped on me earlier this year… justice will be served.
#4 yes
#5 yes
re: birds
It’s either ok to shoot animals and eat them or it’s not. There’s always cultural bias on what animals are ok to eat and not. Personally, I think there’s money to be made selling dove jerky to right wing chickenhawks.
#1 yes—Can only be used for their intended purposes. Well DUH!
#2 Yes— An underqualified person doing a job instead of a qualified person simply becouse of race, sex…Sounds like the Government!!!
#3 Undecided—Doves…Doesn’t matter to me eather way…I am a hunter BTW
#4 Yes—Even though it is not clearly defined…Come and try and take my property for “public use” or “economic development” and someone might get hurt…See above^
#5 No—My kids are getting a substandard education now compared to the rest of the world, but what good is and education if you can’t afford to do anything with it because taxes keep going up every year???
#5
The recommended raise for workers is equal to that of influation so that the workers can continue to maintain a constant standard of living. Doesn’t is make sense that the public school system would also be given the resources to maintain a constant standard of education?
If your children are receiving a sub par education then become involved with your local school. The American school system is very localized and flexible just for this purpose. You have the power to make changes but won’t you be sad when you voted against giving yourself the power to fund those changes?
#1 No – If you don’t like the way Lansing allocates funds, send different people to Lansing. Don’t tie the legislator’s hands with so many rules that they can never move money from one program that has a surplus one year, into another where there is a deficit.
#2 No – Racism is, sadly, still alive and well in America. I hope we will be able to shift affirmative action into areas like early education and tutoring and remedial education which are not zero sum games, instead of admissions, which essentially are a zero sum game. And I look forward to the day when it won’t be needed any more at all. But that day has not yet come.
#3 Yes – I didn’t have much of a strong feeling on this one, but the anti-hunting people are so shrill, and I have no real objection to it, so I’ll vote for it.
#4 Yes – I’m a little worried because I don’t know much about actual statistics of eminent domain cases in Michigan, but there should be a high bar the government needs to cross to do it, and reimbursing over the fair market value seems reasonable to me.
#5 No – I would gladly support more funding for public schools, but making it mandatory and linking it to the rate of inflation is bad policy (see #1). It would only be a matter of time before the legislature was forced to cut something else, something we wouldn’t want cut, to balance the budget. Of course, we could pass similar measures for all other areas of the budget, and require that the state balance the budget. That way, if there was ever a shortfall, anything they did would be unconstitutional, no matter what.
If you don’t like the budgets Lansing passes, send better people to Lansing. Miring Lansing down in rules to hem them in on all sides when writing the budget is not the answer.
It’s ironic that so many people are arguing against prop 5 and for prop 2 in the same post. You clearly don’t care about justice or equality if you are willing to allow schools like Ann Arbor, Farmington, and Bloomfield Hills to be unequally funded. As a general rule, those children have an economic advantage at home and white privelege. They don’t need the help. If kids in the Detroit Public School system were to be over-funded by over $30M, there would be some seriously angry white families trying to stop it, crying “unfair,” and “unequal treatment.”
Yet the fact remains that urban schools are not as good as suburban and rural schools. And the parents of urban school children are much more likely to be working two or even three jobs to support their families because they didn’t go to college, and they can’t work a 9-5 job with bennefits and a 401k plan. I am a white woman who works in an urban community, and I see it every day.
Why is it that minority children should be denied a decent K-12 education? Why not give them a few extra points when they apply at U of M or MSU? Or an extra grant or scholarship? When you come from a disadvantaged background, you should darn well get some extra kudos because you are going to college representing your whole family, your whole neighborhood, and your whole race.
On Proposal 1…There is no general fund dollars that go into these funds meaning Outdoor enthusiasts pay for their activities and the natural resources of our state with out general tax base support.
If the money that is in these funds gets raided and put into the general fund for any reason (such as balancing the budget), that is taking money from services that outdoor enthusiasts pay for and putting it elsewhere. If the fund is raided it is essentially making that user pay their taxes twice. Is that fair?
