joe shaw

Whoever came up with the California recall election rules was a complete moron. A total idiot.

One. Only five percent of the population has to sign a petition to cause a recall election.

Two. The state estimates that the cost of a recall election will be $35 million, which is not at all budgeted. The economic trouble in California is one of the stated reasons why a recall was effected in the first place.

Three. As a special election happening in October, a large number of precincts normally open for elections will be closed. This is partly because they use old punch card voting machines which have been decertified and not to be replaced before the 2004 presidential primary election, partly because some of the voting areas are unavailable in October, and partly because of the cost of holding a special election. Little surprise that the people most affected by this are poorer voters who may be unable to visit another precinct.

Four. To get on the ballot, it costs only $3500 and you must get 65 uncertified signatures.

Five. As a result of this, there are over 200 people on the ballot, including Gary Coleman, Larry Flint, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Six. The ballot is laid out thusly: the first question is whether to recall the governor. The second question is, if the governor is recalled, who should replace him. The first question is obviously decided by a majority. The second question, however, is determined by a plurality, and the governor is not permitted to be listed in the second question. This means that it is entirely possible for the governor to lose the first question getting 49% of the vote but then be replaced by someone who received a much less than a majority in the second question.

Seven. With the bar for recalling governors so low, why wouldn’t someone do it again, especially if the governor is recalled?

Before, I thought that I’d like to see referenda having a larger role in American politics, but this democracy-gone-awry is making me reconsider. Maybe it was just terrible foresight by the California legislators that dreamt it up, but maybe it’s just an unworkable concept in a country where a 50% voter turnout is considered acceptable.

sometimes jacob just comes into my room and starts talking

Yay, Amazon treats are here, including some Radiohead DVDs, a few books, including The Twenty-Seventh City and The Elements of Programming Style, and some CDs.