National Referendum Proponents
Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel has proposed a national referendum through his nonprofit organization The National Initiative for Democracy. This organization supports a constitutional amendment which would allow voters to directly enact legislation. Their website describes such a referendum as a new check in our system of checks and balances. Indeed.
The Coalition for National Referendum also promotes popular democracy. It has distributed a petition for a national advisory referendum on establishing a national popular vote for President of the United States. The coalition cites successful national referendums in Canada, England, France and South Africa.
A national referendum would:
• Allow voters to make the difficult decisions that politicians ignore. For example, most Americans want a new direction in Iraq but Congress is paralyzed. We need energy independence but it always seems to be around the corner.
• Get Americans more directly involved in their government. As it is now, we elect representatives and hope that they govern in accordance with our wishes. Since a ballot measure can’t change its mind, voters know exactly what they are supporting.
• Thwart self serving lawmakers. Politicians are lousy at policing themselves. Voters should establish work schedules and ethical standards.
As people who live in states with ballot initiatives know, voter enacted legislation has its problems. These initiatives are often inconsistent and difficult to implement. The courts get involved and declare many of the laws invalid.
It’s hard to imagine voters passing constitutionally acceptable campaign finance legislation. Even Congress can’t figure that out. For now at least, we’d be better off with an advisory referendum.
November 29th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Bob, you don’t have to imagine “voters passing constitutionally acceptable campaign finance legislation.” They’ve already passed the BEST reform -publicly financed “Clean Election” initiatives in 6 of the 7 states that have them! See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_elections
Then see all the other great stuff done by ballot initiatives at http://Vote.org/initiatives
THEN, go to http://Vote.org and vote to ratify the National Initiative so we can fix our national government, too. Advisory voting is just another form of poll that politicians use to posture with, and to learn how to manipulate people with fear, greed, etc. Citizens need REAL power, not advisory power!