This November’s ballot is crowded, to say the least. Even a well informed voter can be forgiven for forgetting which issue is which. Therefore, without lengthy analysis, here is a list of the issues for Colorado voters and a suggestion on how to vote:

Amendment 46: Eliminates Government Affirmative Action
Vote: Yes
Reason: The Government does not need such heavy handed and imprecise tools any more. Such preferences are grossly open to abuse and cost taxpayers extra.

Amendment 47: Right To Work
Vote: Yes
Reason: The constitutional right to free association is contrary to the idea that anyone should have to join a union or pay dues in order to secure a job. Unions also cost consumers and taxpayers extra, and they kill off jobs.

Amendment 49: Government Paycheck Deductions
Vote: Yes
Reason: The government should not be a dues collector for political entities such as unions.

Amendment 50: Gambling
Vote: Yes
Reason: The bill earmarks funds for “education,” which is a lie, however, if people want to gamble, the government has no right to stand in their way.

Amendment 51: Sales Tax Increase
Vote: No
Reason: The government wastes money of many things, and then asks for a tax increase to support popular or sympathetic programs to mask their waste in other areas. The government already has plenty of money, and a nearly 7% tax increase is unreasonable.

Amendment 52: Earmarks for Highways
Vote: No
Reason: Earmarks are a giant lie. Even if funding from a tax is earmarked for highways, the government is still free to siphon off general funds from highways to other wasteful projects. The bill will do nothing to improve roads.

Amendment 54: Limit Campaign Contributions
Vote: No
Reason: As McCain has learned, legislating the money out of politics is impossible. Laws such as this one only serve to reduce transparency.

Amendment 58: Increase Severance Tax
Vote: No
Reason: The government already gets far too much money. If 58 were offset with a general reduction in taxes, then maybe, but this is simply an extra pile of money for the government to waste.

Amendment 59: Repeal TABOR
Vote: No
Reason: TABOR is the one bright spot in the wasteful government spending over the past decade. Ref. C repealed TABOR for a few years, and none of its promised benefits became reality. Instead, the government just wants more money. TABOR is what stands between CO and the fiscal mess found in other states like CA and NY.

Referendum L: Lower Age To Serve In State House and Senate
Vote: Who cares, leaning toward Yes. If you know someone between 21 and 24 who wants to run for office, I’d be surprised. How could we do worse?

Referendum N: Allow Saloons (no food service)
Vote:Who cares, leaning toward No.
Reason: While the extreme violence and death in LoDo is caused by bars that don’t serve food (against the State Constitution), the problem is the City’s lack of providing for safety and order. This Referendum will likely do nothing to change matters either way.

Referendum O: Ballot Initiatives
Vote: Yes
Reason: If constitutional amendments were not so easy to put on the ballot, this list would not be so long.