1. We strongly endorse Prop. 47; some of you may have already heard me give a presentation on it and why it matters for California. It takes several non-violent offenses, including simple drug possession, and changes them from felonies to misdemeanors. The money saved goes to drug treatment, prevention services, and schools. Passage will remove one more link in the chain of the racially-influenced War on Drugs and its perpetuation of structural violence and institutionalized sin. The struggle won't end until we fully dismantle mass incarceration, but Prop. 47 would be a great victory against injustice.
2. PCU has also decided to endorse Prop. 45, which would give the California insurance commissioner's office the power to regulate health insurance rates as it currently does with auto and homeowner rates. It also provides for public notice and disclosure on premium increases before they go into effect. The board had a good conversation and determined that it is an improvement over our current system. We'd frankly prefer a single-payer system for health care, but that option isn't on the ballot this time. C'est la vie!
Voting is not the end of civic engagement; it's the beginning. There are many other time-sensitive and critical things we can do to ensure our perspectives and priorities are heard on the issues that impact people and our planet, including letter-writing and calling legislators, sending delegations, attending (and organizing!) rallies and vigils, speaking to the press, and when necessary, direct action and civil disobedience. The latter are especially important when injustices are grave and pleas fall on deaf ears (ex: see Luke 18 concerning the widow and the unjust judge).
But for now, if you're just getting warmed up, start by voting this November.
With a ballot in the mail,
Timothy Murphy
Executive Director