Because that’s how many signatures (5% of eligible voters) it will take to put the “California Clean Environment Initiative” on the ballot.
Characterized by Mother Jones as crazy even by California standards, this initiative would (among other things) ban school vaccination requirements, genetically modified plants and animals, 300 separate chemicals (including fire retardants) and prohibit chlorinating or fluoridating municipal water supplies.
“Emissions and reception of radio frequencies in the one millimeter to one meter range shall be investigated for health effects and interference with AM and FM radio. Within 3 years, limits on frequencies, power, pulse at certain modulations, cycling and distances to sensitive receptors, shall be scientifically established by CCEA. Set limits shall protect newborns, children and sensitive individuals from sleep disturbance, cancer, ability to concentrate, autism, blood/brain barrier leakage, and hyperactivity.”
Some sources indicate it’s unlikely that proponents will get enough signatures to put this thing on the ballot. But some pretty weird stuff has made it before.
According to the article, the woman who started the initiative " believes cancer, autism and other diseases are linked to exposure to toxic chemicals, genetically modified organisms or radiation". Thing is, the link between toxic chemicals and radiation in producing multiple diseases including cancer and any and all forms of poisoning has been well-established. The problem is in the leap between what’s been established and the rest of her beliefs. Reminds me of one of my Idiot Aunt’s speeches: there’s no link between roasting herself at the beach with no sunscreen and breast cancer, her breast cancer was caused by radiation.
No idea; there are levels of stupid I try to survive, not fight. I wouldn’t be surprised if by now she blames cellphone towers despite her first bout of cancer being before there was such a thing around.
If this is an indication that you have not yet watched one of the most beautiful and perfect movies of all time, I am so so very envious. You still have your first viewing ahead of you!
As to the OP, of course there are 366,000 stupid Californians. The question is whether or not they are already the right variety of stupid, or if they will be fooled by a misleading initiative title that attempts to push the “save the planet” button.
To paraphrase Gary Larson, we know they’re stupid…but what kind of stupid are they?
.
There are nearly 40 million people in California. Finding 366,000 stupids would be like shooting fish in a place where there’s a lot of fish really close to each other. A fishtank or something.
This is why I dislike the whole California Initiative process. It seems anyone can pay people to stand outside grocery stores collecting signatures under specious titles. “The save the babies act!” “The world peace act!”
Then the few voters who actually show up to the polls read over some few sentences and recall, “Hmmm, the TV said that the Sheriff’s Deputy Association is in favor of this (or were they against it? I can’t remember exactly.) My cousin is a Deputy. I’ll vote for it!”
Please stop.
I think when I retire I’ll start an initiative to get rid of the initiative process. It’ll be my hobby.
After the initiative to abolish initiatives, we need to ban intolerance, then get a majority of the electorate to realize what idiots they are and vote to abolish democracy.
