As a citizen, it makes me nervous to think of voters who base their decisions on TV commercials and slick fliers that arrive in the mailbox.
There are six statewide propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot. All have strong arguments on both sides of complicated issues. The Desert Sun has already come out in support of Proposition 1, the water bond, and Proposition 2, the rainy day fund. We're working on positions on four others:
• Proposition 45 would give the state's Insurance Commissioner the power to regulate health insurance rate increases for Californians who have individual and small-business policies.
• Proposition 46 would increase the state's cap on medical negligence lawsuits from $250,000 to over $1 million, and mandate that doctors receive drug and alcohol testing under certain circumstances.
• Proposition 47 would reclassify some nonviolent lower-level crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.
• Proposition 48 would ratify gaming compacts between California and two Native American tribes.
I'd like to hear your opinions on all the propositions. You can email me at james.folmer@desertsun.com or post your views on our You've Got Issues Facebook group. To follow the You've Got Issues Facebook group and join the conversation, go to facebook.com/groups/youvegotissues
California Choices is an nonpartisan website that gathers information about the state ballot initiatives. I encourage you to visit w, study the issues and let me know what you think.