Is this what Proposition 19 says?

We, the government, are in billions of dollars of growing debt, with your tax dollars.

Because our original tax base revenue has proven inadequate, we want to expand our tax base, by creating new businesses, that will sell a product that is currently illegal, marijuana, with controls and regulations we impose.

Here is the deal we want to make with you.

We, the state, counties and cities, get all the money from all due taxes, licenses, fees and fines, etc., from these new businesses and their product, and any spinoff business and their product, and any increases in population and tourism that may result, and our original tax base.

That's what we get.

Here's what you get: You get access to taxed marijuana.

You get the honor of enabling us access to more money than we have ever had, to do with, as we see fit, with no limits imposed.

You get the privilege of enabling us to avoid responsibility for the debt we made, and to become bigger and more powerful than ever before, with no limits.

If you do not accept this deal, it will be more of the same, and it will be more of the same if you do accept this deal.

Or is this what Prop 19 says?

We, the government, are in billions of dollars of growing debt, with your tax dollars.

Because our original tax base revenue has proven inadequate, we want to expand our original tax base, by creating new businesses, that will sell a product that is that currently illegal, marijuana, with controls and regulations we impose.

Here's the fair deal we want to make you.

We the state, counties, and cities get all the money from all due taxes, licenses, fees and fines, etc., from these new businesses and their product, and any spinoff businesses and their products, and any increases in population and tourism that may result, as well as yours.

And, when this stream of new revenue comes in, and our original tax base revenue is increased by X percent, we will lessen your taxation by the equal amount, which will enable you access to more money than you have ever had, to expand your businesses, open new businesses, spend and save, to do with as you see fit.

If government makes bad decisions, and goes into debt again, we will lessen your taxation by the equal amount, never to be raised again.

And if you make any bad financial or business decisions, there will be no more bailouts, nor will there ever be any money set aside, as in the form of aid, never to destroy again our freedom and independence from each other.

And we will do this tally every four years, when we vote for our elected officials, and that could change the method of competition.

How did you vote?

Claudia Rannikar lives in Sonoma, Calif.