Monthly Archives: October 2016

0154_Retention of Judges – when in doubt, vote not to retain – Donna Jack

Type #1 vs Type #2 Education

Donna Jack
October 20, 2016/updated 10/22/16

COLORADO HOME SCHOOL LAW BEGINNINGS

When we first moved to Colorado after my husband’s Air Force career, I immediately got involved in law-making in Colorado.  At that time I was home schooling two of our sons, and knew that I had to be connected with Treon Goossen (she died this year).  Treon had worked with Senator Al Meiklejohn and Representative Bill Owens, to create the best home school law in the country at that time.  When we arrived in Colorado, their home school law was brand new.

YEARS STUDYING LEGISLATION–LEARNED TO VOTE “NO” FOR JUDGE RETENTION
(IF I DIDN’T HAVE DETAILS)

I have continued to keep up on legislation (study bills), and lobby when necessary, though not as much as in the 1980s and 1990s.

During those years I became familiar with a lot of people at the Capitol.  One was an attorney who had dropped out of the American Bar Association, because of their unconstitutional positions.  Because he ended his membership in the American Bar Association, he was then free to honestly lobby — following his own conscience — even when he disagreed with the American Bar Association. Continue reading →

0153_Proposition 107 and 108 _ Presidential Primary Elections _ Unaffiliated to vote in party primaries without declaring a party _ Don’t mess up the political parties_No on 107 & 108_by Donna Jack

2016 November ballot, Blue Book, Initiatives 107 and 108, Propositions, Type #1 vs Type #2 Education

Text of Proposition 107_presidential primary elections_pp. 57-63
Text of Proposition 108_unaffiliated voter participation in primary elections-pp. 67-70
[Eight things to consider when deciding how to vote.]
[The 2016 Blue Book]
[The US Constitution Bill of Rights & Later Amendments]

Donna Jack
October 20, 2016

John Andrews always has a way with words – click here to see how John Andrews comments on Amendments and state-wide issues on the ballot.  .
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John Andrew’s comments on 107 and 108

“No on Proposition 107: All-Comers for Presidential Primary Election
“Recipe for endless political mischief. Going back to the presidential primaries we used to have is a good idea, but letting individuals from outside a political party help pick that party’s nominee is an awful idea.

“No on Proposition 108: All-Comers for All Other Primary Elections
“Same reasoning as No on 107.  Everyone at your house works hard getting ready for a family meal, then the government makes you give a seat at the table to the lazy neighbors from next door. Equally absurd for a political party as for a dinner party.”

_____________________________________________

IT IS BEST NOT TO VOTE FOR ANYTHING THAT
THE GOVERNMENT WILL “HELP” PAY FOR.

The reason is boldly stated right in Proposition 107:

“BECAUSE A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION WOULD BE PAID FOR BY ALL TAXPAYERS, ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS WHO WANT THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE IN THOSE ELECTIONS.”  p. 59 in the Blue Book Continue reading →

0152_Doctor-assisted suicide (Prop. 106)_Life is precious–don’t popularize ending life_I’m voting no_from Donna Jack

2016 November ballot, Blue Book, Prop 106, Type #1 vs Type #2 Education

Donna Jack
October 20, 2016
Resources:

2016-prop-106_physician-assisted-suicide_pp-43-45-47-56-from the Blue Book
[Eight things I try to consider when deciding how to vote.]
[The 2016 Blue Book]
[The US Constitution Bill of Rights & Later Amendments]
An article “Vote No On More Suicide”
The Denver Post Editorial Board:  No on Proposition 106_aid in dying_lacks safeguards
John Andrews comments on Proposition 106 and the other state-wide issues on the ballot
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John Andrews’ comments – No on Proposition 106: Legalize Doctor-Assisted Suicide

Ghoulish though compassionate-sounding measure would endanger elderly and disabled persons, the most vulnerable among us, while subverting the medical profession from its high calling of saving lives, not ending them.
_____________________________________
Denver Post Editorial Board – against Proposition 106

By The Denver Post Editorial Board

After a lot of soul-searching, we are asking voters to reject Proposition 106, a measure that would give patients the legal right to end their life, because we fear the cultural, legal and medical shift that it would create in Colorado.

Those facing their final months are in a vulnerable place, a time when an individual is susceptible to pressures both subtle and overt, susceptible to self-imposed guilt over burdening family and worries about spending hard-earned savings on care. Such patients also are susceptible to depression and its dark influences on decision-making.

