Take the Initiative!

Here in Washington AC, we, the people (definitely lower case here) have the ability to place Initiatives on the ballot, by the simple process of having a certain number of we, the people, sign a petition.  Assuming the signatures pass the vetting process,  the initiative for, say, requiring that any tax increases be passed by at least a two thirds majority in the state legislature, becomes Law.

This works so well that we have passed the two-thirds majority requirement for tax increases three times, and those God-damned slime ball Demonrats in Olympia keep ignoring or shit-canning it.

I say next time the law include mandatory impeachment for any congress-critter who even thinks about suggesting ignoring the will of the people, but then, I also say "Tar, feathers, some assembly required".

Anyway, this year we once again have several Initiatives on the ballot statewide.

• Citizens’ Guide to Proposition 1: To Increase the King County Sales Tax to Fund Public Safety Programs
• Citizens’ Guide to the Spokane Children’s Investment Fund Initiative
• Citizens' Gudie to Initiatives 1100 and 1105: To End the State Monopoly on Liquor Sales
• Citizens' Guide to Initiative 1053: To Restore the Two-thirds Vote Requirement for Tax Increases
• Citizens' Guide to Initiative 1107: To Repeal Tax Increases on Food and Beverages
• Citizens' Guide to Referendum 52: To Borrow $500 Million to Fund Energy Retrofits
• Citizens' Guide to Initiative 1098: To Establish a State Income Tax
• Citizens' Guide to Initiative 1082: To Reform Workers' Compensation in Washington

The links go to the Washington Policy Center's  information pages for each initiative; from Election Resources from Washington Policy Center which also includes the following two links:

• Legal Analysis by Former Washington State Supreme Court Justice Says I-1098 Income Tax is Unconstitutional
• Report on 2010 Tax Increases in Washington State

 For anyone who cares, here are Drang's Recommendations:

• Proposition 1:  No.  Actually, Hell, no.  Don't play politics with Public Safety, you frigging commies.
• Spokane Children's Investment Fund Initiative:  See Proposition 1.  
• 1100 and 1105:  Yes to 1100, no to 1105.  Actually, either is important, to end the state's monopoly on liquor sales, but 1100 "offers more market freedom because it would end the prohibition-era distribution requirements and quantity discount restrictions for retailers." (No one's quite sure what will happen if they both pass; I prefer not to find out.)
• 1053:  Yes.  Hells, yeah! 
• 1107:  Ditto.  The new "sales tax on candy", which turns out to be a sales tax on lots of food, is structured stupidly.  In fact, it may be a textbook case of just how stoopid government can get.  "Yes on 1107" has a handy chart here. 
• Referendum 52: Hell no!  Damn all watermelons and their stupid, money-wasting "green" initiatives.  Which raises the tax on bottled water, which, BTW, 1107 would end. 
• Initiative 1098:  Lamppost, rope, some assembly required.  BTW, did we mention that the Washington State Constitution specifically bans income taxes?
• Initiative 1082:  Free market, baby.  Get the state out of the insurance business, maybe we won't have to drink so much...

I do believe that this is the first time I will vote "yes" on more so many initiatives than I voted "no" on.  {Looking at the list again, I realized I am still voting against more than I am supporting...}