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© 06/24/2011 Bil Hatch All Rights Reserved

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Okay, maybe that title should read “farting it away.”  In spite of the recent oil spills, yes there have been spills going on in places other than the Gulf, American drivers aren’t pushing for anything that would reduce the world’s dependence on petroleum.  Imagine for a moment what the Gulf oil spill would be like if BP had been spewing millions of gallons of soybean oil into the ocean.  All we would have had to do to clean up would have been to send in cannery ships to start packing the dead fish.

Am I naive?  No.  Am I a tree-hugger?  Maybe, I like trees.  What I really like is clean water to drink and clean air to breathe.  Would you even bathe a dog in polluted water?

Giving up fossil fuels cold-turkey isn’t an option.  Breaking the world’s oil addiction is a little like breaking a food addiction; we must learn to control this need and reduce our dependence to manageable levels.  Although I won’t be depending solely on my own expertise for the following tips, I am a trained automotive technician with a degree and years of experience.

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There are several things we can all do to start reducing the amount of gas used everyday:

• Start at the pump.  Stop doing this!  Do you understand how foolish you look when you do?  Topping off is a disturbingly popular thing to do at the gas station.  The best you can hope for when you top off is poor fuel mileage.  According to the EPA, topping off can damage your vehicle and feed gas you’ve paid for back into the station’s tanks.  It can also contribute to dirty air.  Remember, we like to breathe clean air.  I might just go off on the next person I catch doing this.
• This is a simple one you might only think of when you’re at the pump.  A properly working and tightened gas cap is your first line of defense against fuel evaporation.  Yes, gasoline evaporates.  As a matter of fact, gas is only able to burn in its vaporized form.  A loose fuel cap could allow these fumes to escape into the air, reducing your fuel economy and fouling up that clean air I like.
• Here’s another one for the pump.  Premium fuel probably isn’t helping you.  For the most part, the only vehicles that require premium fuel are sports cars, older vehicles, and towing vehicles.  Almost everyone else is throwing money away.  The only functional difference between regular and premium gas is the temperature at which it burns.  Premium won’t turn your 4-banger into a race engine, and it won’t turn your gas guzzler into a gas sipper. Check with a good technician or your owner’s manual to see if you need premium.  Oh yeah, this one’s from FuelEconomy.gov
• While we’re at the station…check your tire pressure.  I’m using FuelEconomy.gov again.  Each pound of pressure (per square inch) your tires lose will drop your fuel economy by about a third of a percent.  That isn’t much on its own, but it adds up.  Also, low tire pressure can cause uneven wear on the tires, damage rims, wear out suspension parts, and lead to generally unsafe driving conditions.  Make sure your tires are inflated to the pressure indicated on the sticker on your car door (or wherever your vehicle’s manufacturer put it).
• Just one more thing to do at the service station before we can hit the road, a “tune-up.”  Change the oil, make sure the fluids are all good, and give the mechanical parts the ol’ once over.  According to both the FTC & FuelEconomy.gov, a well-maintained engine can get @ 4% better mileage.  Add to that the potential savings that come with using synthetic oils (The Daily Green reports 5-10% for that) and this has been a worthwhile tip.
• Now it’s time to lose some weight.  According to most of the sites I reviewed for fuel saving tips, and the laws of physics, the more weight one carries around, the more energy (fuel) it takes to move that weight.  The consensus seems to be that every 100lbs of weight will reduce your fuel economy by 2%.  My fat ass alone costs me nearly 1mpg; that translates to about 1/2 gallon per tank or more than $50/year.  I need to lose some weight.  There’s probably a lot of excess stuff in your vehicle you can remove.  I’ve known people who have even removed seats they don’t use.  You’ll have to make your own call about how far to go with your own vehicle weight reduction program.  Don’t blame me if you do something stupid.
• Idling at the light gets you zero miles per gallon.  Yes, It takes more fuel to start a vehicle than it does to run it…for about 10 seconds.  Whenever I’m sitting at a red light, I turn my engine off until the light is about to turn green.  Never shut down when you’re just sitting in traffic; that isn’t safe.  Both the FTC & FuelEconomy.gov websites support this claim for fuel savings.
• Jack Rabbits eat a lot, so will your vehicle if you take off like a Jack Rabbit.  This doesn’t mean you should crawl from the light, but taking off like you’re in the NHRA is a surefire way to burn fuel that way.  Not to mention driving that way will tend to make you brake more frequently.
• Your brakes can be the enemy of fuel mileage.  Well, that isn’t entirely true.  What is true is what happens after you brake can be the enemy of good fuel mileage.  According to most fuel tip websites, and again those pesky laws of physics, it takes more energy (fuel) to get a vehicle up to a given speed than it does to keep it at a given speed.  Work to drive so you don’t have to slow down and speed up as often and you will save fuel.  FuelEconomy.gov & Edmunds.com agree that using the cruise control when appropriate can lead to significant fuel savings.  Riding the brakes is bad.  It’ll reduce your fuel economy and increase your repair bills.
• The Sweet Spot isn’t just for baseball.  In engineering an engine reaches its “sweet spot” when it achieves stoichiometric efficiency.  The longer I drive my 2006 Pontiac Solstice at 55MPH while in 5th gear, the better my fuel mileage is.  I’ve actually been able to average nearly 20% better fuel economy for an entire tank than the EPA average says I should while on the freeway.  Your vehicle’s “sweet spot” might not be at 55MPH; every vehicle is different.  Just know that it exists somewhere, and you need to find it.
• What did I say earlier about losing weight?  Walk your lazy ass to the corner store, and combine trips when you have to drive.  Each time you cold start your vehicle, it uses more gas than just running (no this doesn’t contradict the advice to stop your vehicle at red lights), so the fewer trips you make, the less gas you will use.  As Steven Wright has noted, everywhere is within walking distance, given enough time.  Walk to the store, or wherever, whenever possible.  Don’t drive to pick up just one thing, if you can help it.  According to the DOE, combining multiple trips into one can cut your fuel usage in half.  Walking, using public transportation, and carpooling will also save you on gas.

