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California Article on the Initiative

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/20/local/me-analysis20


I think you will find this article interesting.- Mr. Kersey

jesse's post

I personally have a hard time fully siding with one side all together. I see both positives and negatives in both directions. California is an example to me on why initiative should be abolished. California is in such turmoil right now, not fully because of initiative but a good amount. People don't want to pay high taxes but love asking the government to spend money. Keeping the decisions to our voted electives can be a good thing. The people we elect have a great understanding of our government and how it works, it's their job to do so. These people make decisions that are educated and respected, the problem lies in the corruption it todays government. I personally think that their are electives that put themselves before their people, state and country. If that is the case, and respectfully think it is in some cases, then the whole point of people electing senators, governors etc. is put to rest. Thats when initiative comes in handy because the people are actually making the decisions. In a perfect world that would be great because it would truly be the people making the decisions but we don't live in a perfect world. People can be ignorant, stupid, and selfish and that makes initiative obsolete. Getting a group of people together and getting a few signatures for something that brings no positive the the states people can create tension between government and its people. In a perfect world both ways would work perfectly and affectively. But we are far from perfect, so I believe finding a balance is finding a solution.

Initiative and Referendum

I disagree that California, Colorado and other states should abolish the use of the initiative. Using initiative, or in other words limiting the use of representatives in the government, citizens who are eligible to vote have more voice and power in the system. The main purpose of democracy is to grant people equal rights, with the initiative, people can directly involve in solving problems that they think are significant. The result of the process might not always be a success, but it gathers American people together to voice their own opinions. That is the real meaning of democracy, to get people to vote for what they want best.
The most convincing reason that can be brought on against the initiative is the argument of public knowledge. It questions if the citizens are well informed enough to not be altered easily by the media or other influences. I think it is basically the government's job to inform people. They might not have sufficient information about the issue because the representative system leaves their interest out of consideration. To give them the power to vote directly is to uphold the constitutional idea of equality.
The result of the initiative is profound. A popular example is the same-sex marriage issue in Ohio, 2004. Only one single problem regarding same-sex couple having marriages motivated citizens to vote, or to voice their opinions. It means that some controversial issues placed on the ballot can encourage people to participate more in the democratic process. They have their own voice, or their own power.

Initiative/Referendum Question

I do not agree that states such as Colorado and California should abolish their use of initiative. The use of the initiative gives citizens a direct say in their government just as the constitution says "for the people, by the people..." The initiative is a way for voters to have an impact in their government without representation. Whether the citizens are voting for "pregnant pigs" or "gambling lotteries" the initiative allows voters to express their opinions while getting involved in their government.

According to "Ballot Measures Preview" the 2004 election proved that presence of the initiative on the Ohio ballot made an impact. The main issue on the ballot was a ban on same sex marriage. This, being one on the main issues of debate today, made a huge impact on the presidential election. Many people believe that George W. Bush's win of Ohio of nearly two points is credited to the presence of the initiative.

It is proven that states with the initiative have a higher voter turn out by 3-5% than states without the initiative. The increase in voter turnout shows that having the initiative on the ballot makes Americans feel that they have a larger say in the election process. If the initiative can increase the voter turnouts by that margin in only 36 states, I believe that every state should adopt, not abolish the initiative to increase involvement in future elections.

The Initiative Decision

I do not believe that California, Colorado, and other states that use the initiative should abolish its use. In fact, I believe the opposite in thinking that all states should adopt the initiative as part of their voting process. Our government, being an indirect democracy, forces We, the People, to entrust elected officials in making choices that are in our best interest. But, who can better say what is in the best interest of a person than that him or herself. Through the initiative, citizens outside of legislature receive an opportunity to directly express their opinion on various matters and alter the law through popular vote.

The initiative has many positive influences on the American government. It can cause citizens to become more engaged, better educate voters on their decisions, and give the public a direct say. Some may argue that the general public is uniformed about the issues they would be voting on. To this, I would argue that the public is uneducated on matters because the current government has put them out in the cold. Due to the use of an indirect democracy, the public votes for representative who from then on makes decisions for them. If the initiative were put into action, people could then be more informed about the governments decisions by being a part of them. Citizens could gain the information they needed via the media and various other sources such as the internet and draw their own conclusions rather than have a representative draw a conclusion for them.

The initiative would also cause voters to become more involved. According to "Ballot Measures Preview 2008," voter turnout increased often by three to five points in 2004 when voters are provided with the use of the initiative. Because the people felt that their opinion counted, they too the time out of their busy schedules to voice their opinion directly in the election. While many voters may believe their single vote would not affect the outcome of something such as a presidential election, the initiative provides those with a say in a popular vote, (with no alteration of the people's voice such as that of the electoral vote used in the presidency), making them feel that their opinion is more seriously considered. This would obviously draw a voter to utilize their right to vote.

Finally, the public deserves a direct say in the laws that concern and will affect them, and the initiative does just that. In 2007, voters in Alaska passed a measure prohibiting the extension of benefits to the same-sex partners of government workers (National Conference of State Legislatures database). In this situation, the same-sex workers were the minority. The opinion that majorities can use the initiative to overwhelm minority rights is frequently voiced. However, this opinion is contradictory in itself. The purpose of a vote is for the public to have a choice between multiple candidates or policies. The majority is how a vote is determined and therefore, the majority should rule. Each person is initially given an equal say and the choice that has the popular vote has received it because the majority people believed it was in their best interest. For these and other reasons, the initiative should be adopted by all states, so that the"government of the people," can be decided "by the people, for the people."

Initiatives: Good or Bad?

California, Colorado, and other states that use the initiative should not abolish its use. Having initiatives on the ballots give citizens who are eligible to vote the ability to have a voice in government; a privilege they would otherwise not necessarily be entitled to. Even though their opinion may only be expressed on a issue such as "pregnant pigs," a person is still able to vote "yes" or "no" on something that they feel strongly about, and while doing so, are able to avoid special interest groups' attempts to block change or reform.

Because voters feel as if they have a say in their government when initiatives are used, there is an increased voter turnout, often by "three to five points" (Ballot Measures Preview 2008). Those three to five points can be the determining factor in close elections, such as the 2004 Presidential election in Ohio when George W. Bush narrowly won the ballot. Many gave credit to the prescence of the issue of gay marriage on the ballot for his victory. Even though it has not been proven that his victory happened because of the prescence of an initiative, people still went to the polls to vote.

The use of initiatives on ballots is important not only for the fact that people have a "larger voice," but they also have a reason to go to the polls; resulting in increased voter turnout. When people are given the opportunity to have a voice, they attempt to use it to the fullest extent. The prescence of initiatives gives citizens the right to choose what goes on or happens in their everyday life, and because of that, the use of initiatives should not be abolished.