Continue reading →

0151_Amendment 72_Increase Cigarette and Tobacco Taxes_Don’t be a Bully_Martin Niemoler_Laura Carno_Vote no on 72_by Donna Jack

2016 November ballot, Amendment 72, Blue Book, Government Control - too much, Type #1 vs Type #2 Education

Donna Jack
October 20, 2016

[Eight things I try to consider when deciding how to vote.]
[The 2016 Blue Book--Amendment 72 info on amendment-72_pp-35-41_cigarette-tax]
[2016 General Election TABOR notices]
[The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) in the Colorado Constitution.]
[The US Constitution Bill of Rights & Later Amendments]

John Andrews always has a way with words – click here to see how John Andrews comments on Amendment 72 and the other state-wide issues on the ballot.  He has the same recommendation that I have:  Vote no on all of them.
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John Andrews’ statement on Amendment 72:
“No on Amendment 72: Raise Cigarette and Tobacco Taxes  — Sin taxes to modify behavior are the wrong use of government power, not to mention this would create a black market and worsen an already over-large state government.”
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Seriously, if you support punishing people with the strong arm of government for behaviors that you don’t approve of — what behaviors will be the next target.  Will YOU be the next target? This reminds me of a quote I learned of as a child:

Quote from Martin Niemoller
http://veni.com/articles/firsttheycameforme.html

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out –
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out –
because I was not a socialist; Continue reading →

0150_Constitutional Amendment 71_Puts the Constitution out of reach except for the wealthy elites- A yes vote “votes away our vote” – I’m voting NO

2016 November ballot, Amendment 71, Constitutional Amendments, The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, YouTube

Donna Jack
October 20, 2016

[Eight things I try to consider when deciding how to vote.]
[The 2016 Blue Book--Amendment 71 info on pp. 31-34]
[2016 General Election TABOR notices]
[The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) in the Colorado Constitution.]
[The US Constitution Bill of Rights & Later Amendments]

From John Andrews’ 2016-10-02–John Andrews_how voting on Colorado Ballot Issues:
“No on Amendment 71: Draconian Requirements to Amend Constitution
Hard-to-meet signature quotas in remote corners of the state, super-majority voter totals, and a double standard for repeals vs. new provisions, would fence ordinary citizens out of the petition process and leave big-money interests in sole control of constitutional changes.”

Below watch:  “Elena Nunez from Common Cause and former Colorado Senate President John Andrews join host Jon Caldara to discuss why folks on the right, left, and center are against Amendment 71, also known as ‘Raise the Bar.'”

Constitutional Amendment 71 makes it more difficult for citizens like us to change the Colorado constitution.  It will make it so that only the rich have a chance to make changes.

WHO WILL HAVE A MORE DIFFICULT TIME
GETTING AMENDMENTS ONTO THE BALLOT? — Us.
 Continue reading →

0149_ Amendment 70 (2016 ballot) – increasing minimum wage up to $12 by 2020 and continue to increase every year_this is government control over businesses_Creeping socialism_VOTE NO

2016 November ballot, Blue Book, Centralized Federal Control, Communism, Constitutional Amendments, Direction of Public Education, Lies and the Left, Socialism, The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, Type #1 vs Type #2 Education

Donna Jack
October 20, 2016

[Eight things I try to consider when deciding how to vote.]
[The 2016 Blue Book--Amendment 70 info is on pp. 27-29]
[2016 General Election TABOR notices]
[The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) text from CO Constitution]
[The Bill of Rights in the Colorado Constitution.]
[The US Constitution Bill of Rights & Later Amendments]

The public made a disastrous mistake in the past
when they voted to put the first budget item into the state Constitution.

Several years ago, the voters in Colorado passed a Constitutional Amendment that they were told would let each school decide how to spend education dollars.  It was a lie.  The public had no idea that they were voting to place permanent, specific, growing, mandatory dollar amounts of money, into our state budget — for for public education.

That deceptive, bad idea has tied the hands of our legislators, forcing a growing percentage of our state budget to go toward public education.  Those receiving this windfall have been adamant that they get all of “their” growing percentage of the state budge.  Public school unions and others in education feel “entitled” and “owed” the huge growing percentage of the state budget, even when there is a shortage of tax revenue — and they insist on being “paid back” in the future to “make up for” years when there was less tax revenue collected.

Even if public schools were graduating responsible, capable, successful citizens (which increasingly they are NOT), the funding of public schools should never preempt all other budget items.  No budget item should ever be put into our state constitution.  It is a recipe for the destruction of our economy and our state.

AMENDMENT 70 IMPOSES THIS SHACKLE ON BUSINESSES Continue reading →

0148_Amendment 69 is a fundamental transformation move_Colorado Care would make Colorado unrecognizable_eliminates our TABOR protections from government– Notes from County Assessor explaining ColoradoCare_links to many Amendment 69 posts_Donna Jack is voting NO

2016 November ballot, Amendment 69_2016, Blue Book, Government Control - too much, Healthcare, Single payer_universal health care, The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, Type #1 vs Type #2 Education

Donna Jack
October 20, 2016

Following are links to documents, for your convenience.
Each document is “word searchable” and can be printed.

