Got called this afternoon for a poll on a possible amendment to the MN Constitution.

[trotsky]

Has anyone else?

It started out confirming that I was going to vote this fall. Then they asked all sorts of questions, like which of the following names for the amendment would make me more or less likely I'd vote for it. Or did I think the following statements made it more or less likely I'd vote for it. Would the following people making a statement in support of the amendment make me more or less likely to vote for it. Then some statements opposing it, and would those make me less likely to vote for it.

The amendment itself apparently would propose an extra 3/8 of a percent sales tax to be dedicated to environmental protection and arts/cultural education for children to appreciate the MN environment. Sounded liberal enough, except for the source being an ultra-regressive sales tax. The names who were mentioned in the survey (the part that asked me if a particular individual would influence my vote) included Arne Carlson, Walter Mondale, Belinda Jensen (yes, the chief meteorologist!), and Ron Shara (the outdoors guy on KARE-11).

Kinda strange. Just made me curious as to who's behind this amendment, what exactly they hope to accomplish, etc.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I respond to push polls with questions about who is sponsoring them

Usually the caller is some out-of-state hireling who has no idea why s/he is asking these questions.

[trotsky]

2. Yes, she pretty clearly was.

She had no idea how to pronounce "Arne" or "Shara." (Or is that Schara?) I was pretty sure it was pointless to grill her. In fact when she started off asking what *names* for the amendment would make me more likely to vote for it, I told her outright that the name was irrelevant, I'd need to know what was in it... and then she just rattled them off anyway.

[dflprincess]

3. At the risk of losing my liberal credentials

I'd have a hard time voting for a raise in the sales tax even for good causes. It's just too regressive and the working and middle classes are just getting stretched too thin. I'm also having problems creating the state's budget with Constitutional amendments.

[trotsky]

4. Those same two reasons are why I had reservations.

The budgeting-through-amendment thing is just ridiculous.

[kikiek]

5. Maybe they are finally taking the enviroment seriously, and want to ensure future admin

cannot reroute or not fund the money needed to promote its preservation.

[trotsky]

7. And that would be great...

but the real reason is because politicians in both parties are too gutless to have to make these decisions every two years and face the voters. I blame voter ignorance too.

[question everything]

6. They can take the stadium tax and transfer it

for environmental purposes. And let the wealthy owners of the team pay for the stadium, or issue bonds. Or tag additional fees on tickets and parking and whatever else baseball goers purchase.