Voters oppose Prop. 5, Prop. 6, support Prop. 9

(11-04) 23:04 PST SAN FRANCISCO --

California voters were trouncing a pair of contrasting anti-crime measures, one that aimed to shrink prisons and another that promised to grow them while boosting funding for law enforcement.

Proposition 5 would expand programs to divert drug addicts and nonviolent offenders from prison to rehabilitation. It was designed to keep them from cycling in and out of overcrowded prisons that cost taxpayers more than $10 million a year.

Opponents said the programs were ripe for abuse.

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I really don't know but it strikes me that this isn't the best way to make criminal justice policy. Tom

The Criminal Justice Reform Battle in California: Cynical Politicians and Powerful Interests Attacking the Public Good

By Arianna Huffington, Huffington Post. Posted November 2, 2008.

We can't allow a sensible solution to be drowned out by people know the "tough on crime" approach is worthless public policy.

Here is picture that sums up much that is wrong with American politics. Five governors of California, Democrats and Republicans, joining forces to oppose something that is indisputably in the public interest.

This is an image that could be repeated, with different faces, in region after region of our country, involving issue after issue. Public officials standing against the public good, with the disastrous results on display from Detroit to Wall Street. All suffering from the same destructive force: the power of entrenched special interests to cloud the vision of our leaders, causing them to thwart good sense, good legislation, and the will of the people.

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It will be interesting to follow what happens to Proposition 5 tomorrow night. Tom