Direct Initiatives fight against representative government, which is what we are. We selected representative government because of the efficiencies it creates and because some issues are too complex for an uninformed public to decide. Experienced politicians are in theory supposed to be able to grasp the ramifications new legislation can have on their constituents. They can do this because they are suppose to be dedicated to this task full time and have staffs supporting them. In truth they are out most of the time trying to raise campaign funds.
The sad reality is that the majority of the public are like children, always screaming “give me, give me, give me!” But like good parents, politicians should tell us that some things are not good for us or we just can’t afford them. That is leadership, sometimes telling people what they do not want to hear.
Initiatives, like lobbying have also become another method for well financed special interest groups to get favorable legislation passed. In California, it takes a little over $1M to get a measure on the ballot. Then you might need millions more to advertise it on TV, especially if your measure is counter to something else on the ballot. The harm to the public is that a well financed special interest can completely overshadow a real grassroots measure that it opposes. What was once expected to give voice to the people has been distorted into another method for corporations and special interest groups to get favorable legislation passed.
I believe that we would be better served by demanding more accountability from our politicians and greater transparency into their decisions. We already pay these folks a salary in addition to providing them large staffs. Let’s have them do their job. When the public wants something they can’t have, let’s not have tantrums, but instead ask for a clear explanation why our request would be against our best interests.
