Opinion

Proposition 6, also known as the Safe Neighborhoods Act, will combat the rising crime rate and fix the flaws in California's prison and law enforcement systems.

"Costly. Ineffective. Unproven. Wasteful. Dangerous." These are the words that the No on 6 Campaign has been trying to get across to voters. The reasoning behind Proposition 6, like many other ballots before it, strikes a chord with voters on a first reading. Tougher sentences and more funding for law enforcement will keep hardened criminals off our streets and kids safe, right? But what if it's not just "hardened criminals" that are affected? In fact, people could be put behind bars for something like failing to update a current home address.

As global warming continues to threaten the earth and we face high gas prices, it has become the general consensus that it's time to push for more renewable energy. With Proposition 7, California will produce 50 percent of its energy through renewable resources by 2025. This is the push we need.

For years, social conservatives feared that homosexual marriages would crumble the long-standing institution of heterosexual unions, hence the creation of laws such as the Defense of Marriage Act. However, in reality there has been no discernible impact on traditional marriage. With gay marriage legalized, society and the institution of marriage have not disintegrated.

Proposition 9, the "Victims' Bill of Rights Act 2008: Marsy's Law," is an unnecessary, costly and ill-conceived proposition that erodes criminal justice with little addition to existing victims' rights.

In this historic election year, we can do better. Economic meltdown, a chance to reform the administrative branch, Tampa Bay in the World Series—obviously this year is huge. It's time for us to demand that our government take us into account for once when crafting policy. We have to stand up to support those initiatives that will make California a better place. We also have to stand up to oppose initiatives that won't, such as Proposition 10.

Proposition 11 is the most common-sense issue Arnold Schwarzenegger has supported for years. The act finally wrests control of the district lines from the cadre of politicians who have gerrymandered this state into a bureaucratic monolith.

Debate about whether or not one's vote really counts or even makes a difference is a reflection of the common concerns that the American political system inevitably provokes each election season. While these sentiments may seem particularly applicable to Californians when they vote for their choice of president, especially since our solidly blue state's 55 electoral votes will undoubtedly go to the Democratic candidate, Californians should not believe that their votes are of little importance when it comes to the 12 propositions on this year's state ballot.

Voter fraud is an endemic and prolific problem in contested states and predominantly affects Republicans. Democrats use the same, empty rhetorical trick to facilitate it: race baiting. Meanwhile, groups like the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) generate thousands of fictional voters (among them a Mr. Mickey Mouse) in poor areas, throwing up a smoke screen of "Republican racism" to conceal their tactics.

After John McCain throws everything in, including the kitchen sink, who does he call? "Joe the Plumber." The last debate on Oct. 15 produced a new sideshow in the list of circus characters that have popped in and out of this year's presidential election. McCain invoked "Joe the Plumber" as he tried to put a face to Obama's tax policies. Joe Wurzelbacher, as he explained, was a plumber in Ohio who wanted to buy a business, yet under Obama's policy he would be taxed more. This was McCain's last-ditch attempt, at least for now, to depict the Obama campaign as actually bad for the middle class. Did it work? No. The first thought that came to my mind was, "A plumber is making $250,000. Why am I in school?"

Change—it's what everyone yearns for when there's an overwhelming sense of political frustration and economic depression. But where does real change come from? In the weeks prior to the presidential election, a much-needed discussion about change has been prompted, but not just about external change. It is a change of mentality, not from the American people, as Barack Obama has rightfully addressed, but from the presidential candidates themselves.

In a 2002 Newsweek article entitled "Adultolescents," studies showed that an increasing number of Americans in their 20s and 30s are still financially supported by their parents. In most cases, this new breed of young adults consists of recent college graduates who have decided to move back home with mom and dad.