I'm gonna see whether I can alienate some of my friends again by telling y'all how you should vote on the 2012 November ballot measures in North Dakota. Here goes:

Measure One -- Eliminates the poll tax -- Vote "Yes."  I can't think of any reasons to vote no on this one. (Click here for the measure language.)

Measure Two -- Oaths of Office for Elected Officials -- Vote "Yes."  This provision corrects an apparent flaw (or omission) in our State Constitution. You may recall this was a news story that circulated nationally about 18 months ago, suggesting North Dakota is still a territory because of the omission.  This measure would correct that omission. (Click here for the measure language.)

Measure Three -- Protecting one special interest group's "modern" practices --  Vote "No."  Imagine if car dealers asked for a constitutional amendment giving special protection to their "modern car sales practices."  Imagine if factory owners pushed a constitutional amendment giving special protection to their "modern factory practices."  Imagine if restaurant owners advocated for a constitutional amendment giving special protection to their "modern restaurant practices."  Wouldn't you be suspicious of what, exactly, they were trying to get away with?  

Maybe the car dealers are trying to get special protection for modern, smarmy, deceptive sales practices, factory owners would want to be able to pollute more and hire child labor, and restaurants would want to use more untested ingredients, with less cleanliness.

Well, Monsanto, ConAgra, Dow and the pig farmer who wants to put a huge, foul feed lot across the street from your house want a constitutional provision to prohibit any regulation (including zoning regulations) of their "agricultural technology, modern livestock production and ranching practices." Sound like a good idea?  No.  I've written about this awful proposal before and haven't changed my mind at all.  This is a horrible measure. (Click here for the measure language.)

Measure Four -- Expanding the Prohibition on Smoking in North Dakota -- Vote "Yes."  I'm okay with limiting people's right to blow smoke in my face. Smokers' "right" to smoke ends at the tip of everyone else's noses. Just my opinion. (Click here for the measure language.)

Measure Five -- Creating a New "Animal Cruelty" Crime -- Vote "Yes."   I'm not usually a guy who supports the creation of more criminal laws.  That said, North Dakota's animal cruelty laws aren't really sufficient to address the problem of animal abuse.  But here's a question for you:  How will this legislation interact with Measure Three, if both measures pass? What if, for example, "modern livestock practices" (as it's defined in the proposed constitutional amendment)  are equal to "animal cruelty" (as it's defined in this new, proposed law)? Answer: Constitutional measures trump laws. (Click here for measure language.)  

Yes, yes, no, yes, yes is how I'm voting.  You should, too, though I'd sure like to hear your opinions whether you agree or not.

[To see how you should vote in the state-wide elected office races, and why, click here.]

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