There are some myths and bad ideas floating around about fuel mileage.  Be careful about whose advice to listen to.  There is no magic bullet (liquid or gadget) that will give you amazing fuel mileage.  The above tips are your best bet for getting the most out of a tank of gas in the vehicle you have now.  Most vehicles don’t need to be warmed up before driving; a cold engine shouldn’t be driven hard, though.  Newer automatic transmissions often get at least the same fuel mileage as comparable stick-shifts.  An absolutely clean air filter does not get you better fuel economy, but a clogged one will not help you.  The aerodynamic flow of a big rig has the potential to pull a smaller vehicle along as though it was being towed, but this is one of the most dangerous things anyone can do on the road.  I’m not kidding.  Closely following a big rig to get better fuel mileage is about as smart as drinking drain cleaner to cure constipation.  Tailgating will shorten, and crush, your life.

Do you have a tip you think will work, or something someone told you will work?  Let the rest of us know.  I’ll be happy to investigate your tip and share it with everyone else.  I’ve been working with automobiles for nearly 20 years, but I know the value of using outside sources to back up my claims.  I used references from The Daily Green, FuelEconomy.gov, Edmunds.com, About.com, the FTC, and the EPA to research these fuel saving tips.

Considering the number of vehicles driving around today, every little bit each driver does to save gas will add up to a whole lot of fuel.  Drive safely; drive smart.

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© 08/09/2010 Bil Hatch All Rights Reserved

I don’t know about you, but every now and again it is a good idea to step back and let go of some stress.  That, and a personal invitation from the owners, brought me to a little corner in a little town center in a hidden little part of Riverside, California.  Kevin and Carolyn Craig are the proud owners of The Winery at Canyon Crest.

I met the Craigs at a wine tasting hosted by ADOMA (Auto Dealers Office Management Association).  This was a lot of fun and very informative.  This is where I was introduced to several of their very drinkable wines:

• Eagle Springs – A fruit-forward, European style Chardonnay with almost imperceptible oak
• Eagle River – German Gewurztraminer with a pungent, full-bodied floral nose and hints of lychees and roses
• Eagle Crest – Pinot Noir with subtle and complex aromas, a ripe fruity character, and silky tannins
• Eagle Rock Barrel Aged – Italian Amarone, a bold wine boasting ruby-garnet color and subtle oak aroma
• Seville Orange Sangria – Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, strawberries, and cherries in a red wine base
• Raspberry White Zinfandel – Raspberries that taste like cotton candy…for the sweet tooth
• Diamond Dessert Wine – (Ice Wine) Made from grapes allowed to freeze on the vine north of Niagara Falls creating a unique and rare dessert wine
• Orange Chocolate Port – Perfect port to pair with chocolate desserts

I enjoyed them all to different extents, but my favorites from this tasting were the Eagle River and Diamond Dessert Wine.  The Eagle River had qualities that made me think of beer (which is a beverage I tend to prefer over wine).  The Diamond Dessert Wine went really well with the bowl of fruit I had for dessert (go figure).  The others brought various food choices to my mind, and I may try those pairings in the future.

