This year many states are facing a variety of ballot measures. We've heard a lot about the CA gay marriage initiative, and there are initiatives in 14 different states that could affect reproductive freedom, affirmative action, economic security, transportation, education, health care, energy and security (to name a few).
Choice USA, Campus Progress Action and Progressive Future have teamed up with the Ballot Initiatives Strategy Center to create this awesome guide to all these ballot measures, what they would really mean, and how you should vote on them.
So if you live in any of these states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Massachusets, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota and Washington download the guide and get the facts. Or forward it along to people who do!
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Great post. It is crucial for bloggers to share outlets that they find useful in obtaining information about important issues like health care as we approach next week's election. While it is only one of many social and economic components that weigh into this election, health care - without a doubt - is an important and complex one. It is an issue that spans all races, religions and social boundaries.
Here at Public Agenda we've put together an informative, non-partisan guide that focuses on the facts and on the plethora of perspectives surrounding the health care debate in America. Be sure to check it out at http://publicagenda.org/citizen/electionguides/healthcare. We also focus the other top issues weighing in on this election - Iraq, the economy, immigration, climate change, and taxes, spending and debt. Feel free to contact us with any questions and view the Voter's Survival Kit in full at http://publicagenda.org/citizen/electionguides.
While I agree with the grand majority of the political slant of this voter's guide, I still disapprove of such a strong slant without any explanation of why anyone would vote the other way. And some of the questions really are a bit confusing: do I want to fund roads or education? I don't feel like I have enough information to answer that. Both are important. But the way the thing is worded, it sounds like I'm an asshole if I like roads.
Thanks for the guide. For info on how ballot initiatives have originated most reform, how the process can be improved, and the best project for doing so, please see http://Vote.org.
Ballot initiatives are the origin of most reforms, such as women's suffrage (passed in 13 states before Congress went along), direct election of Senators (4 states), publicly financed elections (passed by initiative in 6 of 7 states with them), medical marijuana ( in 8 of 12 states) and increasing minimum wages (in all 6 states that tried in 2006). See http://Vote.org/initiatives for more examples and references. The media have seized on the problem initiatives. They generally kiss up to politicians, who are the only occupational group opposed to initiatives.