Typical: my union assumes I am a Democrat
Here’s yet another email from my beloved union (private email addresses redacted):
From: UAW 2865 Berkeley <berk...@uaw2865.org> To: xxxx...@xxxxx.com Subject: June 8th Primary Election Recommendations Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 16:58:20 +0000 (UTC) Dear UAW 2865 members, The June 8th Primary election is just around the corner, and many of you are already receiving your absentee ballots. As public employees, it is crucial that we stay engaged in the electoral process, as the decisions that are made by our public officials impact our lives as workers, students as well as residents. We work to elect, and hold accountable, pro-labor, pro-higher-education candidates. Below you will find recommendations from UAW and the California State Federation of Labor on statewide and local races and ballot measures. Governor Jerry Brown United States Senator Barbara Boxer Lieutenant Governor Janice Hahn Attorney General No Recommendation Secretary of State Debra Bowen Treasurer Bill Lockyer Controller John Chiang Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson Insurance Commissioner DUAL: Hector De La Torre and Dave Jones Board of Equalization District 1 - Betty Yee District 2 - Chris Parker District 3 - No Endorsement District 4 - Jerome Horton Proposition 13 - Tax Assessment for Seismic Retrofit Recommendation: Vote YES This proposition is an important tax reform that, if passed, will create jobs and make our buildings safer. Proposition 14 - Top Two Primary Recommendation: Vote NO This proposition, if passed, will eliminate partisan primaries, limit voter choice, bar small parties and independents from competing in the general election, and lead to more personality-driven, less issue-driven politics. Proposition 15 - California Fair Elections Act Recommendation: Vote YES This proposition, if passed, will create a pilot program to publicly finance elections for Secretary of State. Proposition 16 - Two-Thirds Approval for Local Public Power Recommendation: Vote NO This proposition is a blatant power grab by PG&E to maintain their monopoly and if passed, will make it harder for local communities to take control of their energy production. Proposition 17 - Alter Auto Insurance Company Regulations Recommend: Vote NO This proposition is an initiative backed by a single major insurance company that, if passed, will lead to higher insurance rates for many drivers. US Congressional Representatives 9th District Barbara Lee 13th District Fortney “Pete” Stark CA State Assembly 14th District Nancy Skinner 16th District Sandre Swanson Alameda County Supervisor District 2 - Nadia Lockyer District 3 - Wilma Chan Alameda County Sheriff N/A Alameda County District Attorney N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------- UAW 2865 Berkeley 2070 Allston Way, Suite 205 Berkeley, CA 94704 phone: (510) 849-1628 / fax: (510) 549-2514 berk...@uaw2865.org / www.uaw2865.org mail-list.com 1302 Waugh Dr. #438 Houston, Texas 77019 USA This message was launched into cyberspace to xxxx...@xxxxx.com
Maybe it’s just me, but I think it’s … revealing how my beloved UAW 2865 is recommending me to vote in Democratic primary. In other words, unions are just nothing but partisan organizations working on behalf of Democrats (for the record, I am a registered Libertarian, and I am regretting that choice this particular election season, as I cannot vote in the Republican primary for my favored candidates (e.g. Mr. DeVore)).
On the non-partisan matters (i.e. propositions; although I am not entirely sure what the point of primary voting for propositions is; do the defeated propositions not appear in the general ballot, or do the propositions simply lose the support of the party?), I am distressed that I agreed with UAW 2865′s positions on Props. 13 and 14, but I am glad that I voted the right way for the remaining propositions. Three out of five ain’t so bad.