California’s proposed one-time billionaire wealth tax was trailing in early election returns Wednesday morning, while Prop 42, which would prevent any future similar measures from getting on the ballot, is ahead by over eight points.

Not only did the billionaire tax fail in California, but prop 42, to amend the California constitution to forbid the introduction of taxes on personal property (investment accounts, art) for the wealthy in the future, backed by greaseball Gavin Newsom, seems to have passed.

    • QuinnyCoded@sh.itjust.works
      97·
      5 days ago

      because you had to vote yes on the proposed bill and then no on the next TWO which were made to counter it. All with confusing text that people probably didn’t understand.

      If it was just “Tax the rich? yes/no” it probably would’ve passed.

      • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        8·
        3 days ago

        The text for Prop 40 isn’t confusing or ambiguous at all

        https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_40,_One-Time_Wealth_Tax_for_State-Funded_Healthcare,_Education,and_Food_Assistance_Programs_Initiative(2026)

        A “yes” vote supported this initiative to levy a one-time 5% tax on the accumulated wealth of taxpayers and trusts with covered assets valued over $1 billion, including shares of capital stock, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, and any legal or equitable interest, to fund state health care programs, food assistance programs, and public education.

        Seems pretty clear to me what this is, and yet it’s still failing. Bunch of temporarily embarrassed billionaires in California I guess 🙄

        • QuinnyCoded@sh.itjust.works
          2·
          3 days ago

          I was more talking about 41 and 42 being confusing, sorry I should’ve been more clear.

          here is a screenshot including 41 and 42

          • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
            1·
            2 days ago

            Yeah those are def confusing as fuck. And yeah that’s the game they play with the wording of ballot initiatives.

            But 40 is still the first one and it’s not confusing imo and it’s still failed

            Also, unless they’re lying about Bernie Sanders being against 41 and 42, that would have def helped me. But yeah the rest is obviously intentionally confusing and if it were me I would probably have left 41 and 42 blank (assuming I wouldn’t have done the research on each before voting)

        • pigup@lemmy.world
          1·
          3 days ago

          If I read that with the comprehension skills of some of the dumbasses I’ve met in my life: “Say yes to help Levi’s jeans company get 5% of 1 billion of taxpayer (that’s me) money. The rest is just legal speak.” = hell naw I ain’t give that much money to them I don’t even like those jeans.

      • nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        10·
        4 days ago

        America average reading level is like 5th grade yet ballot initiatives are written at college level or higher. The deck has been stacked from the start.

        • sportsjorts@lemmy.zip
          2·
          3 days ago

          “The cable companies have figured out the great truth of America: If you want to do something evil, put it inside something boring. Apple could put the entire text of ‘Mein Kampf’ inside the iTunes user agreement, and nobody would ever read it.” -John Oliver

      • Eldritch@piefed.worldEnglish
        20·
        5 days ago

        Yep. Here in Missouri we had amendment 6 to simplify ballot language and make it less confusing. Republican fuckers made the ballot language as obtuse as fuck to confuse people. The Scarry thing was, I’d thankfully seen lots of anti amendment 3 coverage. But Nada on 6.

        Outside the polling place where signs were allowed. The only amendment 6 sign was the Republican one. Demanding you vote no to protect “constitutional rights”. I’m not sure what rights they thought were involved there. Strictly speaking there is no right to lie or use obtuse language. Especially not for the government itself.

        Fortunately 3 failed and 6 passed. But damn 6 was way closer than it had any right to be. I’m sure we soon will have a confusingly worded bit of legislation on the ballot to undo 6. It’s what the ratfuckers here do, every, single, time.

    • sbbq@lemmy.zip
      161·
      5 days ago

      Because I don’t want anybody coming after MY MONEY when my ship finally comes in!