I personally wouldn’t want to pay taxes twice just because the state couldn’t find a good way to balance the budget while my neighbor only had to pay once.
Outdoor enthusiasts pay for their programs by themselves. Let them have their money protected to pay for our state’s natural resources which essentially anyone can enjoy.
This is an easy choice. Vote YES on Proposal 1.
See http://www.protectyourfunds.org for more information.
Prop 1-Yes. Conservation funds should go to conservation. This is a no-brainer.
Prop 2-Yes. While Jessica brought up a good point the fact is not all people live the average lifestyle of their race. There are a few black people who grow up in nice, suburban communities, and a few white people who grow up in urban slums. How is it fair that black people get extra consideration regardless of what their socioeconomic background is, and white people get none even if they grew up dirt poor? Passing Prop 2 will force colleges to come up with alternatives, namely socioeconomic affirmative action. That is what they did in California after they banned affirmative action. And hopefully the next thing to go will be legacies. That is another unfair unmeritocratic preference that needs to be removed.
Prop 3-Yes. I would never shoot a dove. In fact I don’t even hunt. But it’s really no worse than hunting a deer. It’s not like they’re endangered.
Prop 4-Yes. Conservatives, you want to limit the size of government, right? And liberals, taking land and giving it to businesses does nothing for common or poor Americans. So where ever you are on the spectrum Vote Yes!
Prop 5-Yes. We definitely need to make sure students get an adequate education.
Proposal 1: If we take this money away from the Natural Resources Association, what will happen to our natural resources? They won’t be protected and preserved our our children’s children. Leave the money where it belongs.
Proposal 2: Who is the minority anymore? Really, with all the immigrants that have come into this country, I believe whilte people will soon be the minority. Will the others still complain for equal rights or will it be the white people’s turn?
Proposal 3: If doves have become a menace than I believe there needs to be a season.
Proposal 4: Every property owner deserves rights to their own property. But there are also laws set to help preserve the rights of the property which each property owner must also take into consideration.
Proposal 5: I have mixed emotions on this one. Automatic increases with the raate of inflation, I am not so sure I agree with this, but I am concerned for the last point, if I understand this right, I believe all children should get the same amount of funding as any other child no matter what school they go to. Those in a poorer district needs the extra funding and those that live in an up scale district, that district has the money to make up the difference. What ever happen to no child left behind?
proposal 5 is a good idea becouse we woould have better schools it should not take taxes if it does i do not like it
VOTE NO ON 3! There is no good reason to hunt doves! There are enough birds and animals to hunt in Michigan.
YES on 5, teachers should be the most secure of any workforce and like it or not the future depends on our children.. Why leave anyone out?
Prop #1: Yes!
Prop #2: Yes, Yes, Yes! Most qualified gets the job! It is utterly amazing it took this long to get on the ballot. Nobody’s sister, aunt, or daughter will be hurt by this, as some scare mongers will assert.
Prop #3: Yes!
Prop #4: Yes!
Prop #5: No, absolutely not! There are no guarantees in life. Get used to it. Those attempting to suggest that we are in great peril without this passing, are being intentionally dishonest.
Any time some one says the children are our future, a politician gets his/her wings.
Lets think about this in small steps. First, the issue.
The issue IS NOT whether the children “are the future”.
The issue IS whether guaranteeing increased tax revenue to government run education is needed to improve education in this state.
Now that we see that “for the children” is mearly political slight of hand designed to assuage small minds, we can move on to the proposal.
For your consideration: The State of Michigan currently ranks at #5 in teacher pay, #4 in education spending per tax dollars and is above the national average in dollars per pupil. (Source)
Based on the performance of the State education system compared to its already relatively high funding , one can now try and determine if the level of funding is the problem, the way the funds are distributed to schools, or if it’s the inherent bureaucratic limitations of a government provided service. I tend to fall heavily on the latter, that is why I oppose Proposal 5.