Kevin and I spoke quite a bit during the ADOMA meeting and wine tasting.  This led to an invitation for me to visit them at the winery.  This was an invitation I was very happy to take him up on.  I also took him up on his invitation to take home a bottle of Eagle River.  All their wines are definitely what I would call value-priced, well worth the money.

Welcome to the Winery at Canyon Crest

A friendly welcome awaits everyone who steps foot in the Winery.  I went straight to the bar to strike up a conversation with Kevin.  He offered to take me on the famous nickle tour before starting another tasting.

Have a seat and enjoy a glass.

The Winery has seating for around 20 people at a time.  The Craigs enjoy having groups over for wine tasting and wine making.  Using the Winery’s facilities to make my own micro-vintage sparked my imagination.  What do you think of “fakeWine” for my label?

Grab a bottle while you can.

I am a big supporter of small batch manufacturing (okay, so that isn’t the best term to use for wine-making, but you get the idea).  It allows for a much greater degree of control over quality and reduces the amount of waste from bad batches.  However, it also means less quantity available for the public.  The wine here is value-priced, you get a lot for your money.  This would be a great place to purchase or make personalized gifts.

Still have a long time to wait for a glass of wine.

Into the carboys for secondary fermentation.

Fermentation can take a long time, a lot of knowledge, and a bit of good fortune.

Phil keeps the winemaking process moving along.

I'm glad they took that out of my wine.

Phil has been with the Winery since the beginning.  One of his jobs is to pour the wine out of the carboys either to go into casks or bottles.  He was happy to talk to me about what a great career wine-making can be.  He told me how friendly the competition tends to be and how nice it is to make a product people can get pleasure out of.

Some wine is aged in oak casks, some aren't.

After the tour, I tasted some more of their wines, including their frozen strawberry wine and a really good cream sherry.  They have a wide selection of possibilities, more than I could list here (I’ve already gone too long in this post…wow, I’m long-winded).  I would recommend trying their personal vintage option.  A batch of your own wine could easily impress clients and family alike.

I would recommend heading over to the Winery at Canyon Crest as soon as possible to try some of their wines.  If the day is hot, they might even have their frozen wine machine running.  I don’t know if you’re already a big-time wine connoisseur or a relative newbie like me, but the friendly atmosphere, affordable selection, and easy to drink wines made this well worth the trip.  They also have events at their store, like dancing lessons, catered events, and wine tastings.

Check out their website at http://www.americaneagleriverside.com/.  Let them know you saw it here.

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© 08/03/2010 Bil Hatch All Rights Reserved

Work to the top of your profession.  Then, give it all up.  Move your young family to another country; live out of your car while you work to start over.  As your family grows, move to a smaller town, work 12 hour days in triple digit heat, and live with your wife and two young children in a trailer the size of a large closet.  Would you be able to handle this kind of life, the life of an immigrant with a dream?

Why would anyone do this? The possibility of giving your children a better life than they could have had otherwise should be reason enough for anyone.  Noemi Castro is the oldest child in a family still working to build American Dreams.

Noemi’s father had worked his way up in the education system in Jalisco, Mexico.  He had put himself through school during a teacher shortage there as a street vendor selling tejuino.  Eventually, he would work his way to become Superintendent of Jalisco Schools.  When a friend brought him stories of how the streets in the United States are paved with gold, he obtained a work visa to see for himself.  In spite of how difficult he knew it would be, he returned to Mexico just long enough to make arrangements to get visas for the three of them to move to the U.S. and pack to start a new life.

