the rix mix

What a lousy ballot for today's election. In the races, I have the choice of the Union County Democratic Machine, the repugs, or a "Clean Up Government" ticket of wingnuts. Only one of the four Public Questions raises no doubts in my mind; a substitution of neutral legalese for the phrase "idiot or insane person" in the State Constitution. Dedicating a portion of the sales tax toward "property tax reform" is an admission of failure to reform. The ballot does not explain how this money will be used, only that it will be placed in a special account & "annually appropriated." The Stem Cell Research Bond is a funding matter promoted or opposed on the basis of "values." So it will pass because a large majority of Jersey voters favor stem cell research, which isn't the question being asked. The Green Acres Bond for $200 million actually made me laugh. Here's the whole thing:

Shall the “Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres, and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007,” which authorizes the State to issue bonds in the amount of $200 million to provide moneys for (1) the acquisition and development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, (2) the preservation of farmland for agricultural or horticultural use and production, (3) the acquisition, for recreation and conservation purposes, of properties in the floodways of the Delaware River, Passaic River, and Raritan River, and their tributaries, that are prone to or have incurred flood or storm damage, and (4) funding historic preservation projects; and providing the ways and means to pay the interest on the debt and also to pay and discharge the principal thereof, be approved?

That's much to squeeze out of 200 mill in this state. Environmental groups endorse it as a "bridge" until better solutions are found. There are no better solutions. Open space is preserved by getting it off the real estate market. Speculators still profit (with the cooperation of politicians) by driving up the value of real estate they're pretty certain government wants to protect. Keeping genuine farmers farming is directly related to the first ballot question, property taxes.

I appreciate residing in a "safe" Democratic area, although it's not good for the regular party establishment to feel safe all the time. There are contested districts in Monmouth & Atlantic counties where my vote would be more useful & there are candidates I care about.