California recall election: "No" vote on Proposition 54

[IndianaGreen]

California recall election: SEP candidate John Christopher Burton calls for “no” vote on Proposition 54
By John Christopher Burton
4 October 2003

I urge a “no” vote on Proposition 54. Like the recall election itself, this “Racial Privacy Initiative” is inspired and backed by right-wing forces seeking to destroy what remains of the past social gains of the working class.

The sponsors of Proposition 54 falsely claim that their measure would promote the goal of a color-blind society. If passed, the effect would be the opposite. By prohibiting the collection of data on race, ethnicity and national origin, the most blatant forms of discrimination in housing, jobs and education would return to everyday life. With no statistical evidence available, groups facing discrimination would find themselves without legal recourse.

Proposition 54’s backers allege that exemptions provided in the measure would preserve certain anti-discrimination protections. But a close reading of the text reveals that the exemptions are defined in such a way as to have questionable application, at best.

The medical exemption is limited to “research subjects and patients.” It is possible under this wording that important scientific surveys on how diseases ranging from sickle cell anemia to heart disease affect different population groups could be shut down. That is why the California Medical Association and every other major health organization have declared their opposition to Proposition 54.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/oct2003/reca-o04.shtml

[LWolf]

1. You know, I've heard a bunch about prop 54.

I haven't heard a whisper about prop 53, and it's on the ballot too. Any opinions out there?