It only took the Castros a few months to realize the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles life was not what this small family really needed; goodbye city life, just give me that countryside.  Living out of the family car, Noemi and her parents moved from farm to farm, eking out a living picking cherries in Lodai and grapes in Fresno.  After a stint at a ski resort in Lake Tahoe, the Castros found their way to Janesville, California.  It was here that they moved into a closet-sized trailer to make room for Noemi’s sister.  “What I recall the most [about her early days in Janesville]…when my parents picked grapes…they would work and wrap all the grapes to make them into raisins; I would walk a few hundred feet in front of them, lay down, pick grapes, eat them, and take a nap then keep walking.”  The other people in the agricultural community made up a sort of extended family that looked out for each other.

“I was not even five when I started kindergarten.”  The schools requirements included knowing the alphabet, colors, and a few other essentials in English.  “My parents taught me the basics.”  Noemi had a hard time in school because of her limited English skills.  Math was one of her best subjects because it was just numbers.  The teachers were a big help to her, but the kids pushed her around a little for being different.  Most of her friends were other kids on the ranch where she lived with her family.

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© 08/02/2010 Bil Hatch All Rights Reserved

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The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
-Emma Lazarus, 1883

In New York Harbor stands a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States, given as a celebration of freedom and what we have come to call the American Dream.  What is the American Dream but this, to come here, start with nothing, and, through work, determination, and smarts, end up earning enough to care for one’s family and buy stuff.  Almost every one of us has at least one ancestor who did this.  Anyone who would come here to repeat this feat deserves the same consideration we would give to those ancestors who made our lives possible.

“When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him.  The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born.  Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt.  I am the Lord your God.”
-Leviticus 19:33 & 34

Whether you realize it or not, this nation has been guided by Judeo-Christian ideals.  The Pilgrims, and others, came here looking for the opportunity to practice their beliefs without persecution.  The Founding Fathers could not pass the U.S. Constitution into law without promising to protect religious freedom.  Parents teach their children the “Golden Rule,” Luke 6:31.  The Bible clearly states to treat all immigrants in the country the same as one’s brothers or sisters.

I’m not saying that the U.S. should throw open the borders and let everyone in unchecked.  That would be irresponsible.  The United States has enemies, whether deserved or not, who want to destroy us.  However, anyone who wants to contribute to the success of this nation, work for the betterment of the world, and generally make life more livable should be given that opportunity and be treated better than those who do not do these things.

Many are concerned that undocumented aliens are sucking up tax dollars in the form of public assistance.  Most immigrants, legal or otherwise, are limited in the type and amount of aid they can get.  In most cases, illegal immigrants, and their families, are ineligible for all but the most basic help, and in almost no cases can they get cash.  Many of these people are afraid to get any assistance for fear of being deported.  This can lead to worse problems than spending a few dollars on someone you don’t know.

According to recently defeated Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner, keeping millions of dollars out of the hands of illegals was going to help alleviate California’s billion dollar budget shortfalls.  He also seemed convinced that amnesty, and not jobs, was the magnet bringing people to this country.  No one who is working a 12 hour day to feed a family cares about citizenship.

Competition is the backbone of a Free-Market Economy, the kind we’re supposed to have in this country.  When two stores compete for the same customers, prices decrease, services increase, and/or quality increases.  The same is true of workers.  Let more workers into the job pool, and competition will increase for the available jobs: workers will accept lower wages, improve the quality of their work, and become more innovative.  Perhaps a policy that would encourage an influx of qualified workers from other countries is what we need to keep jobs in this country.

The great state of Arizona recently passed Senate Bill 1070.  This bill authorizes police in that state to detain anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant.  Some have interpreted that to mean anyone with poor English skills, who won’t maintain eye contact with an officer, or just looks like an immigrant could be detained if unable to prove his/her status.  Who would try to stare down a trooper after being pulled over?  I can’t always prove my citizenship status, can you?

This is not the end of Arizona’s hatred of those who would fight the system to have a better life for their children.  Those who created Arizona’s S.B. 1070, led by State Senator Russell Pearce, have announced that they will introduce a bill that would deny birth certificates to native-born U.S. Citizens.  These citizens are being targeted not for anything they’ve done but because they are so-called “anchor babies” born to illegal immigrants.  The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of citizenship to anyone born in the U.S.  Agree or disagree with how a parent got here, but don’t punish an infant citizen for the acts of another.

Treat all immigrants currently in the United States the same as the native-born.  Revamp Federal Immigration policy so the only requirement to enter the United States is the determination to make this nation a better place.  Protect our citizens, resident aliens, visitors (tourists & students), and children from unlawful and immoral bigotry.