Here is the actual wording of all 12 pages of Amendment 69.
On p. 9 of Amendment 69 it exempts ColoradoCare from The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
[The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) text from CO Constitution]
0129_Analysis of Amendment 69_by Senator Kevin Lundberg_trifold
[Eight things I try to consider when deciding how to vote.]
[The 2016 Blue Book--Amendment 69 info on pp. 9-26]
[2016 General Election TABOR notices online or on my site]

[The Bill of Rights in the Colorado Constitution.]
[The US Constitution Bill of Rights & Later Amendments]
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All previous blog posts that have been published on this website about Amendment 69, are linked at the end of this post – or “search” for “Amendment 69” in the Table of Contents to this website.
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DR. JILL VECCHIO HAS AMENTMENT 69 VIDEOS

I encourage you to look at Dr. Jill Vecchio’s videos explaining dangers of Amendment 69.
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DISASTER

Amendment 69 (Single-payer healthcare) is a disastrous centralized-government approach, stripping all citizens of any freedom of choice, and freedom of association.  It compels all of us to finance things against our will and against our conscience.  It it totally opposite of the freedoms we enjoy in the United States.  It will destroy the quality of our health care — destroy the livelihood of our great doctors and other medical care providers — steal from us our hard-earned money — and will cost lives.

THERE WILL BE A MASS EXODUS OF PEOPLE FROM COLORADO —
AND A MASS INFLUX OF PEOPLE WANTING “FREE STUFF”

Doctors are preparing to leave the state.  Many people on fixed incomes will be forced out of their homes because of the increase in taxes.  If people are are able to move out of Colorado, many will.  Non-citizens and those wanting “free healthcare” will be rushing into Colorado.  Many will not contribute financially to fund ColoradoCare.

We will lose more control over our own health care decisions.  We will find our personal finances shrinking.

Please go to links on this site about Amendment 69.  See links at end of this post.

Below are some recent notes on Amendment 69 given to me
by Ron Sandstrom (our county assessor).
________________________________

AMENDMENT 69 – ARTICLE XXX
NOTE:  ColoradoCare will not be subject to TABOR. Continue reading →

0147_Amendment U: Exempt Certain Possessory Interests from Property Taxes_”No” vote

Type #1 vs Type #2 Education

Amendment U_pp-5-8-in-2016-blue-book
[The 2016 Blue Book]
2016-10-02_how-im-voting-on-colorado-ballot-issues_by-john-andrews

Donna Jack
October 20, 2016

I am voting against this amendment, because I am not certain it is a good thing.  Our county assessor, whom I appreciate greatly, has given programs on it, but I still am not sure.  When I am not sure, I have to vote no.  It would be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution.

Like with the retention of judges, it is best not to vote for retention, unless you know that the Judge has done a great job.  Otherwise, vote no or retention.
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Here is John Andrews’ call on this:

“No on Amendment U: Exempt Certain Possessory Interests from Property Taxes                          ” This cleans up a nuisance item for local property-tax filers and collectors, accomplishing a reasonable minor reform in itself but needlessly confusing the less-informed voter in relation to the big, and ugly, measures coming next.”

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As John Andrews references — there are much bigger fish to fry this election.  Concentrate on the other things on the ballot.

0146_Amendment T_No Exception to Involuntary Servitude Prohibition_Who would think this should be voted down?_read on_I am a NO vote_Donna Jack

Type #1 vs Type #2 Education

Amendment T_Involuntary Servitude_Text from Blue Book_pp. 1-3
[Eight things I try to consider when deciding how to vote.]
[The 2016 Blue Book]
[The Bill of Rights in the Colorado Constitution.]
[The US Constitution Bill of Rights & Later Amendments]

Donna Jack
October 20, 2016

This particular amendment makes me very suspicious of those who initiated it.  It will be a boondoggle for attorneys (because of all the prisoners wanting to get out of working in prison, and other problems) — and conceivably will end the option of doing assigned work instead of going to prison — and it will make the cost of the prison system higher (if prisoners stop doing work in prison).

Here is the 13th Amendment to our US Constitution (US Constitution Bill of Rights):
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Amendment 13 — Abolition of slavery (in our U.S. Constitution)

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Continue reading →

0145_Index to 2016 Amendment, Proposition and Initiative blog posts (being updated) – by Donna Jack

2016 November ballot, Amendments, Blue Book, Initiative, Type #1 vs Type #2 Education

Donna Jack
October 20, 2016 — Links to posts concerning the 2016 ballot are made live when blog posts are posted.

Following is an index to the things on the 2016 Ballot in the part of Jefferson County Colorado, where I live.  Note:  all Amendments to our Constitution and Propositions are state-wide.  The same philosophical approach of voting NO (against retention) applies across the state for judges (if you do not know whether their performance has demonstrated that they respect and follow the US and State Constitutions).

TO FIND BLOG POSTS ON SPECIFIC THINGS ON THE BALLOT
(see below or search the Table of Contents page of this website.

With your cursor hovering over the Table of Contents, left click, and then you can do a “word search”   (Ctrl/f – and type in the text your are searching).  Type in anything you wish to find that would be in titles of blog posts:  “Amendment T” “Amendment 69” or anything else  you are looking for.  It will highlight those words or numbers throughout Table of Contents.  Each blog post title links you to the specific blog post.

This blog post (0145) is being published now.  More will be added to it as I launch posts about Amendments, Propositions, and Ballot Issues.  So please check back later today or tomorrow.  The plan is to have everything on the ballot where I live, represented in posts.

As new posts are published, links to each post connected with something on the ballot will be added below, for your convenience.
Continue reading →