Several States held elections yesterday, voting on recalls, ballot questions, and various State offices. And yesterday was a good day for American workers, American women, and American voters; the results were a clear rejection of right wing corporate agendas.In the State of Ohio, one of the votes which corporations paid close attention to was a ballot proposition known as Issue 2, which asked voters to decide whether to keep or throw out a recently passed law which was pushed by Republican John Kasich, known as SB5.
The anti-worker Bill SB5, which was signed into law by Governor Kasich, would have striped public-employee unions from collective bargaining, prohibit strikes and force teachers, police offers and firefighters to contribute a set amount toward their health benefits and pensions which would not be negotiated.
The people of Ohio clearly told Governor Kasich where he could stick his SB5. The voters of Ohio sent SB5 packing, as Issue 2 was shot down by a margin of 63% to 37%.
Another closely watched vote was for Initiative 26, which took place in Mississippi that would change the Constitution of the State of Mississippi. Voters were asked to vote on “Personhood”. If you are not familiar with the religious rights new axiom called “Personhood” which has turned into a nationwide movement, it’s a backdoor to circumvent Roe v. Wade and would end abortions in States that pass it. “Personhood” redefines abortion laws by defining "person" as beginning at the moment a human egg is fertilized. It would have banned all contraceptives, outlawed abortions, and could even make it a criminal offense if a woman suffered a miscarriage.
In the State of Mississippi, which is considered the most religious conservative State in the Union, women won a great victory, as they will remain in control of their own uterus, and will not be subject to any backwards government control which is being called for by proponents of “Personhood” across the Nation. The voters in Mississippi shot down Initiative 26 by a 58-42 percent margin. Common sense prevails sometimes where you least expect it.
In the State of Maine, for the last 39 years same day voter registration had been allowed, that is until Governor Paul LePage (R) and his republican controlled legislature took over. Maine voters rejected Gov. LePage and reinstated same day voter registration. Maine is one of 33 States where Republicans have passed or tried to pass or are in the process of passing voter suppression laws that have not seen since the era of Jim Crow voter suppression laws. Every American in every State should be up in arms as republicans try and take away our right to vote.
In the State of Arizona, Russell Pierce, the author of the contentious SB 1070 anti-immigration Bill which was signed into Law by its Governor Jan Brewer and quickly challenged as unconstitutional by the United States Department of Justice, lost a recall vote and has been replaced by Republican Jerry Lewis.
Several other States held recalls, and voted on Ballot initiatives where most (not all) had the desired outcome one would want if he or she were not in favor of corporations controlling our governments, our votes, and our bodies.
Common sense prevailed yesterday, and sent a clear message to corporatists in Washington DC.
And borrowing a chant often heard these days by Occupy Wall Street protesters across the Nation…Whose Streets, our Streets, whose Country, our Country.
“We the People” showed yesterday that we can make a difference with our rule of one man, one vote, and you can be sure that the corporatists all across our great land are currently looking for new ways to circumvent “We the People”.
Who is America? We are America. Occupy the Voting Booths in 2012.
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