Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: sentence about politics

  1. #1
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Ukraine
    Posts
    5,073
    Rep Power
    25

    sentence about politics

    The Governor (Schwarzenegger) tried to convince voters across the state to back two measures on the March 2, 2004 ballot—Propositions 57 and 58.

    I don't understand how any measures could be in the ballot. Isn't the ballot a sheet of paper with the list of candidates where you check the one you vote for?

    What are these prepositions - his election pledges or bills?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Serving Polonium-flavoured Sake at a London Japanese Restaurant
    Posts
    2,662
    Rep Power
    15

    Re: sentence about politics

    Quote Originally Posted by gRomoZeka
    The Governor (Schwarzenegger) tried to convince voters across the state to back two measures on the March 2, 2004 ballot—Propositions 57 and 58.

    I don't understand how any measures could be in the ballot. Isn't the ballot a sheet of paper with the list of candidates where you check the one you vote for?

    What are these prepositions - his election pledges or bills?

    Thanks.
    First, let's start with the "prepositions." A preposition is a part of speech, a proposition is a proposed law.

    But to get to the point, some cities and states have what are called "referendums" or "propositions," which allow for "direct democracy". California, in particular, has TONS of these things. For example, in 2050, the ballot in California may look something like this:
    1. Vote for Governor (Select one):
    -Bob Smith
    -Hillary Duff
    -That dog from "Beethoven"
    2. Vote for Senator (Select one):
    -Jimmy Jackson
    -Al Gore's cryogenically-frozen-but-soon-to-be-reanimated body
    -That dog from "Beethoven"
    3. Do you support the following proposed admendment: "Gasoline-powered vehicles are hereby banned, except in the case of exceptionally good-looking celebrities and high-ranking government officials, most of whom are actually quite low-ranking."

    OK, that was silly, but you get the point? It's just a way of letting individual voters vote on a single, specific issue -- as opposed to letting Congressman Boygroper or whoever do it for them. Obviously this is a very small percentage of the laws that are even enacted. Because hey, who has time to vote on such mundane stuff like tax rates, zoning, and building new jails with Playstation and Whoppers around, eh?

    Actually, on a more serious note, I think they have something (occasionally) in Russia as well. They recently held (and passed) referendums on the merger of Perm and Komi-Permyak, for example. So, yes, they are proposed laws, not his election pledges (although they may be the same thing, in some cases -- maybe Ahnold proposed that gas-bill in his politicking and got it added to the ballot -- it's a complex process, and I'm not sure how it works in CA).
    Заранее благодарю всех за исправление ошибок в моём русском.

  3. #3
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Ukraine
    Posts
    5,073
    Rep Power
    25
    Спасибо, Бармалей! Теперь понятно.
    I'm just interested does that mean that there were more than 58 prepositions in that ballot?
    A huge list to read and to vote. Must be tiresome.

  4. #4
    Завсегдатай kalinka_vinnie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Sunnyvale, Cali
    Posts
    5,771
    Rep Power
    18
    Actually, you posed the question at an opportune moment. I have the offical California voter information guide for Nov 7 2006! I can tell you that there aren't as many as 58 "prepositions" on a ballot. In fact there are none, because they are PROPOSITIONS

    propositions - not prepositions! Barmbie pointed it out, I'll point it out again!

    Secondly this years elections has propositions 83-90 in it (plus 1A-1E, but I think they are Measures). So they don't start from 1 and go all the way up to 90, but they finish off where the last election left them... That way it lets people keep their "No to proposition 54" badges without having to explain which proposition 54 they meant.

    So to answer you question, no - it does not mean there are 58 propositions on the ballot.
    Hei, rett norsken min og du er død.
    I am a notourriouse misspeller. Be easy on me.
    Пожалуйста! Исправляйте мои глупые ошибки (но оставьте умные)!
    Yo hablo español mejor que tú.
    Trusnse kal'rt eturule sikay!!! ))

  5. #5
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Serving Polonium-flavoured Sake at a London Japanese Restaurant
    Posts
    2,662
    Rep Power
    15
    Quote Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

    propositions - not prepositions! Barmbie pointed it out, I'll point it out again!
    Yep. It's like the difference betwen муха and мука -- very important!
    Заранее благодарю всех за исправление ошибок в моём русском.

  6. #6
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Toto, we're back in Kansas! Oh, Crap!!!
    Posts
    663
    Rep Power
    13
    Бармалей and KV,

    On-target, as usual!



    Both of you should be on the California ballot for offices.

    Californians, Vote for Бармалей and KV!

  7. #7
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Ukraine
    Posts
    5,073
    Rep Power
    25
    Thanks again. I don't know why I wrote prEpositions (TWICE!). Probably that's because I was reading a book on english grammar today. Too much information on prepositions and articles.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dobry
    Californians, Vote for Бармалей and KV!
    I'd vote for them if I could.

Similar Threads

  1. Economic impacts on politics.
    By Seraph in forum Politics
    Replies: 32
    Last Post: November 30th, 2010, 01:01 PM
  2. politics part II
    By Lt. Columbo in forum Translate This!
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: April 6th, 2009, 09:05 AM
  3. some politics
    By Lt. Columbo in forum Translate This!
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: March 28th, 2009, 07:20 PM
  4. Translation Politics.
    By DDT in forum Politics
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: September 9th, 2007, 09:07 PM
  5. How up are you in politics?
    By MasterAdmin in forum Politics
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: July 20th, 2003, 02:27 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary