Submitted by Joe Mathews on May 19, 2008 - 1:45pm.
Thank you, Mr. Johnson, for your comment. The ballot initiative, Prop 22, was passed by the voters in 2000--eight years ago. In a state as dynamic as California, that's an eternity. Should every decision passed by the voters stand forever? Direct democracy is legislation by the public, and it should be no different than legislation passed by legislators. If it violates the constitutional rights of people, it should be overturned. Direct democracy should not exist outside our system of checks and balances. One problem with California's initiative process is that legislatively, an initiative can only be changed by another initiative. (In a few cases, the language of initiatives allows legislative tweaking, but most initiatives don't). California is the only one of the 24 initiative states that has this provision.
A Different Time, A Different California
Thank you, Mr. Johnson, for your comment. The ballot initiative, Prop 22, was passed by the voters in 2000--eight years ago. In a state as dynamic as California, that's an eternity. Should every decision passed by the voters stand forever? Direct democracy is legislation by the public, and it should be no different than legislation passed by legislators. If it violates the constitutional rights of people, it should be overturned. Direct democracy should not exist outside our system of checks and balances. One problem with California's initiative process is that legislatively, an initiative can only be changed by another initiative. (In a few cases, the language of initiatives allows legislative tweaking, but most initiatives don't). California is the only one of the 24 initiative states that has this provision.
Joe Mathews Irvine senior fellow, New America Foundation www.newamerica.net/blog/blockbuster-democracy/