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© 06/13/2010 Bil Hatch All Rights Reserved

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This page is going to be a little long.  The ballot has 5 Propositions and 9 Statewide Primaries on it.  There are also going to be primaries for U.S. Representatives, State Senate, State Assembly, State Board of Equalization, and County & Local offices.  I don’t even know how much local stuff is going to be decided on Tuesday.   It’ll be tough enough for me to cover every item of statewide interest without diving into everything else.  So much of this is just sooo boring.  If there is something you’d like me to look into, let me know.  I would be happy to oblige if I can.  Keep coming back, as I will keep adding to this post up until election time.  Don’t forget, you can always go back to B3Auto.net and show how much you appreciated my hard work on this with a big gratuity.

I’m going to start each proposition with the official information from the Official Voter Information Guide put out by the Secretary of State’s office.  I’ve transcribed the government’s part word for word, error for grammatical error.  I’ll let you know what I think after each summary.

Proposition 13

Limits of Property Tax Assessment. Seismic Retrofitting of Existing Buildings. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.

Provides that construction to seismically retrofit buildings will not trigger reassessment of property tax value. Sets statewide standard for seismic retrofit improvements that qualify. Fiscal Impact: Minor reduction in local property tax revenues related to the assessment of earthquake upgrades.

A YES vote on this measure means: Earthquake safety improvements made to unreinforced masonry (such as brick) buildings would not result in higher property taxes until the building is sold.

A NO vote on this measure means: Earthquake safety improvements made to unreinforced masonry buildings would continue to be excluded from property taxes but for only up to 15 years.

It seems as though no one is against this proposition.  Both the State Senate and Assembly passed this measure unanimously, and no one felt strongly enough about the issue to argument against it.  The positive side of it would be that it might encourage property owners to make their buildings safer by excluding any seismic improvements from future property taxes.  Those in favor of Prop 13 also claim it will reduce the workload of County Assessors and the State Board of Equalization, which it probably will.  Lower taxes and expenses would be good things.  The negative side is that anytime something is excluded from taxation, it means less money will be available for government services that rely on those tax dollars.

Government services, and the taxes that feed them, are not the best way to help people.  I would encourage people to vote yes on Proposition 13.

Proposition 14

Elections. Increases Right to Participate in Primary Elections.

Changes the primary election process for congressional, statewide, and legislative races. Allows all voters to choose any candidate regardless of the candidate’s or voter’s political party preference. Ensures that the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will appear on the general election ballot regardless of party preference. Fiscal Impact: No significant net change in state and local government costs to administer elections.

A YES vote on this measure means: All voters would receive the same primary election ballot for most state and federal offices. Only the two candidates with the most votes—regardless of political party identification—would advance to the general election ballot.

A NO vote on this measure means: Voters would continue to receive primary election ballots based on their political party. The candidate with the most votes from each political party would continue to advance to the general election ballot.

This one passed through each house of the legislature by around a 2/3 majority.  It seems like a majority of the politicians in office want this to pass.  AARP, the California Chamber of Commerce, and others are for this one.  The “pro” people for this measure claim it will decrease the amount of partisan bickering and clear the roadblocks to getting things done in state and national legislatures.  They also say candidates’ party history will be publicly disclosed.  The Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Association, California Alliance of Retired Americans, California State Firefighter’s Association, California School Employees Association, and others are against this one.  The “con” people for this measure claim it will give candidates the opportunity to pretend to be independent while actually being as partisan as ever.  They also say the measure will eliminate the option of voting for a write-in candidate and increase election costs.

This is one of those that may sound better than it actually is, but lets go over the points given by the people who cared enough to issue an argument.  The easy one is whether or not the measure will increase costs; the Legislative Analyst estimates that there will be no significant net change in election costs as a result of Prop 14.  The 30% increase anticipated by those arguing against this proposition is significant.  There is nothing I could find in the text of the proposed law that would force candidates to disclose their party histories.  I also couldn’t find anything that looks like it would eliminate a voter’s ability to write in a qualified candidate’s name on a ballot.  Yes, candidates could try to hide their party affiliation from the voters, but what good would that do?  The very possibility of being tricked into voting against their parties should force more voters to pay attention to the views put forth by the candidates.  People should be smart enough to know that just because a candidate claims to be from the Republican Party doesn’t mean s/he isn’t part of the Green Party.  Not to mention, Proposition 14 doesn’t stop political parties from endorsing candidates.  Does anyone think the Democratic Party would endorse someone they felt was too Libertarian?  Neither those in favor of nor opposed to this law got anything right.

