February 26, 2004
Dear Everyone:
Election Year? Again? Seems like only four years since we did that last time.
Yes, we’re having a
primary next
Tuesday here in
And then there’s the local stuff.
There are two proposition measures put on the ballot by “The
Governator” to try and fix the financial mess that is now the
Until you read the fine print. In order to make it “easier” for the legislature to get a budget that “everyone” can agree on, the measure also changes the state constitution, changing the two-thirds majority requirement to 55%. This could result in only a few senators or assemblypersons being the swing vote. It also makes it much easier to vote for new taxes, or to raise existing taxes.
And who better to tax than businesses?
Yesterday the company I work for announced the plan to move 500
jobs from
Another fun thing on the ballot is “Measure L”. It seems that Walmart had it’s eye on a spot in this county. Considering The Big W’s reputation for underselling to cut out any competition, it’s anti-union stance and it’s habit of only offering health care benefits that its employees can’t afford, some county supervisors attempted to head it off by prohibiting large “warehouse-style” stores that included fresh produce. Undaunted, The Big W got lots and lots of people to sign a petition to get it on the ballot.
Now “Consumers for Choice” are campaigning to “Vote No on L”. Guess who “Consumers for Choice” really are, or is.
Ever been in a Walmart? I have. There’s one down the freeway from here. (On the other side of the county line.) I’d advise taking food and drink with you, except you can only eat what you buy in the store. A compass might come in handy. The way the store is laid out makes it impossible for you to get from Point A to Point B without going through a lot of places you don’t need.
Want House Wares? You can see the sign for it, hanging from the ceiling. But you can’t get to it without going through sporting goods, toys and half-a-dozen other themes first. Once you do get where you want to be, finding your way back to the checkout stands is equally daunting.
Not that I’m saying don’t shop at Walmart. It’s your conscience. And your wallet. Just don’t be surprised to discover that you bought more than you planned to. That’s why I have my own DVD copy of Chicken Run. Spotted it in a display on my way by. Wouldn’t have gone out of my way to get it; but since it was right there, why not? It’s a cute movie and I’ll enjoy it any number of times.
In other news…
“Jeannie” and I haven’t been to a movie in over a month! Between her trip to visit Mother and “Alice” and both of us catching colds, there hasn’t been time. We did get her new fax set up last weekend. Probably won’t have time for a movie this weekend either. I need to fill out my absentee ballot and get it into the mail.
Also, I sprained (or pulled) a muscle in my back this week. Things you do not want to do with a sprained muscle in your back:
Cough
Sneeze
Get the hiccups
Pick anything up off the floor
Hopefully, once we get past “Super Tuesday”, things will get easier.
Love, as always,
Pete
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