Posted on 11/06/2006 10:16:27 PM PST by Momaw Nadon
Question One has gained the lion’s share of attention when it comes to the ballot questions (however misleading some of that attention might have been). Understandable, since Questions Two and Three can’t exactly be boiled down to the “wine=good” vs. “wine=bad” talking points.
Nevertheless voters will be asked to weigh in on all three initiatives on the statewide ballot tomorrow, and so we offer a recap of the Herald’s views:
Question One would allow more grocery stores to sell wine, subject to approval of local licensing authorities.
The dire warnings of opponents - including the powerful liquor lobby and the uniformed Somerville police chief who politicks (inappropriately) against the question on TV - have failed to convince us that leveling the playing field for grocery stores will lead to more underage drinking or drunken driving. It’s simply not the case in other states. The Herald urges a YES vote on Question One.
For no valuable reason other than empowering narrow special interests, Question Two would allow something called “fusion voting,” in which a candidate can seek the nomination of more than one political party. In Massachusetts, such cross-endorsement would give greater standing to liberal-leaning parties at the expense of moderates and conservatives. The Herald urges a NO vote on Question Two.
Finally, unlike Question One, Question Three would actually have frightening implications were it to pass. The warm-and-fuzzy TV ads in favor of the measure would have us believe a “yes” vote ensures every child in a home-based day care setting will be greeted at the door by Mary Poppins bearing a plate of chocolate chip cookies.
What Question Three actually does is give family day care providers who contract with the state the right to form a union, to demand higher wages and to bargain for certain working conditions like shorter hours - in other words, to put the screws to the state and eventually to parents for whom a home-based provider is the only affordable and the most flexible option. The Herald urges a NO vote on Question Three.
I'm still waiting for the Massachusetts state ballot question that, if passed, finally abolishes the auto excise tax! Massachusetts is the only state that still has it!
Ah... Massachusetts....If it ain't illegal already, it's mandatory...
Maine has it.
The anti-Question One advertising campaign is as annoying as heck. All the liquor stores got together and put out these advertisements of a cop with his arms crossed scolding the voters for even thinking of allowing (gasp!) supermarkets to sell wine and beer like much of the other 49 states.
The "teen drinking" argument is nonsense. What it all comes down to is liquor stores not wanting to compete in the marketplace with supermarkets for their beer and wine. So they turn it into a "public safety" argument in an attempt to scare the voters into thinking high school kids are going to be lined up at supermarkets with cases of Bud Lite.
Give me a break. No teen is going to get away with buying beer in a well-lit supermarket with about 20 cameras and scowling front-end managers watching the check-out aisles. The supermarket is the absolute worst possible place for a teenager to try to buy beer. Especially since in most cases, their parents shop there, friends of their parents shop there and kids they go to school with cashier and bag groceries there.
YES!!! It's about time, and horrors! next they'll be selling beer in the supermarket.
NO!! It's a plot to drive the Republican party out of existence.
NO! NO! NO! Just what we need...socialized day care.
BTW I had the pleasure of voting NO on question 4 this morning. "Should your representitive in Congress be instructed to tell the President to end the war in Iraq and take out the troops immediately?"
Screw the questions. Another 4 years of the girlfriend killer in the Senate,and Governor Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeval Patrick,is there no end to this marxist bs ???
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