George Washington warned us against political parties.  This measure will force politicians to stand on the issues and voters to pay more attention at the polls.  I would encourage people to vote yes on Proposition 14.

Proposition 15

California Fair Elections Act

Repeals ban on public funding of political campaigns. Creates a voluntary system for candidates for Secretary of State to qualify for a public campaign grant if they agree to limitations on spending and private contributions. Each candidate demonstrating enough public support would receive same amount. Participating candidates would be prohibited from raising or spending money beyond the grant. There would be strict enforcement and accountability. Funded by voluntary contributions and a biennial fee on lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers. Fiscal Impact: Increased revenues (mostly from charges related to lobbyists) totaling over $6 million every four years. These funds would be spent on public financing for campaigns of Secretary of State candidates for the 2014 and 2018 elections.

A YES vote on this measure means: The state ban on public funding for political campaigns for elected offices would be lifted. For the 2014 and 2018 elections, candidates for the office of Secretary of State could choose to receive public funds to pay for the costs of campaigns if they met certain requirements. Charges related to lobbyists would be increased to pay for these costs.

A NO vote on this measure means: The state ban on public funding for political campaigns for elected offices would continue. Candidates for the office of Secretary of State would continue to pay for their campaigns with private funds subject to current rules. Existing charges related to lobbyists would not change.

Those in favor of Proposition 15, including the League of Women Voters, AARP, and California Church IMPACT, believe it will reduce the amount of special interest group influence over politicians, time office-holders spend raising money, and money spent on campaigns.  Those opposed to Proposition 15, including the Fair Political Practices Commission, LA Police Protective League, and California Senior Advocates League, believe it will allow candidates to spend tax money given to them for their campaigns however they wish, let politicians increase spending under this measure, increase taxes, and do nothing to decrease special interest influence.

It really doesn’t look like it matters whether or not Prop 15 would reduce the amount of time politicians spend fund-raising or allow candidates to hire friends and family as campaign workers.  It really doesn’t even matter that the money intended to be used by those running for Secretary of State would come from fees paid by lobbyists, et al.  The bottom line is that this measure would allow tax money to be used for political campaigning.  Even $1 of taxpayer money used for such a purpose is wrong, regardless of the intended result.  I would encourage people to vote no on Proposition 15.

Proposition 16

Imposes New Two-Thirds Voter Approval Requirement for Local Public Electricity Providers. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

Requires two-thirds voter approval before local governments provide electricity service to new customers or establish a community choice electricity program using public funds or bonds. Fiscal Impact: Unknown net impact on state and local government costs and revenues—unlikely to be significant in the short run—due to the measure’s uncertain effects on public electricity providers and on electricity rates.

A YES vote on this measure means: Local governments would generally be required to receive two-thirds voter approval before they could start up electricity services or expand electricity service into a new territory.

A NO vote on this measure means: Local governments generally could continue to implement proposals involving the start-up or expansion of electricity service either through approval by a majority of voters or actions by governing boards.

Yes on 16 (California Taxpayers’ Association, California Chamber of Commerce, PG&E) wants to guarantee voters the ability to decide whether or not their local governments will be able to start up or expand government run electrical services.  Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is the major sponsor of this initiative.  Taxpayers against PG&E Powergrab (League of Women Voters, AARP, California Tax Reform Association, Sierra Club California, Consumer Federation of California) wants to increase competition between electric companies to lover electricity costs, expand the use of green energy, and limit the ability of electric companies to raise their rates.

I was always told to find out who is for or against a proposition and to follow the money.  The groups who have gotten together to support and fight Prop 16 seem to represent a fairly wide variety of groups, so that isn’t much help.  The money for Prop 16 is coming from an investor-owned utility.  That begs the question, why?  How would PG&E benefit from the passage of this law, and is it a bad thing for the people of California?  Sponsoring a bill that would serve one’s own best interest is not always a bad thing (I would support a bill that benefited me).  Proposition 16 would make it more difficult for people to create Community Choice Aggregators, which could decrease competition.  However, the initiative provides an exemption if the electricity come solely from renewable sources, which is good.  I don’t see anything in the initiative that would directly affect electricity rates.

