Editor’s Note: The following are letters to the editor written by Pitman High School students as part of a Mock Election Unit in U.S. Government classes.
Continue to protect Californians’ civil rights
Dear Editor,
What's the difference between the same sex getting married, than opposite genders? In agreement to California being supportive and protecting freedom, why is the same sex getting married an issue? In agreement with Prop 3, it protects the right to those to be able to marry legally regardless of their sex. It has been abandoned in the Constitution that the same sex is not permitted to pass through the Law. The race or gender of an individual should not interfere with the right of being able to marry. California has always been a leader in protecting civil rights and individual freedoms. Proposition 3 continues that legacy to hopefully allow any race and any gender to be able to have the justice and equal rights for marriage. There's no reason why gender sexuality should play any role in what they can and can't do, because everyone SHOULD have equal rights. This issue plays a huge role in today's society, same genders together have already been normalized and the LGBTQ community would be affected by this change. California is an open minded and equal state, therefore people should vote YES on proposition 3 to finally normalize this issue.
— Vianka Del Real
Preserve the nature of California
Dear Editor,
What would you do if you went to the forest to go on a hike, but instead you were met with city buildings instead of trees? One would presumably be upset to see something that had once been beautiful, ruined. I believe that you should vote yes on Proposition 4 to preserve the nature of California. I believe that we should preserve the beauty of California, and not let it become unsightly. Yes, it may cost a fortune, but it’s more than worth it when you get to see the results in action. It would not be safe to have your children go off into a world that is incredibly polluted, constant wildfires that cause the deterioration of the air quality and environment. It’s evident that the state of California needs to take the steps necessary to improve its own environment for the sake of its citizens. This proposition helps bring together safer drinking water, the prevention of wildfires, and the preservation of natural landscapes. If you want your family to grow together in a healthy environment, then you should vote yes on Proposition 4, and you will enable a better environment and a better future for California.
— Madison Liles
I don’t want to live in a criminal-friendly state
Dear Editor,
Since Proposition 47 was voted into action in 2014, California has never been the same. The state has given these thieves leeway and they get little to no repercussions. Proposition 47 was a horrendous idea, allowing people to steal $950 worth of products without any form of severe punishment is an absolute joke. Many hard-working Californians already have to deal with inflation but letting people who don’t even do the bare minimum to maintain a source of income are allowed to produce products for free. It’s almost as if we are unintentionally promoting robberies. That’s why we have to vote for Prop 36, to show these criminals that everyone has to pay if they want something from a store. I don’t want to live in a state where we decide to be friendlier to criminals while screwing the people that work hard to put food on the table. If you want to help people in need who can’t afford necessities, don’t enable them to steal but encourage them to find a job and make them take financial management classes so they make bad financial decisions. We must show this state we don’t bend towards criminals but stand up to them.
— Alexis Hernandez Tapia
End involuntary servitude once and for all
Dear Editor,
Involuntary servitude has no place, in any form, in our state of California. Voting no on Proposition 6 encourages this horrendous practice in our modern society. Involuntary servitude is a close descendent to the dark past of slavery within the United States. Proposition 6 seeks to put an end to the last remaining form of this inexcusable act within our prison system. Opposers may suggest that the service provided by the prisoners benefits our society to the extent that the work is a necessary evil for the greater good of the community. To ensure that these benefits stay consistent in our society, the state of California can still offer the same opportunities to its prisoners as paid labor or volunteered community service. The added incentive of increased pay or community service will ensure that prisoners that complete the work will provide increased effort and be motivated to ensure their work is to the best of their ability. Vote yes on proposition 6 in the upcoming ballet to finally end involuntary servitude once and for all in California.
— Ethan Hofsteen
Say ‘yes’ to Prop 4 and help the environment
Dear Editor,
How many more disasters need to occur in order for everyone to realize that climate change is affecting the weather and communities around the world? Proposition 4 brings to light problems that affect everybody, which is climate change, protecting the environment from wildfires, needing cleaner water, and helping communities that have been affected by disasters. Why are we not prioritizing trying to fund projects in which it helps improve the environment? If we continue to stay ignorant to the idea that climate change is influencing disasters, which in return affect communities then in the future everybody is going to be facing the consequences of their actions. We can choose to stay blind to all the problems that are occurring because of climate change that we have influenced or we can say yes to Proposition 4, which funds projects that help the environment. We need to take charge and bring full awareness of what this proposition is asking and consider what benefits it has that can help the environment. We need to act now before it's too late to consider helping the environment. Everybody needs to do their part in helping nature so that we can have a positive future with a cleaner environment. We also need to help the communities that have gotten affected by disasters because the people most likely don’t have the money to repair their homes. We all need to consider how people are living after a disaster has occurred. Everybody needs to see the reality of the situation of climate change because it's not going to go away unless we help our environment.
— Alma Fuentes
