Why vote?

Your vote probably will not change the outcome of an election. Only one congressional election and seven state legislative elections in the past 100 years have been decided by one vote — and if it’s that close, the courts are likely to get involved. So why do people vote? (Of course, if everyone thought this way, democracy would be doomed.) I vote out of a sense of “civic duty,” but is that enough to motivate most people? The Swiss provides a clue, and the answer may be surprising.

“Important Safety Precautions”

Here are a few safety warnings in the manual of my new cell phone, the LG VX6100:

  • “Do not use your phone in high explosive areas as the phone may generate sparks.” (I personally never want to be in a high explosive area.)
  • “Never place your phone in a microwave oven as it will cause the battery to explode.”
  • “An emergency call can be made only within a service area. For an emergency call, make sure that you are within a service area and that the phone is turned on.” (As opposed to normal calls?)

Windows Live and Office Live — what does it have to do with Windows and Office?

Not much, besides really good brand recognition. But it does show that Microsoft is starting to take another strategic shift toward emphasizing software as a service. Actually, it’s been trying to do that since .NET and the ill-fated “HailStorm” in 2001, only now there’s actually a business model to go along with it — advertising. The best commentary I’ve seen:

Now, Windows Live doesn’t look too impressive at the moment — mostly a bunch of rebranded MSN services that don’t work in Firefox, and barely work in IE. But guess what? Windows 1.0 was pretty bad too! While it’s too soon to say Microsoft will be successful, underestimate Microsoft at your own peril.

Vote No on Cupertino Measures A, B, and C

I don’t think many readers of this blog live in Cupertino, but Measures A, B, and C would have region-wide impact. These measures would set limits on building density, height, and setback from the street; only part of Vallco would be exempt. Any other exemptions would need a citywide vote, paid by the developer. Proponents want to preserve Cupertino’s suburban character, but these measures are way too extreme. Passing them would just continue ugly sprawl.

For example, the height restriction (36 feet maximum) means that the new library and Apple’s corporate headquarters would be in violation. The Senior Center and the new Peet’s Coffee/Panera Bread building would violate the setback restriction (35 feet minimum). These are not urban skyscrapers by any means. It’s not too often you find a Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Club on the same side of an issue. They are both against Measures A, B, and C, as are virtually every elected official in Cupertino. I’m with them.

Vote Yes on Prop. 77, No on everything else

I think the special election called by California’s governor is a complete waste of money, but since we’re having it, we might as well vote on the propositions before us. Proposition 77, which takes the power to redraw voting districts out of the hands of the legislature and into a panel of retired judges, is the only proposition I am voting for. It’s not perfect — there’s no reason to redraw districts until the next census in 2010 — but it’s a lot better than what we have now. Here are a couple of examples.

Congressional District 11 has a grotesque shape over parts of four counties, covering such disparate cities as Moraga, Pleasanton, Morgan Hill, and Manteca. State Senate District 15 stretches from Saratoga 200 miles down to northern Santa Barbara County. If this isn’t blatant gerrymandering, I don’t know what is. I want to put an end to this #$&%@&, so I’m voting yes on Proposition 77.

All of the other propositions are either bad ideas or poorly thought out, so I’m voting no on everything else.