I am for competition and stuff that’s good for the environment.  I am against the government running businesses.  Proposition 16 is a tough call because there is a possibility of it reducing competition, but that competition would be a government run business.  It is good when the voters have to get involved if they do or don’t want something.  I would encourage people to vote yes on Proposition 16.

Proposition 17

Allows Auto Insurance Companies to Base Their Prices in Part on a Driver’s History of Insurance Coverage. Initiative Statute.

Permits companies to reduce or increase cost of insurance depending on whether driver has a history of continuous insurance coverage. Fiscal Impact: Probably no significant fiscal effect on state insurance premium tax revenues.

A YES vote on this measure means: Insurance companies could offer new customers a discount on their automobile insurance premiums based on the length of time the customer had maintained bodily injury liability coverage with another insurer.

A NO vote on this measure means: Insurers could provide discounts to their long-term automobile insurance customers, but would continue to be prohibited from providing such discounts to new customers switching from other insurers.

The California Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Action Committee, California Taxpayer Protection Committee, Mercury Insurance, Consumers Coalition of California, California Senior Advocates League, and American GI Forum of California want you to vote yes on Prop 17.  Consumer Watchdog, West Coast Office and State Campaigns Consumer Union, and VoteVets.org want you to vote no on Prop 17.  The yes crowd says Proposition 17 is good for consumers because it will allow them to use their continuous coverage like a coupon while shopping around for a better insurance rate.  The no crowd says Proposition 17 is bad for consumers because it will allow insurance companies to add a surcharge to the insurance rates of good drivers who have not had continuous insurance coverage.  Proponents of 17 claim that the initiative adds protections for members of the military and the middle class whose insurance lapses for reasons beyond their control.  Opponents of 17 claim the initiative takes away protections for members of the military and the middle class whose insurance lapses.

Competition is a good thing for consumers.  Whenever consumers have the option to shop around for a better deal, competing businesses must offer better or more services or charge less money for their services to keep and attract customers.  If Proposition 17 passes, it will make it easier for consumers to shop around for their auto insurance.  Insurance companies will have to do whatever it takes to attract those shoppers.  There are improved protections for members of the military who let their insurance lapse due to overseas service.  The measure also specifies that insurance companies may offer greater grace periods for lapses in coverage than the law specifies, thus increasing the possibility of greater competition for consumer dollars.  I would encourage people to vote yes on Proposition 17.

Here’s the overview of my opinions of the propositions on the June 8 ballot:

Proposition 13 – Yes
Proposition 14 – Yes
Proposition 15 – No
Proposition 16 – Yes
Proposition 17 – Yes

I don’t know if I’ll get to any of the political races, but I’ll tell you now, I’m sick of Steve Poizner and anyone who can’t take a side on an issue.

Now you know what I think.  Get out your brains and think for yourselves; then, go out and vote.

You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and wherever fine fakeBil verbiage is found.  Now go back to B3Auto and do something else.

© 06/07/2010 Bil Hatch All Rights Reserved

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Big Strawberries!!!

rides,

Just plain ol' fun

What a view

food,

Give me a Supreme!!!

games,

Make a basket with this bowling ball & win a keychain!

and concession stands.  The parade was probably the best part.

Make way for the clarinetists!!!

...the flag was still there...

The cast of Fiddler on the Roof

Men of a certain age drive cool cars

More entries in the parade

Look Out, There's a Mason Coming!!! Just Joking.

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, you might want to give it a shot.

Sunday night, my radio ads will be running during Pastor Andy’s show on KLAA (AM 830 in Southern California) again.  This means there will be more regular & sometimes serious updates here.  Some upcoming topics will include immigration, Memorial Day (if I can get Tim to be a guest contributor), saving fuel, my experience as a high school auto teacher, how stupid can politicians get, and more.  I’ll also start doing interviews with people who are both interesting and willing to be interviewed.  Stay tuned…

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and wherever fine fakeBil verbiage is found.  Now go back to B3Auto and do something else.

© 05/30/2010 All Rights Reserved

Please bear with me, or frog without me, as I get everything switched over to the new hardware.

Bil