I don’t hate teachers or children or education. What I will admit to hating is the notion that a largely inefficient, union and state protected government bureacracy will somehow become efficient and perform better if we just give it more tax money every single year. Technology and better business processes have reduced cost in every industry except for those run by the state. We should be looking to market simulating solutions, not more of the status quo.
#1-Yes! People who put their money into recreation and conservational systems should have their money go towards just that, it’s just fair!
#2-Yes! Employers and educators shoundn’t be favoring specific minorities or majorities. They should be favoring the people with more skill/more education.
#3-Yes! There is an abundance of doves.
#4-Yes! Eminent Domain should be for public purposes only.
#5-Yes! I’m sure that there are other ways we could get an even better education system, but this is one way we can help!
I do not approve of Proposal 3. Mourning doves are Gods hand in action.
Rob bless you.
1.YES– We did not inherit our earth from God, we are borrowing it from our children.
2.No- As a woman I would not like to see special interest groups that provide financial assistance to us and minorities hurt.
3.NO- KILLING MOURNING DOVES? Give me a break.
4. Yes, duh.
5.Yes, I agree that education is very important. It will pay off!
As a Christian it is obvious which way to vote: #1 Yes, #2 NO, #3 NO, #4 YES, #5 YES. WWJD—Look to your heart.
prop 1 no
prop 2 no
prop 3 NOOOOOOO!!! are you guys dumb. how about we have a proposal for shooting dumb people you’ll go for it too!
prop 4 yes
prop 5 no
1. yes 2. yes{we need a true color blind country} 3. yes {stop the anti’s now, or the rest of our hunting rights will be next.} 4.yes 5. NO!!{ get rid of the leftist teachers union that are corrupting our kids, then ask us again.}
OK, so WWJD insinuates that Jesus would think money earmarked for conservation stay there, but he would also want preferential treatment be given to certain people. Jesus believed that we are all equal, not that some are better than others. So how is making it more difficult for certain people to obtain a job, and education, or other services making things equal? It isn’t! What affirmative action really does, is say: “Even though you may not be as good as the others, we will pick you because you are: (black, American Indian, female, etc) or if you are lucky a combination of many of these. Does that really sound equal? How about all job applications, college entrance applications, and things like that be required to assign a number so nobody knows who it belongs to, then we pick the people who are best qualified based on what really matters? And what really matters is their ability to perform in the setting. I am sorry, but I have seen too many qualified people turned down for promotions and college admissions based on the fact that they are the wrong sex or color. And the job given to someone less qualified that “fit the politically correct profile”.
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. No
#3 In a world with so many problems on verge of crisis and war looming over all of us…I cant believe anyone actually spent their time and energy to satisify their thirst for the blood of a Dove…ironically the bird of peace. What kind of person makes this their life ambition?
I have nothing against legitmate hunting..but for those who think there should be no distinction between one bird/animal and another…is that your dog?
Vote No on Proposal #3
Why on earth would anyone want to kill doves? Certainly not to eat as they are so small. It would require work to clean and cook them. They are not pests. Now if anyone wants to shoot starlings, I’m all for that!!!!!
1 – yes
2 – yes
3 – yes and for response 52, yes to being able to shoot dumb people.
4 – yes
5 – no Enough with the investment stuff. Kids are not an investment, they need guidance, care, and discipline. Let’s actually fix a problem for once instead of trying to throw money at it.
Prop #2 YES
I am 57 years old and for my entire adult life I have had to take a second seat behind minorities regardless of our abilities to correct this alleged discrimination by my grandfathers. I have taken one for the team all my life and it’s time that my grandchildren be permitted to have an equal break when looking for work. My grandfathers, by the way must be the cause of all evil things that ever occured. One was a Cherokee and the other immigrated here in the early 20th century. Who’s debt have I been paying and why does it need to continue?
