tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142566743306903843.post2825277638596228496..comments2019-02-02T04:19:58.968-08:00Comments on Democracy by the People: ARIZONA: PROP. 105 - THREAT TO DIRECT DEMOCRACY DEFEATED AT BALLOT BOXDemocracy By The Peoplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04923141079449738176noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142566743306903843.post-1284645756083315712008-11-14T16:19:00.000-08:002008-11-14T16:19:00.000-08:00We in Colorado just defeated Referendum O, which w...We in Colorado just defeated Referendum O, which would have made Constitutional initiatives much harder for regular people, but just a minor inconvenience for the rich.<BR/><BR/>Ref. O would have given each Congressional District an effective veto by requiring 8% of signatures from each. Ref O was devious (or poorly drafted) enough that as the State grows and Districts are added, that 8% requirement would have "racheted up" the total signature requirements: When we get to 13 districts, that would be 13 X 8=104% of the base requirement, and would grow from there.<BR/><BR/>We collect most signatures in the Front Range cities because it's much harder to collect in sparse rural areas. <BR/><BR/>The Legislature which tried to foist this on us ignored the recommendations of the U. of Denver's Colorado Constitution Panel. O violated recommendations 4, 7 & 8. See http://www.du.edu/issues/reports/2007SIPReport.pdf They also ignored what was said at CU Law School's Conference on initiatives, held at the Capitol for their convenience!<BR/><BR/>Solutions to initiative problems have been generally agreed on and available for many decades. But legislators NEVER improve the process, only make it harder and hobbling it in various ways.<BR/><BR/>Voters on ballot initiatives need what legislators get: public hearings, expert testimony, amendments, reports, etc. The best project for such deliberative process is the National Initiative for Democracy, led by former Sen. Mike Gravel: http://Vote.org. Also http://healthydemocracyoregon.org/ and http://cirwa.org<BR/><BR/>In Switzerland, petitions are left at government offices and stores for people to read and sign at leisure, so there are less aggressive petitioners, more informed signers, and less $ required. The Swiss vote on initiatives 3-7 times a year so there's never too many on one ballot. Because they have real power, the Swiss read more newspapers/capita than anyone else.<BR/><BR/>In Switzerland, representatives are humbler and more representative after centuries of local and cantonal (state) ballot initiatives, and national initiatives since 1891. They call their system "co-determination." This works for all relationships!Evan Ravitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14342152859071613438noreply@blogger.com