(no subject)

[redbird]

I did some more phone banking yesterday, and had one actual conversation, which I am still amused by. I followed the script of "Hi, may I speak to $name" and got "she's not available, what are you calling about?"

So I said I was a volunteer with the Maine Democratic party, and offered to call back later--and she said that she was in fact the person I was looking for, and now that she knew I wasn't a telemarketer, she'd be happy to talk to me. She told me that she was planning to vote the straight Democratic ticket,and already had her absentee ballot. With that much enthusiasm, I asked if she'd like to volunteer, and she declined because she's in grad school, so I thanked her and noted all of that on the website form.

Comments

[jhetley]

Maine absentee ballots aren't supposed to go out until Oct 2. She may have confirmation that she will receive one.

[redbird]

That seems plausible. The notes we're asked to take for the phone banking include whether the person said they had already asked for the absentee ballot; agreed to do so when the caller suggested it; or declined), so that's what I noted at the time.

[used_songs]

That's awesome!

[dewline]

Needed to read that. Particularly tonight.

[ranunculus]

Talked to someone today about Cal propositions 15 and 22. the nice (and patient) young lady reminded me what prop 15 was and I exploded that I absolutely would not vote for Prop 15 because it taxes, indiscriminately, corporations for structures. LOTS of farmers put their farms in corporations because it is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to combat liability lawsuits. Really, people will trespass on your land and sue because they trip and break a leg.
Prop 15 taxes corporate buildings. Which is fine, until you come down to the family farm which has a barn for their sheep or for sorting pears. Prop 15 doesn't care what kind of corporation you are, or how much you make. My corporation made $1 a couple of years ago. Not 1K, not $100; $1. and that was without any fancy bookwork, just the effects of very, very poor quality farmland on income.

Prop 22 is quite a different kettle of fish. Prop 22 was put on the ballot by Uber and Lyft. Both companies originally portrayed their drivers as "a neighbour who happens to be driving your way" instead of a "taxi" operation. It is perfectly clear that these corporations are providing a taxi service while declining to pay for the real costs of operating such a business. I'm a NO on prop 22 kind of gal.

[redbird]

We only have two propositions this year. Proposition 1 is a "right to repair" thing that has lots of money being spent on ads for (small/independent auto mechanics) and against (dealerships); I'm inclined toward yes, but I gather that the TV ads all warn of Doom if you vote the other way.

Proposition 2 is ranked-choice voting, which I am unequivocally in favor of. Maine has it, it works fine, and part of my phone-banking script, which I haven't needed yet, is something like "that's fine. Sara Gideon is running because (talking points), does that sound like someone you would rank second?" if someone says they're planning to vote for any candidate other than her or Collins.

[bibliofile]

Isn't "right to repair" also aimed at manufacturers of farming equipment who use them to keep owners from maintaining & repairing their own equipment? (I'm trying to recall where I read that excellent article: probably this one, in Wired.) I thought that Massachusetts already had that?

[redbird]

It is in general, but most if not all of the shouting here is about cars and trucks rather than tractors, and I haven't read the ballot measure -- yes, this one I decided on without reading, and tossed the brochure the state helpfully sent into the recycling bin.

That may just be because a lot more voters stand to be swayed by either "this will save you money and keep you from being locked into one repair shop" or "this would make the roads unsafe" than "this will save farmers money," because while we absolutely have farms in Massachusetts, most people don't think of this as a farming state. I'm aware of it mostly because I like farmers markets, and this year investigated the possibilities of getting a CSA farmshare.

No caller gets to learn who I am until they identify themselves.

[erik]

Bill collectors are not allowed to proceed with their call until they positively identify that they are speaking to the debtor. They can say their name and the company they're calling from, but not the nature of the call. I got a lot less phone harassment once I started insisting they tell me who they are and what they're calling about before I admit my name.