#3 If the NRA is in favor of this…it can’t be good. Tired of NRA being irresponsible about gun control. Once they show some common sense I will support them. I support hunting and hunters and do not want to limit their rights but I will vote no on this because of extreme NRA views.
Affirmative action is not intended to fill quotas, but to provide opportunity to QUALIFIED women/minorities. Anyone who was ever told they didn’t get a job because a lesser qualified minority had to be hired, you’ve certainly been duped. I can speak from the standpoint of being an Af. American Ivy League graduate, with GPA in excess of 3.9 from one of America’s top high schools and SAT scores exceeding 1400. Unfortunately, even in today’s society, a white male with even lesser scores than those would likely receive preference based on the biases which remain in effect today. This is the same bias that will cause a person to cross the street and clutch a purse when I walk down the street, whether I’m in a suit or in jeans. We are conditioned to make assumptions about people based on their appearance; however, we have yet to arrive to a place where we can afford someone a clean slate to write their own ticket, and establish a unique reputation without the standing dogmas in place.
I believe that the day will come when A.A. should be abolished, and I look forward to it. It is on the day that opporunity is truly given on merit, not according to appearance or preconceptions, that we can say we live under a fair and equal society, with fair opportunity for all.
Rejecting #3 is just the beginnings of something VERY BAD!!!!
It is a proven fact that that $2m+ is being spent in Ohio for Mourning Dove Hunting by Michigan residents. With a state that is doing so badly, why would ANYONE refuse to allow us to spend the money HERE instead of Ohio. They love OUR money. Besides, THEY ARE SHOT FOR FOOD, not target practice!!! ANY LEGITAMENT HUNTER IN THIS STATE, eats what he shoots!!!!
ALSO, this proposal is being run by a Animal right’s group that has been trying to get ALL hunting banned from Michigan. How many of them are laughing at us hunters while they sit at the dinner table eating a thick steak???? If they get their way, we will all be vegatarians. One of their own proposals tried to make “Mouse Traps” illegal due to the way they killed the mice.
SO MUCH FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF “PRUSUIT OF HAPPINESS”
#1 is a voluntary tax[s] that I pay. I expect my money to go where it’s supposed to go and be used for it’s [my!] intended purpose. This one effects everyone who uses a State campground, boatramp, hiking trail, state forest, ect. Keep your hands off our fun[ds], dang it.
I vote yes
#2 dumbing down is no answer to dealing with world competition, sounds like a bad idea to me. The job should go to the best qualified, period.
I vote yes
#3 Just how big do you think Quail are? I ate many of them back when I lived down in Texas. A Dove is the same size and tastes just as good. Don’t like it? Then don’t hunt them, plain and simple. Keep away from me [and my kids and grandchildrens] hunting rights. Never mind that almost all financing for this crap is coming from out of state [ELF and PETA] under the umbrella organization of http://www.hsus.org/
and aren’t welcome. HSUS IS NOT AFFILIATED with the local Humane Society. God bless these local Humane Society people who are doing a difficult job. They aren’t HSUS.
Don’t get fooled by the name.
I vote yes
#4 It seems to me that I should own what I bought. 125% payment for my “condemned” property seems reasonable. There should be a way to stop a rich invester who can buy off politictions from stealing peoples property for personal gain. While there is still room for abuse, and I feel that the old, and the poorest of the poor may still be victomized, with reservations…
I vote yes
#5 I don’t care for the way that this is worded, it is too ambigious and raises red flags all over the place. As much as I admire and respect teachers and love my grandchildren, there are major problems that this simply doesn’t address.
I vote no
so flame me…
In response to the A.A. supporters.
You state that it would be an injustice to remove the support of A.A. because women are still being paid only .67 cents on the dollar in comparison to every man in Michigan. Well I suppose your program isn’t working thus far.
I am an American Indian Female…I would be ashamed to be hired because I fit a quota.
