Steven Greenhut Asks If Direct Democracy Has Outlived Its Usefulness

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The initiative process has been subject to the same sleaziness and self-interest common to all political endeavors, which sparks regular calls for reform. Many initiatives are pushed by special interests or serve mainly to enrich insiders. Others are sold to the public in wildly dishonest ways. Unfortunately, some recent initiative reforms have also been more about self-interest than about helping the public have a more fair and informed political debate. There's a good argument for reform, writes Steven Greenhut, but voters have to be just as careful about proposals to change the process as they should be about ballot initiatives.