Here is a roundup of several key state questions on yesterday's ballot. Numbers in parentheses after the name of the measure indicate number of precincts counted as of this morning:
Arizona Proposition 102 defining marriage as between a man and a woman (92%)
For: 1,009,693 - 57%
Against: 777,359 - 43%
Arizona Proposition 202 revoking business licenses for hiring undocumented workers (92%)
For: 702,839 – 41%
Against: 1,020,204 - 59%
Arkansas: Ban Gay Adoption (90%)
For: 549,074 – 57%
Against: 418,648 - 43%
California Proposition 4 for parental notification on abortions (84%)
For: 4,061,123 - 47.2%
Against: 4,535,947 - 52.8%
California Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage (84%):
For: 4,605,065 - 51.8%
Against: 4,293,068 - 48.2%
Colorado Proposition 46 to end affirmative action (77%)
For: 886,544 – 49%
Against: 911,218 – 51%
Colorado Proposition 47 to make Colorado a right-to-work state(80%)
For: 863,812 - 44%
Against: 1,079,591 - 55%
Colorado Proposition 48 to define a fertilized egg as a person
For: 494,058 – 27%
Against: 1,353,078 – 73%
Florida Amendment 2 more strongly banning gay marriage (99%)
For: 4,657,031 – 62%
Against: 2,848,490 - 38%
Massachusetts Question 1 to abolish the income tax (93%)
For: 842,799 – 30%
Against: 1,922,815 - 70%
Michigan Proposition 1 to approve medical marijuana (92%)
For: 2,704,166 (63%)
Against: 1,607,324 (37%)
Nebraska: Ban Affirmative Action (99%)
For: 384,729 – 58%
Against: 283,351 - 42%
South Dakota Initiated Measure 11 to ban abortion (99%)
For: 160,697 - 45%
Against: 196,847 - 55%
Washington Initiative 1000 on assisted suicide (48%)
For: 826,229 - 58%
Against: 588,321 - 42%
No big surprises here. Arizona can't very well support tough sanctions against businesses that hire illegal aliens, because such a measure would essentially put every company that hires laborers out of business.
Perhaps the voters in Washington state are concerned about the disproportionately high cost of health care for the terminally ill during their final months of life. Or perhaps they are anxious for a simple, guaranteed way to eliminate suffering when they become ill. If only life were that easy.
They'll be tokin' it up big time in Michigan. Dude!
America still hasn't warmed up to gay marriage and gay adoptions. I only support secular civil unions, and gay foster parenting/adoption as a last resort, if there is an emergency and no other suitable foster home is available.
Many Americans believe that affirmative action has run its course and needs to be retired. This is interesting, since a majority of Americans just voted for a President who essentially believes that affirmative action was not enough, and that we must redistribute wealth in addition to giving racial minorities preference.
Finally, Americans still seem to feel that abortion is a private issue, and that there should be as little government interference with abortion as possible. I think most Americans agree that abortion should be legally available (even if you don't agree with the procedure) and should be safe. The big question is, how "rare" should it be? Partisans on both sides of that question -- unrestricted access vs. a nearly complete ban -- will never see a majority agree with either extreme position.
I think that these results show that while Americans are dissatisfied with the status quo and are longing for new visionary leadership, their basic ideals and beliefs have not changed. In short, this probably means that a hard pull to the left will not be enthusiastically received. Just some food for thought, as the Left prepares to run wild with their new "mandate" to rule America.
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