Measures 85 and 86

I am going to attempt to write something about voting today, and my opinions on a couple of the measures. Please know up front, however, I am not a person knowledgable about politics. I actually don't trust policiticans at all and am neither a strong democrat or republican. I like beliefs from both sides and, of course, have my own opinion on every matter. I vote for what I think will benefit the general public the most...specifically, the middle class.

Measure 85 (Waiting period and parental notification before termination of minor's pregnancy)
I know this is a huge debate for religious people/non-religious people as to when the baby becomes a baby, but coming from a strictly medical and anatomical point of view please vote NO on this measure. Girls, specifically minors, who do not want to tell their parents they are pregnant, will go to almost all measures to not have their parents find out about the pregnancy. Living in CA, it will be easy for girls to cross the border to Mexico and have an abortion done, or go to some quack "doctor" who does not know what they are doing to have the procedure done. If worse comes to worse they may even attempt to try it themselves, but if you know anything about anatomy, the uterus in most females is tipped and can not be done with a straight object. Chances are if they try it themselves they will puncture the uterus and cause potential harm to themselves including possible death. Please keep our girls safe from these potential horrific outcomes and let them have the right to choose to tell their families or not. Let's hope they have supportive parents who will stand by them in their difficult time.

Measure 86 (Tax on cigarettes...additional $2.60 per pack)
This is a definite yes vote in my opinion. Working in a hospital, I can not tell you how many uninsured people we help and of which, are smokers with many complicatoins from smoking. Everyone knows the dangers of smoking, yet they still choose to do it. The least that can come of it is to support hospitals and anti-smoking groups who have to pay millions upon millions of dollars for these smokers, many of whom are not insured! In the long run, hurt the smokers where it counts right now...in the pocket book. Let them suffer the consequences later in life from smoking, which I can promise you, will not be pleasant for anyone in thier life.