I spent about three hours this afternoon at Folklife collecting signatures for I-1068. As expected, it was a friendly crowd and my biggest obstacle to getting signers was that many people had already signed. Still, there were too many young people who wanted to sign, but haven’t registered to vote yet.
Also in Seattle Center today were a number of paid gatherers for I-1098 (the Income Tax initiative), I-1100 (privatization of liquor sales), and some revival of the 2/3 vote for tax increases (don’t remember the number, don’t give a fuck).
One of the paid gatherers was clearly out of her element and I chatted with her for a bit. She said she’d been paid $100 to collect signatures, but knew nothing about the state (she was from California) or the history of our recent initiatives. She was confused as to why a lot of people were refusing to sign the 2/3 vote petition and I had to explain the history. She was far too shy to be doing that kind of work and eventually just started approaching the people who had already stopped to sign my I-1068 petitions.
On top of that, one lady who signed my petition said that one of the paid gatherers told her that the 2/3 majority vote petition was not a Tim Eyman initiative (it is). It sounds like the folks from California have learned what they need to say to get people to sign.
And the highlight of my day was when I asked a short black man with dreadlocks to sign – and he politely said “thanks, I’ve signed” and showed me the baseball-sized bud he was carrying in his hand.
No pictures?
Feh.
I signed I-1068 the other day in a public gathering that caused some consternation to the person I was with, because, supposedly, it was not a place in which to be political. So, be it. I don’t much like initiatives and referendums. I don’t think our electorate pays enough attention to the issues (and I include myself among whom I call the electorate) to make public policy. Our elected officials should inform themselves and make law. We have a representative democracy, not some sort of “pure” democracy. Timmy’s budgetary initiatives should never be the subject of a ballot issue because there is no way the average voter does the necessary research to vote on such a thing. Values issues, however, are more appropriate for a general vote, if we have to have such votes. So, I signed I-1068 the other day, which if enacted, by the way, would be good law.
@1
My Blackberry is my camera and it takes shitty pictures…
@2 I agree that initiatives are more often than not nonsense. But this one, I-1068, kind of gets to the core point of having initiatives. If you talk to “real people” very few give a tin s**t about marijuana being legal or not really. It’s only our politicians that PRETEND it’s some untouchable subject and they can’t DARE to support legalizing it. Sure you can have 3 cartons of cigarettes and bring back a 2 crates of wine from Napa Valley, but don’t DARE even suggest the concept of beginning to discuss the idea of forming the intent to think about legalizing marijuana with a politician. They live in some imaginary world that doesn’t seem to match what people really think.
Reminds me of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” bullshit. 80% of the public is ok with doing away with it. Mother F**K, even 60% of REPUBLICANS are ok with doing away with it. If someone wants to risk their life to defend our nation, I don’t care which legal adult they want to take to bed. But with 80% support, the Republicans are considering filibustering the ENTIRE defense budget bill (at a “time of war”(tm) let me remind you) to stop this. They’re willing to risk the lives of our troops by denying funding (lines used against Democrats if they try to slow/stop a military budget bill) to stop something that has 80% public approval, 60% in their OWN party? Talk about out of touch.
4
I agree. I don’t believe, however, that people will vote the way they poll. Strange thing. They know what is right, but can’t pull the right (left) lever when it comes to voting.
@ 4
Nobody ever claimed conservatives were intelligent. They are reactionaries. Covetousness is their primary emotional motivation.
Reactionaries never stop to consider the consequences of their actions. They are merely contrarians on principle. Their purpose is to obstruct and vilify progress, never to present any rational contributions to a More Perfect Union, except where it allows them to manipulate the economy for their own personal enrichment.
They would rather have unmitigated flaws that they know of and ignore, or take advantage and suppress knowledge of, rather than make real attempts to solve the problems as they arise. It interferes with their demands of liberalized commerce, which they believe to be the ultimate rationale of a modern economic system. Social consequences be damned.
Problems can be ignored, so long as they can make money from it. Unlimited commerce is their only permissible method of modernization. Anything outside of pure unlimited competition is considered interference with commerce.
And we don’t wanna do that now, do we?
I love Iniaitives it makes more people informed
of the issue’s that the Legislature just cant
deal with. The voters can make up their mind
in November..To the 1068 person. Several weeks
ago your campaign sent to a California Firm the 1068 petitions — and someone almost paid for a signiture drive to get 1068 on the ballot…
The same person from California would of been
carrying yours as well as Tim Eyman.
I am not against paid gathers I just wish they
would be more informed.
I’d rather pay a smaller tax bill than smoke pot.
I’ve been signature gathering at Folklife for the past 3 days. Yesterday, a couple of signature gatherers stood near me because I drew people in, and then they put their board of initiatives in front of people. They were from California, and didn’t know anything about our state. They’re like migrant farm workers. I think they said they were going to Colorado after this. Once they lured somebody into signing, it was like buying a house: page after page of signing things (they had 4 petitions). Many people had no idea what they were signing. They had 1098 on top, probably because somebody above them knew that would be the best draw in Seattle. A number of people did, however, refuse to sign the 2/3 Eyeman initiative.
