Stereotypes are fun to break, except when those stereotypes are good ones. There is a particular stereotype circulating regarding California politics. According to many, including Californians, the Golden State is a hub of liberalism. However, as the midterm elections last week proved, Californians have more than a few conservative bones in their bodies, specifically regarding the official statewide views on gay marriage and the fact that we still can't seem to legalize marijuana, no matter how much our multi−billion−dollar state deficit needs us to.
In terms of gay marriage, Massachusetts is kicking California's conservative butt. In 2008 Prop. 8 passed in California, banning same−sex marriage. It was struck down in August of this year by a federal judge in San Francisco, but my issue is that it passed in the first place. A proposition banning gay marriage passed — in California! I was appalled.
I was operating under the same assumption as many of you were, thinking that my home state was this liberal enclave where civil liberties were fully supported. Prop. 8 changed that. It made me aware of the entire middle of California, all the inland districts and those at the very southern end where the liberalism I grew up with was not the predominant belief. Massachusetts, on the other hand, legalized same−sex marriage in 2004.
Now, on to pot. Massachusetts decriminalized marijuana possession in 2008. The official law here says that getting caught with less than an ounce of weed is only punished by a civil fine of $100. In other words, the typical college student who gets caught will not have a criminal record. This is great! This is exciting! This is the same policy that California implemented! The Coasts agree, who would have thought?
This is another great example of stereotype−bending — bluestockings from Massachusetts and California hippies all together, hanging out, smoking less than an ounce of weed. What could be better? Well, actually, it could be better is if California legalized pot altogether. Proposition 19 was on the California ballot in last week's election. Prop. 19 is also called the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010." It was defeated by 56−percent opposition.
I could go on about how not enough young people were mobilized to vote, how that would have changed things significantly, but I won't. Because it isn't just the young pot smokers among us who should support Prop. 19. It's every single Californian. The fact of the matter is, we're letting our ideology (drugs are bad) get in the way of our practicality: We have a $19.1 billion deficit and 12.4 percent unemployment.
Prop. 19 would have given local governments the freedom to regulate marijuana growth and sales and collect fees and taxes from those activities. That would open up a whole new job market — helping out with the unemployment issue — as well as generate revenue for the state. From a purely economic standpoint, Prop. 19 was one of the best ideas on the ballot. And yet, Californians still voted it down.
Needless to say, I'm upset. Not as upset as I was after Prop. 8, but still very, very upset. Across the country, everyone's concern is the economy, and the fact that my home state can't get it together enough to help stimulate ours is, quite simply, absurd. So, Massachusetts, congratulations. You most definitely win this round. As of this week, I am way more proud to be a student at a university in Massachusetts than a native of California.
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Samantha Jaffe is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. She can be reached at Samantha.Jaffe@tufts.edu.
