Ballot initiatives are a terrible feature of our political system, and I think everyone would be better off if they didn't exist. Sometimes they're stupid but relatively harmless like the ones you and Bitt have pointed out, but more often than not, they allow voters to do stupid thing and hamstring elected officials who know more about the long-term consequences than the uninformed electorate does.
Well, sometimes that's the goal behind those who sponsor the initiative, whose goals are opposed to the elected officials.
I like that initiatives allow the public to (attempt to) institute changes that elected officials wouldn't normally touch with a ten foot pole, such as legalizing medical marijuana. On the other hand, "majority rules" decisions can all too easily be used to deprive certain segments of the population of rights they ought to have the freedom to enjoy. Yin and yang.
Previous Topic
Index