@8
Then help pass I-1068. If they collect taxes from pot sales, that’s more tax money that won’t be coming from you.
I had to explain the same exact thing to a person at Folklife yesterday.
taxes/pot; actually, i mean, if you help us on the tax initiative, i’ll help you on the pot one. I care more about the insane tax/spend stuff than pot. And if pot goes legal, i don’t view it as logical/moral to tax the crap out if it (i’m maybe to the left of you guys on that). Either ban it or legalize it. same for alcohol and cigarettes.
Today, on Memorial Day, myself, and other brave American heros, just want to say to our fellow Americans, you’re welcome for your freedom.
I signed it in front of the local Cabela’s sporting-goods megastore. I was pleasantly surprised that Cabela’s let them pester their customers. Although the pro-pot guy just had it sitting it there, and wasn’t actively tripping up people. The “private liquor-store” guys were there as well and they were the ones doing that..
I’ll vote for I-1068 and I-1098 if they make the ballot. I’ll vote against Eyman’s assholery if it makes the ballot. I’m undecided, though leaning against, on I-1100 if it makes the ballot.
But I categorically refuse to sign petitions offered under a fundamentally-broken system like I&R in Washington. It’s not as broken as California’s, where they can actually amend the constitution by (always misleading) initiative, but WA’s I&R is still a failed system.
I wouldn’t even sign a petition for an initiative to scrap the I&R system.
@12
Hey thanks Troll.
I served in the National Guard for 7.5 years myself. Thankfully I got out in March of 2001. Who knows what would have happened if I had re-enlisted?
How did you serve?
Today I went to the Grand Army of the Republic cemetery just north of Volunteer Park, in Capitol Hill. It’s where Union veterans of the Civil War are buried. It’s very poignant and I recommend folks check it out.
Now I’m going to go to Folklife and collect signatures for I- 1068. Nothing is as patriotic as getting involved in a political campaign to end stupid illogical laws.
Troll, in my 47 years, not one single American soldier has died defending my “freedom”. Tens of thousands have been murdered defending corporate hegemony, however. The Cheney’s and Bush’s of the world have been enriched by their sacrifice. Sadly, nothing has changed since the days of Gen. Smedley Butler:
“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”
I met the short guy with the bud also. RE the voter registration problem–why aren’t you carrying voter registration forms along with the petitions?
Nice of you a$$hole to ignore Memorial Day on Memorial Day ala Oba-Mao.
Must be a “progressive” thing to disrespect those who died to keep us free.
They died for y’all to be a bunch of A-1 a$$holes!
“And the highlight of my day was when I asked a short black man with dreadlocks to sign – and he politely said “thanks, I’ve signed” and showed me the baseball-sized bud he was carrying in his hand.”
That was the highlight of your day? What a pathetic life you lead.
HippiesBeGone,
“That was the highlight of your day? What a pathetic life you lead.”
Calm down, there, Sport…he said that was the highlight of his day…not his life!
Have another martini and think about it….
@19
That was actually just the highlight of the signature gathering portion of my day. The highlight of that day was when the guy with the bud and I both had sex with your mom that night.
@17
RE the voter registration problem–why aren’t you carrying voter registration forms along with the petitions?
I’ve been out for a little while. Need to pick up some more.
@18
Do you really need this blog to remind you that it’s Memorial Day. Buy a calendar, you moron.
@18
How long were you in the military, Mr. Cynical?
‘And the highlight of my day was when I asked a short black man with dreadlocks to sign – and he politely said “thanks, I’ve signed” and showed me the baseball-sized bud he was carrying in his hand. ‘
Wow! What a joyous occasion that must have been for you Lee. If that is the highlight of one’s day, then you are even more pathetic than I thought. I feel sorry for that kid of yours. Good luck asshole.
@23
If that is the highlight of one’s day, then you are even more pathetic than I thought. I feel sorry for that kid of yours.
He’s only 14 months old, and he’s already smart enough to feel sorry for you.
I know you’re disappointed to find out that making fun of you on the internet isn’t the highlight of my day, but frankly, it’s just so easy. I consider myself a pretty lucky guy to have complete morons like you take it upon themselves to keep me amused all day. It’s quite nice.
Lee, I don’t value nor give any weight or validity to sad excuses for parents nor chronic stoners opinions whatsoever. You are just fun to fuck with. Now that the mutual shit-slinging is even, here’s a story for you. Better run back to Folklife and have your stoner pals chip in for bail! Good luck asshole.
http://www.bellinghamherald.co.....chase.html
@25
I’m not clear how posting irrelevant news stories is “shit-slinging”. Unless, of course, “shit-slinging” is your own slang term for displaying your ignorance by writing bullshit. If so, you’re the king of shit-slingers.