contest the vote

California politics are nutty, nutty, nutty.

Take a look at www.ContestTheVote.org for info against Arnie's newest plan.

Governor Schwarzenegger wants to force us to vote in a special election this year, mere months before secure paper trails would be required in all electronic voting machines.

Just when we thought Arnold could not get any more abusive, here he comes again, this time pre-empting our right to a secure ballot. But, we don't have to be bullied into this. Instead, join us in signing the PETITION posted at www.ContestTheVote.org, demanding that Arnold drop his plan to call for a special election.

Arnold wants us to spend $60- $70 million scarce dollars for this boondoggle-- even while he's trying to slash desperately needed social and educational programs. His initiative proposals will not save the state any money, but rather allow him to follow Bush's lead in privatizing retirement funds.

In California, it affects the pensions of teachers, police and firefighters. (Painfully enough, the initiatives would remove death and disability benefits from our public safety workers, folks who put their lives on the line every day!) Another initiative would pressure teachers to 'teach to the test,' as pay would be based upon the 'one size fits all' standardized testing scores.

Arnold can get around campaign fairness laws if he raises money for his initiatives now. By law, he can't do that next fall, since he plans to be a candidate in June. So he figures California taxpayers can sponsor his initiative adventure to the tune of $70 million.

While we could have a more secure, recountable vote in June 2006, this November the true vote count will be a mystery. If you thought there was chaos and misery in post-election Ohio, imagine the scope of it in a state the size of California.

We have about a month to make a difference. Please join us in this important cause to protect our voting rights. Sign to stifle Arnold's power grab; contact everyone you know in California. Let's get those signature numbers escalating against Arnold's very bad idea.

Via Harrison