The election is over and Donald J. Trump won fair and square. The system is not rigged and the people spoke through their vote.

First off, don’t despair. President-elect Trump’s acceptance speech was conciliatory and sounded like a Democrat with trillions of dollars of spending for infrastructure. Who will take those jobs? I don’t know.

Further, I was glad to see Sec. Clinton and President Obama strike tones of working together. We need success from this new president or we face an even harder road ahead.

Also, many are going to say social media changed everything and traditional media lost its power. I disagree, this election was all about frustration with politics as usual, the perception of corruption, and the feeling that those in power simply don’t care about We The People. This was about the man and his message, not the medium on which it was carried.

President-elect Trump has both the House and Senate, like President Obama did, for at least his first two years. He has made some big promises, the question is will the GOP work with him on some of the big spending he is proposing.

Lastly, I am deeply concerned that President-elect Trump made it normal that people tap into their Jungian shadow. The levels of sexism, xenophobia, and downright hatred are scary. What will he do to tamp down the neo-Nazi crowd that so lovingly supported his candidacy?

I’ll have more to say on this topic today. Tune in to KGO 810 from noon to 2 p.m. Pacific time on AM 810 or online at www.kgoradio.com

Ethan Explains California Proposition 66

This is the last of the California statewide ballot initiatives in 2016 that I’ll cover. Proposition 66 is the “Death Penalty Procedures Initiative” Also known as the “Death Penalty Reform and Savings” Initiative.” This is the second initiative on the ballot to address the death penalty this year. The other is Prop 62.

The death penalty is having trouble in California because of the massive and lengthy appeals process. When talking about the ultimate penalty, death, we as a society do need to be careful.

However, endless delays, limited attorneys, and the only court that can hear habeas corpus in death penalty is the California Supreme Court.

So, Proposition 66 aims to address those issues by letting lower courts hear the appeals, which will then work their way up through the system like any other crime. Further, it caps the appeals length to 5 years. But, this Proposition also throws in a work requirement.

I like portions of this initiative, like opening up the courts and attorneys that can address these cases. I am uncomfortable with a constitutional work requirement to repay victims. I support the idea of prisoners working to pay off their debts: court ordered yes, prison system ordered yes, constitutionally ordered no.

Further, I think the five year cap is actually too short. Seven or ten years seems like a much more reasonable cap, five is simply too short to accomplish everything required in a capital punishment case.

I still support having the death penalty available, plus a reasonable process to ensure proper justice. But like so many other propositions, this one is trying to address too many things at once, some of which I disagree.

I say NO to Proposition 66.

Tune in to The Ethan Bearman Show Monday through Friday, noon to 2 p.m. on KGO 810 – www.kgoradio.com

Month: November 2016

Ethan Explains President Elect Trump