Vote/Ballot Update

On our ballot there will also be a nonbinding vote for Congress to overturn the Citizen's United decision (I updated yesterday's post to include this, too), which basically states that corporations have the same rights as individual human beings in politics.

The text of that question will read:

Shall the state senator from this district be instructed to vote in favor of a resolution calling upon Congress to propose an amendment to the U.S. constitution affirming that (1) corporations are not entitled to the constitutional rights of human beings, and (2) both Congress and the states may place limits on political contributions and political spending?

For a commentary on this, see this MassLive article.

Preparing to Vote!

It's obvious (and true) that I have been a blogging-slacker through the month of October.  It happens.  But in case you haven't noticed it's election season, and I thought I would take at least one more opportunity to blog this month by sharing a little election information with you -- just in case you need to know where to vote, or you want to gather a little more information about all the candidates, or you're confused about the other issues on the ballot.

Where to vote: the Secretary of State has a great website that allows you to enter your address and pull up your voting location (with map), your current elected officials, and what will be on the ballot.  Just visit wheredoivotema.com and fill in the blanks.  It's not just the where, but it's also the who.

Looking for information on the ballot questions?  Try these links (they include the question and arguments for and against):
Question 1: Motor Vehicle Repair Information
Question 2: End-of-Life Prescription Medication
Question 3: Medical Marijuana
*Update 10/28* Question 4: Nonbinding vote for Congress to overturn the Citizens United decision


The best way to know how to vote is to get educated about the issues and people on the ballot -- something that sounds great in a title might not seem so great when fully explained -- and vice versa.

Who's in the vote (I'm only including here those with opponents on the ballot -- and you may notice that there are indeed more than two choices in the Electors of President and Vice President section, though you wouldn't know it from the debates and media...):

ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND GRAY    LIBERTARIAN OBAMA AND BIDEN    DEMOCRAT ROMNEY AND RYAN    REPUBLICAN STEIN AND HONKALA    GREEN-RAINBOW SENATOR IN CONGRESS SCOTT P. BROWN    70 Hayden Woods, Wrentham Candidate for re-election REPUBLICAN ELIZABETH A. WARREN    24 Linnaean St., Cambridge DEMOCRAT COUNCILLOR EIGHTH DISTRICT MICHAEL J. ALBANO    403 Maple Rd., Longmeadow DEMOCRAT MICHAEL FRANCO    7 Primrose Ln., Holyoke REPUBLICAN REGISTER OF DEEDS HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT MARY K. OLBERDING    272 Aldrich St., Belchertown DEMOCRAT GEORGE R. ZIMMERMAN    7 Hampton Ter., Northampton INDEPENDENT

Just as a parting commentary on our current political process -- it seems like ads and campaigns and such become more and more negative every election cycle.  Aren't we trying to teach our children to show civility and respect (there are all kinds of new laws about bullying, after all)?  How can we expect them to even begin to understand when even those vying for the highest and most public offices of our nation can't demonstrate it?  How lovely it would be if public discourse became a little more civil.

And that's enough of my personal politics.   Hope to see you at the polls on Nov 6!

Wanna Buy a Diner?

Mr. Madley forwarded this ad to me from Craigslist this week.  An interesting piece of news -- the Route 9 Diner is for sale.

Eating at the Route 9 Diner is a classic diner experience -- a large menu with salads, burgers, sandwiches, dinners, appetizers, desserts, and an all-day breakfast; jukeboxes on the tables; a dessert spinner; booths and a nice long counter with view of the t.v. -- just in case you need to watch the ballgame or the news.  It's a good place to meet up with friends or just chill over a milkshake; plus, it's one of the few places in the Valley open 24/7 in such a convenient location with copious parking.

I don't know what this listing will mean to the current diner once it sells, but keep it in mind if you know anyone who wants to buy a diner.