About this Blog
Direct democracy -- the Switzerland-inspired system of initiatives, referenda and recalls that allows voters to make and repeal laws in 24 states -- is poorly understood. It isn’t even very direct. Direct democracy has become blockbuster democracy: a half-billion-dollar international industry of signature gatherers, consultants, and election lawyers who use ballot measures less as a method of making law and more as a tool of mega-communications to boost some politicians, hurt others, and supplement lobbying campaigns.
Blockbuster democracy is a decentralized business that practices wide-open politics. This blog aims to provide a center of news, analysis and conversation for and about the industry. We will report from blockbuster democracy’s capital -- California -- but we’ll monitor ballot measures from across the country and around the globe.
Your Blogger: Joe Mathews is an
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Weekend Round Up: Ohio Sick Leave, California Parcels
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO RUN A BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGN.... Read this post from Wayne Pacelle, of the Humane Society of the United States, at California Majority Report.
ANOTHER CALIFORNIA PARCEL TAX: One of the handful of taxes California cities can raise is the parcel tax. With the state budget in crisis, more and more city governments are asking the voters to endorse parcel tax hikes to pay for police officers. The latest city to make the ask is Oakland.
SICK IN OHIO? An Ohio ballot initiative, currently on the street, would require companies to provide seven days of paid sick leave. But Gov. Ted Strickland may be trying to forge a compromise before the initiative reaches the ballot, according to a leading legislator.
THE DOGS HAVE IT: A measure to ban greyhound racing in Massachusetts appears to have enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
MORE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES ON LOCAL BALLOT: A ballot measure in Pleasanton, Calif., would limit hillside and housing developments. Competing measures on growth -- a citizen's initiative and a measure referred by the city council -- will go before voters in your blogger's former town, Redondo Beach. Ballot box planning shows no sign of abating.
A measure comes before the
A measure comes before the people of Ohio: HB 545. HB 545 is a measure that will put greater restrictions on payday loans in the state of Ohio. It is being touted as protecting the good citizens of Ohio, but this is far from the case. This measure will benefit no one. Here’s what they’re telling you: that the entire industry participates in predatory lending, and that the interest rates are upwards of 391%. What the opposition of faxless payday loans aren’t telling you is that the APR on overdraft fees can be over 1000%, and overdraft fees make up a significant portion of banks’ incomes. Bear in mind, now, that most payday loans are made and paid back in a two week period. Who does it seem that really wants this measure to pass? It certainly doesn’t seem like an altruistic attempt on the part of the legislature to curb preying on credit consumers. Should HB 545 be passed, over 6,000 people will lose their jobs and over 1,600 stores all over Ohio will close, putting Ohio further over the edge of the ledger in an already troubled state economy. How does that look when you’re trying to attract businesses, Governor Strickland? Perhaps you should take a look at what the people are actually saying. NO on HB 545 makes sense if you want to get Ohio’s economy back on track.
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