And the more ‘minorities’ that are hired in positions just because they are minorities is shown the reduction of the quality output. GO WITH THE BEST QUALIFIED PERSON…regardless if they have a uterus, dark pigmentation of their skin, eyes are slighty more slanted, or wear a turban…just STOP IT people.
Do you honest think “FORCE FITTING” companies to hire certain people is a good thing for this state? No.
Also, what about all the ‘non-black kids’ that live in Detroit, that get screwed by he current educational administration because all the benefits are soley for the ‘black kids’.
I am one of those people that did not benefit from a positive experience, as a matter of fact the educated and staff blatantly favored the ‘kind’. What a crock.
1. yes
2. yes
3. yes
4. yes
5. No…Learn to teach and MAYBE I”ll consider you OVER paid racist horrid education system to get a raise.
I walked through Detroit public schools till 6th grade and didn’t know how to read. They just passed me to ‘get the head’ count. It wasn’t till I was moved out to Livonia that I actually had a chance at a decent education.
No on 2!! I don’t care how else you vote on the others but we can not let them ban affirmatve action! We do not live in a society that sees everyone equal if we did we wouldn’t of had to have it in the first place. In UCLA out of the 7000 freshmen coming in only 600 were black. Are you telling me thats fair? Out of those 600 90% of them are on sport scholarship, are you telling me thats fair? Just becuase you don’t see racism it in your everyday life does not mean its still not out there. . . it is. . . and it will not stop until we as minorities and women do something about it.
1. yes
2. yes
3. who cares, so yes make some hunters happy
4. GOD YES
5. We already spend more then most countries in the world on our educational system, making sure we keep spending more wont improve the quality of the system. Also if you want to make sure there is equality in funding, don’t tie it to forcing the hand of our legislature to continually spend more money. The wording on that is horrible even with a shrinking population they would still have to increase funding.
About Proposal 5
The Retirement Funding Guarantee
The Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS) is the largest public employee pension system in the state, providing pension and health care benefits to over 488,000 members and beneficiaries. Pension benefits are financed on an advance-funding basis while the health benefits are on a cash disbursement basis. In both cases, these benefits are funded by employer contributions. The level of total contributions to the system to fund benefits, expressed as a percentage of payrolls, is annually set by the State and has been on the rise since FY98. Employers are responsible for the entire amount of the contribution to the system. Proposal 2006-05 would shift the responsibility for a portion of the contribution from the employer to the State of Michigan.
Under the proposal, beginning in FY07, the employer contributions to MPSERS would be capped at the lesser of 80 percent of the contribution rate or 14.87 percent of payroll, which was the FY05 rate. The State of Michigan would be responsible for making up the difference between the capped employer contribution and the total actual contribution required. To meet its new fiscal responsibility, the State would be required to appropriate, to the various MPSERS employers, a sufficient amount from the General Fund to make up the difference in FY07. The proposal does not contain a specific appropriation or funding source to cover the State’s obligation beyond FY07, although the employer cap would be in effect after FY07.
For FY07, the MPSERS employer contribution rate for all non-university employers is 17.74 percent of payroll. Under the proposal, the employers’ contribution would be capped at 80 percent of this figure (14.19 percent of payroll) and the State of Michigan would be responsible for the remaining 20 percent (3.55 percent of payroll). The cost to the State would be calculated by multiplying its share of the total rate by the total payroll for FY07. The proposal appropriates this amount to each employer for subsequent deposit with MPSERS.
Source: http://www.crcmich.org/election/index.html
Definitely yes on 2. fair is fair. If your not good enough to get a job on your own, you don’t deserve one. Quit moochin the system.
And to Odelia. What reasons do you attribute the low 600 of 7000 numbers to? Everyone who wants to succeed can. It takes effort. Maybe its because of the 2x the number of blacks dropping out of high school or the 5x the number of hispanics. Hmmmm numbers don’t lie, people do. Mostly to themselves. Many EXCUSES are made.
These are all solid propsals
I am voting yes on all.
