I'd be interested in learning what all of you think about the latest special election Arnold has scheduled for November. I can't believe he couldn't wait until June 2006. I have serious election fatigue what with the recall and the Presidential election.
My thoughts on Arnold's three subjects. I support the independent redistricting and oppose the rest of it, e.g. the attempt to restrict union political contributions and the attack on state pensions which he wants to convert from defined benefit to defined contribution plans.
The Republican assault on our old age security is really staggering. Not only do we have private pensions going belly up as in the United bankruptcy, we have the underfunding of the federal pension protection program and, of course, the Bush Administration attempt to phase out Social Security.
Their attack on unions began with President Reagan's destruction of the air traffic controllers when they struck early in his administration. Unions have not recovered and we see falling wages, inadequate benefits, the destruction of OSHA and other worker safety programs, stalled workers comp programs, etc. Its a continuing assault on workers and getting worse.
In Kos's framing of issues yesterday, I felt he may have failed to spell out the urgent need for Democrats to fight for the little and middle guys. We need to support unions and everything pertaining to labor, including upping the minimum wage, protecting pensions, rebuilding OSHA and the like. Perhaps most importantly, we need to work for a single payer health program.
I also object to the hi-jacking of our initiative process by well-funded right wingers. We will have another wedge issue inserted into this special election, namely parental notification for minors' abortions.