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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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Arizona Legislature Puts Anti-Affirmative Action Measure on the Ballot
Call it the Ward Connerly bailout. By putting an amendment to eliminate affirmative action programs in state government on the ballot itself, the Arizona State legislature will save Connerly's dysfunctional political organization from the expense -- and logistics -- of qualifying a ballot initiative in the state. Connerly's attempts to qualify just such an initiative faltered last year because of his group's failure to manage the petition process properly. (One lesson: don't trust Maricopa County signature gatherers, some of whom engaged in massive petition fraud). Connerly also failed in attempts to qualify anti-affirmative action initiatives in other states.
Republicans seem to think this issue will be a winner for them in Arizona. I suspect they may find that the issue boomerangs, and offers an opportunity for the left there to organize Latinos in opposition -- and make long term political gains that turn Arizona into a blue state in 2012.
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Ward is Right
Ward will go down as a hero. He is a pioneer. He truly believes in equality. He doesn't want pity or someone else's guilt. There will always be racism, sexism, bigotry and hatred. However making the leap that it is inherent within all people and must be rectified by quotas, preferences, or outreach by government is way away from our Constitution. Affirmative action does the reverse it tries to replicate society by false outcomes. It rigs the system to have a pre-described outcome. Liberals always talk about unity but they are the ones that divide. We are supposed to be Americans with a common dream, however liberals pander to what is best for your skin color. Liberals pander to minorities so blatantly they might as well say "Hi skin color what do you want for you and your skin color?" Unfortunately race politics just plays in the paranoia fear of not trusting your fellow Americans. I think this is the real shame. To divide people away than allowing people to unite under common dreams.