Even though I do not bird hunt I am voting yes on proposal 3. We should all have the choice to hunt or not. If we want small group of people telling us how to live, and what to do, well we have a name for that, communism. China might be a good place for you to live if you like being told what to do. I always vote for choice!!
76% money sent to oppose dove hunting comes from oustide the state of MI.
1-yes- I USE THE STATE PARKS..THE MONEY I SPEND EACH SUMMER SHOULD GO TO MAINTAINING THE BEST OF MICHIGAN…ITS STATE PARKS!!!
2-NO- WE DON’T LIVE IN A FAIR WORLD SO WE STILL NEED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION..AS A HANDICAPPED PERSON I HAVE HAD PERSONAL BIAS IN JOB HIRING AND HAD TO FIGHT…I PAY TAXES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AND I DON’T USE MY HANDICAP AS AN EXCUSE BUT I HAVE HAD TO PROVE MYSELF MANY TIMES JUST TO BE GIVEN A FAIR SHAKE.
3-NO- KILLING DOVES IS JUST PLAIN REDICULOUS.
4-YES- IF WE OWN OUR PROPERTY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE NO SAY UNLESS WE USE IT TO HARM OTHERS OR SELVES…BUT THATS IT
5-YES- WHY SHOULD BIG CITY SCHOOLS BE GIVEN PREFERENTAIL TREATMENT WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENT PER CAPITA FUNDING AND GENERAL FUNDS FOR SCHOOLS…THERE MIGHT BE A PRESIDENT IN OUR FUTURE FROM A SMAAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL BUT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL HAD TO CLOSE DOR FUNDING REASONS THE CHILD DOESN’T GET EQUAL EDUCATION..ITS JUST WRONG
Vote Yes Prorpsal #2
Vote yes on 2: I am a woman, and a liberal, but come on! My Dad, a white Male, marched in the streets shoulder to shoulder for equal rights. This same man in the 1980’s was denied a job promotion, from janitor to truck driver, by a large corporation. Why is this a problem? Maybe he was only qualified to be a janitor…No, he had previously been a truck driver for over 10 years. Who got the promotion? A black female (read: fits two quota standards) who had to be set to truck driving school, before she could spend one day on the job.
Cut to education in the 1990’s. I was a white female from a relatively low middle class family. I knew my future lay in education, however would only be able to afford it through scholarships. I worked 2 jobs through high school, and was in the top 15 students of a graduating class of close to 400. I received a partial scholarship to college. I worked my tail off there in my regular and honors class work. The inner city girls across the hall from me, who had full rides, spent the majority of their time blasting rap music, and humping their doorframes. not, doing class work. They had come in with a lacking education, and strived to continue that trend! When I went to financial aid to find out more ways to fund my monetary deficiency, I was told: ” maybe you just shouldn’t be here..” I later graduated Cum Laude from another institution. Affirmative action good? I think not.
1 – No NO NO more laws and money spending. enforce and regulate the one we have now.
2 – YES Everything should be based on Merit not skin color Affirmative action has run it’s course. I got denied to U of Michigan myself for 2 years because of skin color in the late 80’s and my grades were excellent.
3 – YES Stop shooting doves for target practice. I’m a sportsman and I don’t get why you would even shoot a dove theres no meat?
4 – YES Stop the government from taking land easily.
5 – BIG NO NO This pushes teachers pensions over onto Michigan taxs payers.
Why hasn’t the Teachers Union managed their pensions honestly?
Why is it failing?
Why do tax payers need to pay for this a second time?
This is a BS proposal that doesn’t even give any money to the kids. I read it and the teachers union should be ashamed of themselves because of their failers to manage their money for pensions.
The company my father worked for went Bankrupt in 1994 and the tax payers of michigan don’t have to pay for it, if they did it would be wrong.
I find it very funny that so many anti-hunters are aginst prop 3. I have not seen one good argument aginst hunting of Doves, but once agin those of us that enjoy doing something are being told what that we can’t by uninformed people that have never hunted.