In Fornicalia, the fifth largest economy in the world, June 6th saw our primary and a number of bond and proposition issues.

A few surprises occurrred and a large message was, in my opinion, delivered to the politicians in Fornicalia.

Which, though this has occurred in Fornicalia, portends much for the rest of the nation. And I submit this will be a new, building, sweeping trend — at least I fervently hope so.

First, the new trend I’m beginning to note?

In Sacratomato and surrounding Northern Fornicalia counties — even in San Francisco county — a number of bond measures on any number of topics went down to defeat; some of them went down in explosive swirls of massive flames.

These bonds included, on a statewide level:

— Proposition 81: a $600-million bond to pay for library expansion and construction; no: 60%
— Proposition 82: massive funding for “Preschool For All” to raise taxes to fund universal preschool education; no: 61%

In my neck of the woods, funding for a local community college expansion: no.
Other local bonds and “raising taxes” issues: no.

To me, the electorate seems to be expressing a trend, and that is this: we are collectively tired of politicians and special interest groups spending tax dollars with little or no accountability, with these funds diverted to other budget units for entirely different reasons, and with the overall quality of life seemingly unimproved — save that of those who authored the bond measures and politicians and bureaucrats in general.

The storm appears to be building: the days of voting for greater taxes in order to spend money that finds itself disappears into a Black Hole may be over.

Will this become a national trend? Only time will tell.

__________

So — what offends and irritates you about campaigns and voting?

For many, would it be:

— Endless computer-generated calls to your home phone;
— Continuous ads on radio;
— Continuous ads on TV;
— The overall negativity of the ads you see and hear;

One very interesting comment from a Democrat in Fornicalia when she was asked to comment about the recent Dem Governor’s runoff campaigns between current State Treasurer Phil Angelides (will has said he will raise Fornicalia taxes) and current State Controller Steve Westly (Angelides has now won the gubernatorial Dem primary): “I’m afraid this will hand the election over to Arnold.” What is she referring to? That would be the nasty and snotty campaigns run by both candidates against each other where she further said: “I’m afraid the Democrats eat their young.”

Perhaps people will also express their true feelings about negative campaigns embracing personal (instead of issue) attacks.

The potential trends I’m beginning to identify:

• A weariness of the electorate for negative campaigns;
• A weariness of the electorate to tax themselves;

Opinions and thoughts?

BZ