By Adrian Pascua
By Adrian Pascua
Rap is now part of government, thanks to Proposition 89. Through Proposition 89 big business corporations wouldn’t be able to make their donations in order to finance the government. Big businesses would no longer have to power to stamp out legislations that didn’t work in their favor. That’s nice and everything, but through Proposition 89 those of us that are currently paying taxes would be the ones to support candidates looking to run for any government office.
Not only would taxpayers have to make a donation to the candidates, they would have to give even more funds for both the primary and general elections. The bill is estimated to boost the taxes on banks and big business to $200 million a year to keep the government publicly funded. So instead of putting money into something more worth while like roads and schools or anything else along those lines, we would have to help fund an election that only comes once a year.
If this bill goes into effect, banks and business would be taxed an additional 0.2 percent instead helping California’s recovering business climate. Proposition 89 would put the unions and corporations on even field when it comes to the candidate races, but in the end, corporations are limited to a $20,000 to support or oppose, but unions would be free to spend as they please.
Even though Proposition 89 takes the “for sale” off the capitol, and bolsters clean money, it questions on how the government shifts from using it’s money on the things the capitol needs instead of what the public needs. Don’t get me wrong, it would be good that everybody that everyone would be on equal footing during election time and all, but the public has other needs through out the rest of the year also.
In the general election, candidates running for an Assembly position would receive around $400,000 from the state, for a senate position, candidates would receive $800,000, and for the all mighty governor position, a candidate could get up to $40 million dollars. Keep in mind this is just an example of what could happen under this clean money proposition. In order to raise awareness of Proposition 89, the campaign even made a rap song titled, “About Time for 89.”
The song speaks on how this proposition will clean up the capitol and how good it is, but it doesn’t really speak on how Proposition 89 is going help the public. Aside to having a decent bass line and some rhythm, it doesn’t help to inform people on anything about what Proposition 89 has to offer. Speaking frankly, I just don’t see of how Proposition 89 could benefit those of us who vote.